Krystal Savanella

It's getting warmer...

noreply@blogger.com (Intern) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:30:00 +0000

With the summer solstice just weeks away, are you prepared for the wardrobe shift? Or are you still wearing last season's fashions? Well, here's a blog post to give you some ideas for the upcoming season. According to Glamour Magazine, this summer is going to be the "sexiest era yet" for your wardrobe.

Bold colors, such as red, are a trend that will be hot this season. When wearing red, it is suggested to wear matching red lipstick for a look that could kill.

Miu Miu spring/summer 2012

One popular summery looks are the maxi skirts and dresses. These bohemian, floor-length garments have been seen all over the place lately, and the light fabric is ideal for the hotter temperatures.

How about a simple way to keep cool this summer - bring the shade with you! With oversized hats, keep the sun out of your face while still looking trendy.

As seen on many celebrities.

Carolina Herrera

One trend that's bleeding through from spring to summer is sporty couture. You can't go wrong with light fabrics and neon colors this season.

Marc Jacobs summer/spring 2012

Versus spring/summer 2012

Another trend that's been sticking around is the clashing patterns trend. Go hog wild with your prints this summer!

Miu Miu spring/summer 2012

And, of course, Krystal has a great selection of garments that are suitable for the summertime! Have a peek!

Here is a gorgeous bright top from our own collection! The Hamptons Top is 100% knit silk noil, features a 1/2 sleeve with shoulder cut-out and a long hip-length body, and is $158.

If you want to look classy while wearing shorts, the Short Slacks are right for you. At $130, these bottoms are made of 100% wool crepe with linen front-pocket lining. They feature pleated front and back, 2 front pockets, standard pant-fly and contemporary length and fit for comfort and style.

For the working woman, this 100% silk jacket features a luxury Indian silk body, 2 front cotton-lining pockets, 2 Back Pockets, classic pant-fly.The cost of this number is $190.

The Tank, $98, is the perfect way to stay cool while also staying trendy. You can never go wrong with lace!

This blog post was able to happen thanks to Glamour Magazine, Vogue, and The Clothes Muse.

Thanks for reading, and happy summer!

Love,

Tessa, the intern.

Summer is approaching, you know what that means...

noreply@blogger.com (Intern) — Mon, 28 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Swimsuit season is just around the corner! While people are already getting into their bikinis and heading down to the beach, let's see what's in store for this summer - which is less than a month away! What's more, one-pieces and high-waisted bikinis are making their way back to popularity, which are more favorable options for those who are body-conscious.

One trend this summer is color contrasting, primarily black and white. Make a statement on the sands this summer with these profound prints.

Obadash, $295

Gucci, $750

Tummy-conscious ladies, rejoice! Another trend that was hot on the runway was architectural one-pieces - a "high-brow" way to display curves, according to Harper's Bazaar.

Zero + Maria Cornejo

Jets, $366

Eclairee, $320

Here's an interesting one - knit bathing suits are in style this season. Kerry Pieri from Harper's Bazaar states that this trend is "A sexy nod to retro crochet done up for the modern surfer girl."

Missoni

Anthropologie, $78 per piece

Ralph Lauren, $115

For those who love whimsy, you'll adore this trend: pattern mania! Mixed artsy prints will be spotted at poolsides everywhere.

Suno, $321

Giejo, $184

Victoria's Secret, $111

This blog post was able to happen thanks to Harper's Bazaar!

Thanks for reading and happy swimming!

- Tessa (the intern)

Jeremy Scott: Quirky Fashion for Top Celebrities

noreply@blogger.com (Intern) — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:12:00 +0000

Maybe you've heard the name "Jeremy Scott" before - maybe you haven't. Either way, his quirky designs and fun outfits have graced the runways since spring and summer 2005. His most recognized work is for Adidas, which features items such as sneakers with angel wings and animal hoodies. All kinds of celebrities wear his garments, from Madonna to Bjork, to Beyonce to Christina Aguilera, and even Miss Piggy.

His personal work.

His creation - among many others - for Adidas.

Nicki Minaj and the designer himself.

Giselle in one of his swimwear designs.

Fun, but do they obstruct vision?

As a lover of bright colors and quirky things, I am in love with these sneakers.

Scott is off-the-beaten-path when it comes to his prints.

Perfection.

These are pretty much pictures of things I want but will never have.

More runway.

Models in Scott's work for Adidas.

From his Fall/Winter 2012 line.

Scott with Lindsay Lohan and Snoop Dogg

Fall/Winter 2012 at New York Frashion Week

Seeking some inspiration from a certain loved and well-known cartoon.

He has even designed phone cases!

If you see a model with funky hair and vivid eye makeup like this, you can probably assume that model is wearing Jeremy Scott.

Backstage at one of his fashion shows.

Not something you see on runways very often.

Nor this. Digging those pants!

Lindsay Lohan in Jeremy Scott.

Model Sebastian Suave backstage.

The designer in his own work.

This blog post was able to happen thanks to Jeremy Scott's website and tumblr!

Thanks for reading!

- Tessa, the intern

Spring into New Trends

noreply@blogger.com (Intern) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:37:00 +0000

With springtime rapidly approaching, there's a whole new slew of trends for us to dive into. Peplum skirts, floral prints, sorbet and pastel palettes, and 1920s throwbacks have been gracing fashion weeks all around the world. Here's a look at what's hot this spring.

