I know it’s been a while since you’ve heard from me, but I have been busy planning my Spring 2009 and Fall 2009 lines - so much in store for all of you petite women out there and I cant wait to share the new styles and silhouettes!  I’ve just finished an AMAZING photo shoot with my friends at Lewis and Montgomery and my beautiful models (who are also wonderful friends)  Rita, Jenny and Danika.  It was a blast and I want to share a back stage look into the festivities.  I have to say, it was the most fun I have ever had on a photo shoot set, Thanks to all that made it possible!!!

On another note, it’s just that time where we all enjoy the Holidays with our loved ones and begin to make plans for the new year . . . and for me and Allison Izu the brand, we are BUSY making plans for an even better year, more prosperity and hopefully making more petite women all over the WORLD feel beautiful and special. I just want to thank you all for being there for me, your support, friendships and kind words have been an inspiration to me.  It’s all of you who push me everyday to keep on creating and keep moving forward.  so . . .  Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and may 2009 bless you all with prosperity, love and pure bliss!

And, as always, I ask you to keep in touch and let me know your thoughts, ideas, hopes, resolutions, anything . . . I’m always here for you!

That’s right friends, the denim is on the islands - FINALLY! Last week was quite a whirlwind (the good kind!)  I received my complete collection of denim on November 3rd and then had a my Official Launch Party on November 6th!  Can you say, “Busy Bee?!”  But it was so “Well worth the wait!”.  I was beyond ecstatic when I opened those HUGE boxes of denim and pulled each one out.  I actually felt like hugging and kissing each one, like they were my long lost children or something.  But I stopped myself, I heard a little voice inside me saying, “crazy!”

So I was busy sorting, tagging, checking, folding, etc with my staff (wink wink - friends and family) and then a whole bunch of my amazing beautiful friends and family helped me to show and sell the line at PEARL on the 6th.  It was a successful event, just the right amount of a crazy frenzy.  I appreciate everyone who came out to support me and my dream!  THANK YOU!

But if you couldnt make that event, never fear - I have two other events planned for this weekend.

November 15 (saturday) at The Butik on Kapiolani Blvd. from 10 AM to 1 PM and then on November 16 (sunday) at Split Obsession in Hawaii Kai from 11 AM to 3 PM.  You can check out my newly updated website for more information and details!  www.allisonizu.com

But I wanted to give you all a little sneak peak at the styles and details of the Fall 2008 collection.  As many of you already know,There is the Kolohe (Skinny Jean), which I have already heard has helped to make people feel, “mentally skinnier”.  And it has the ultra sexy purple “A” embroidery on the back pocket!

Then the Honolulu (Trouser Jean) which is favored by the career woman or anyone who has a job!

Then there is the Peni Skirt (or Pencil Skirt) which is super sexy and fitted perfectly to show off your curves!

And the Luana (High-Waisted Wide Leg Pant) which I wore to my party, it has the signature “A” embroidery on the back, which makes it to die for!

And finally the ever popular Paniolo ( Bootcut), this one was a crowd favorite at the party, and for good reason! 

So come on out this weekend to get your own pair of Allison Izu Premium Petite Denim, I’ll be at both events ready to help you navigate it all and find your perfect fit!

For those of you, “in the know”, you know this Allisonizu line of petite premium denim has been a long time coming.  But I must reassure you that IT IS COMING! (no really, it is!)

I must say the wait, the journey, and all of the craziness was well worth it, to know the line I always dreamed of is finally a reality.  My journey brought me face to face with all the trials and tribulations of manufacturing, but like they always say - YOU LIVE AND LEARN; and I really did.  It made me realize that I will not settle for OK or average, I only want the best manufacturer, the best fabric, the best details, trims, whatever; because this whole line is ME and it’s for YOU - so only the best is acceptable!  (Do you like the possible back pocket embroidery?  Like the color of thread?  Cause I do!)

So this is the inside scoop . . . I am finally IN production (as we speak!), it’s being made in California, with the very premium American-made Cone Denim.   The fit, has been fit, and fit and then re-fit and is up to the Allison Izu standards.  It’s a pair of denim that you can not only look good in but also feel good in, because its  Made in America - supporting out American economy and its totally sustainable!

So keep in touch, keep reading, and I’ll keep you totally informed - so you’re always “in the know”.  email me anytime (me@allisonizu.com) or post me a message at “the Petite Lounge blog”

And again, thanks for listening, thanks for the support and thanks for being there!

So as a true (petite) citizen of the earth, I feel it is my personal duty to do more for others and leave less of a footprint on the earth. I think the Dalai Lama says it best, ” Just as we should cultivate gentle and peaceful relations with our fellow human beings, we should also extend that same kind of attitude towards the natural environment.” (Cant your hear me “OM-ing”?)

OK - so to make it easier for everyone to do something great for the environment, others and yourself; I’d like to invite all of you to an amazing event that I am lucky to be a part of!
Divas Doing Good is presenting the Green is the New Black event on August 12, 2008 (Tuesday).
It’s at the Waterfront at Aloha Tower (you know, the old Kapono’s), the party starts at 5:30 pm.

I’ll be there showing off my latest Fall 2008 line of petite denim along with some other amazing Divas, Fashionista’s Market, Split Obsession and Jessica’s Traveling Boutique. It’ll be FUN and it’ll make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside! The cost is a mere $25, for a night of fashion shows, great food, drinks (of course - I’ll be there!), entertainment from Ben and Maila and giveaways! You can purchase tickets at the Ward Warehouse Wedding Cafe (say that 10 times fast!) and if you buy 5 tickets, you get the 6th for FREE. So round up your friends and do something good together (while partying your butts off!)

Divas Doing Good (enter your name as the “Diva”) is not a charity, it’s a lifestyle change. Their Mission Statement is “To raise awareness, to educate and nurture women, and to garner community support towards local, national, and international causes in hopes of building a brighter, more peaceful tomorrow for future generations. Our efforts will empower women to LOOK good, FEEL good, and DO good.”

So as a designer for petite women, my first task at hand is to define and clarify what petite is. As I said before, the fashion industry does not have a clear cut answer (as usual) - so it’s up to us to take a stand and make our own definition (Merriam-Webster take notes . . .cause your definition is, well, petite)

As far as my research has taken me, being petite is just a reference to height; more specifically being 5′4″ or shorter. That’s it . . .no really, that’s it. So take out your tape measure and check yourself. Go ahead, measure yourself right now. Are you 5′4″ or shorter? If you answered yes, welcome to the club!

So whether you are a size 00 or 12. you’re a petite person and you should be proud about it. We should demand that clothes fit us well because guess what? the average American woman’s height is 5′3″, so why is the fashion industry making clothes for the 5′10″ fashion model? As a petite person there is some responsibility, shop appropriately and take the necessary steps to properly tailor your clothes. And before you commit to a hem length, think about when you are wearing these pants and what shoes you’ll be wearing them with. Try it on with your shoes and get an idea of where you want the hem to fall. Every style guru will tell you to have the hem touch the top of your shoe and almost skim the floor. This will help to elongate your leg line, but it really depends on the style of the pant and you.

I could honestly go on and on about pants and how to fit them, and I will (another time). But please email me and ask questions - I can try to help you as much as technology will allow. But I wanted to put it in your mind that your not alone, as a petite woman - we should unite and demand more from this industry that we love and support so much! OK - I’m here for you . . .

Today, I thought I should talk about denim and more specifically my petite denim line, Allisonizu. It’s been a long time coming (to say the least) and I can honestly say - I’ve been through a lot of twists and turns to create a line of premium petite denim I can be proud of!

This is line that carries my own name as it’s brand (Allison is my first name and Izu is my middle name), and for me to do this, everything had to be perfect. (which is tough . . . did you all know that I am Type “A”, ie: very “A”nal or a perfectionist) So my previous line (which was due out a while ago) was not up to my standards of quality or fit - so I scratched it (cried and bitched a little), started new, found an amazing manufacturer in LA and moved forward. This whole, “picking myself up from the floor” and moving forward, actually created a better line of denim in the end.

This line, which will be out in August . . . will consist of 5 styles that I feel are essential to every petite woman’s wardrobe. The Kolohe or Skinny Jean, The Paniolo or basic boot-cut, The Luana or the higher-waisted wide leg pant, The Honolulu or dressy trouser jean, and The Peni Skirt a sexy denim pencil skirt. It’s all made from Premium Cone Mill Denim with great spandex stretch.

Through it all, I’ve always designed with me (and you) in mind - utilizing my own basic fit patterns which I created especially for a woman who is 5′ 4″ or shorter. Not only a shorter inseam (31″ and 27″) but a higher knee break, better pocket placement, re-shaping of the hips and waist, new back yoke shape and other little tricks of the trade to make you look long and lean! (loving it yet?)

So I hope you will keep in touch, cause I’ll be in touch, keeping you informed of the line, and also sharing thoughts and ideas of fashion and being petite. I’ll be here . . . .

Welcome to the Petite Lounge, hosted by “yours truly”, Allisonizu (aka: Allison Izu Song). The Petite Lounge is a safe haven where we can talk, share, complain & bitch about everything fashion, and everything petite. Let’s start to embrace being short and owning it. Ok - I’ll start “Hello, My name is Allison and I’m petite!”

This isnt an advice column, or a “how-to” manual about petite fashion, this is a place where I’ll share what I do to make fashion fit me and you can share how you’ve been dealing with being petite, in what seems to be “Giselle’s fashion world”.

I’m 5′ 2″ (ok, let’s get real 5′ 1 3/4″) and I am creating a fashion company (ALLISONIZU), completely for petite women, by a petite woman. None of this “petite small” stuff, I’m making clothes for all sizes of petite (from 00 to 10). And by the way, here’s the definition of petite (according to Merriam-Webster): a clothing size for short women. . . huh?

Trust me, I know how frustrating and confusing it is - but that’s all in the past - I’m here for you and together, we’ll get through it, looking fabulous and making our own rules as we go along. So pull up a chair (and a martini - if needed) and talk to me . . . let me know who you are and what you’re up to!

Talk soon . . .