Floral Print

Custo Barcelona, Peter Som, Altuzarra, and Cynthia Rowley.

Florals are super-trendy this season, particularly those of high-voltage color. This season, the print is making its way toward pants, in lieu of just blouses and dresses.

A feminine twist on an otherwise masculine ensemble by Alexander Wang.

Altuzarra.

Peplum


Cushnie et Ochs, Karen Walker, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Jason Wu.

Peplums are a personal favorite of mine. This feminine flared waist can be found on all garments this season, from the classic skirt to jackets to jumpsuits.

Nina Ricci.

Yves Saint Laurent.

1920s Glam

Alberta Ferretti, Etro, Roberto Cavalli, and Gucci.

The spirit of the 1920s has made its way onto the runways this season. The low waist and deco embellishments are certainly a hit.

Marc Jacobs.

Ralph Lauren.

African Inspiration

Michael Kors.

Proenza Schouler

Tribal and safari themes were spotted on the New York runway. These included colors, prints, and African subtleties.

Donna Karan.

Sportswear

Alexander Wang.

Antonio Berardi, Roberto Cavalli, Antonio Marras, and Gucci

Sporty couture was big on the runways this season. Track pants and athletic detailing are popular with designers this spring.

Cynthia Rowley, Rag and Bone, Alexander Wang, and Altuzarra

Pretty Pastels

Tibi, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Preen, and Diane von Furstenberg

Light, muted colors are sure to be a hit this spring along with the bright floral prints.


3.1. Phillip Lim

Erdem, Alexander Wang, Band of Outsiders, and Jason Wu

This post was able to happen thanks to Fashionologie, Harper's Bazaar, and elle.com.

Thanks for reading!
Love,
Tessa

Lingerie over the years + today's trends.

noreply@blogger.com (Intern) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Lingerie has drastically changed - and improved - over the decades. From loincloths in 3000 B.C. to modern-day bras and panties, here's an overview of how undergarments have evolved.

Previously, as in thousands of years ago, underwear was not a necessity. They were simply extra pieces of cloth, primarily worn by those of noble stature. They were not worn for show or for support. And whatever lingerie was worn was certainly not very pretty.

The very beginning of undergarments.

Replica of 15th century underoos.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, garments such as corsets would essentially indirectly torture women, much like how they indirectly torture us today. These were actually aesthetically pleasing and offered support where necessary. Corsets in this day and age were used to give women the silhouettes that were "in style."

Okay, maybe those corsets truly were torture.

The effects of incredibly tight lacing.

Not very much changed between the 18th and 19th centuries, as far as lingerie went. Perhaps they became a bit less stiff and restrictive.

Replicas of a 19th century corsets.

At the turn of the century, lingerie had become a necessity. Instead of corsets, which were not suited for every day wear, women began to wear bras which are undeniably more comfortable than corsets. Bras and panties back then, however, were still vastly different from how they are today. Bra cups were more pointed and underwear was high-waisted. Lingerie had also become more sexualized.

Lingerie of the early 20th century, which is somewhat similar to modern-day lingerie.

Of course, corsets were still worn and the shapes of them had changed in ways that allowed women to breathe easier.

Today's styles of lingerie are very different from those of the 18th century, and even of the 20th century. Bras have been made to be supportive as well as more comfortable, and are no longer have that ridiculous point in the cups. Lingerie of the modern age has decreased in size and has continued to become more sexualized as well.

Lingerie of the modern age.

There are also a number of different styles that ladies can choose from. Women can wear thongs, bikinis, boyshorts, or even "granny panties" if they so choose.

These thongs look nothing like 15th century underwear.

Some adorable bikini panties.

An example of boyshorts.

Granny panties. Cute!

Just kidding, this is a more accurate depiction of "granny panties," which are really just high-waisted undies.

There are also many different styles of bras available - strapless, demi cup, push up, full coverage, and so on.

A strapless bra. They can be more supportive than you might think!

Demi cup bra. Since it is literally "half cup," it is ideal for those who aren't large-busted.

Full-coverage bra - for those of us who need extra support and coverage.

Push-up bras: for those who need a little extra help or who want to flaunt what they've already got.

Sports bras. So our tits don't slap our faces while we work out.

Guess what? It's lingerie season, especially with Valentine's Day rapidly approaching. Here are this year's trends.

Brights, such as teal, plum, and coral, are going to be in style this year. Such happy colors are mood-boosters, and will help moods improve during these tough economic times.

Prints are also going to be big this season. Leopard print is already a staple in lingerie, but floral and vintage-inspired prints will also be surfacing.

Sheers and lace are also an up-and-coming trend in the lingerie world. Lace and sheers are timeless, elegant classics.

It also appears that high waists are coming back in style.

It's that time of year again!

Gonna do some role play?

Something to surprise your honey with.

Thanks to Exhibitors Daily and Victoria's Secret, this article was able to happen.

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Tessa

Screen Actors Guild Awards - Best and Worst by Tessa

noreply@blogger.com (Intern) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:48:00 +0000

Screen Actors Guild Awards - What's Going on With These Dresses?!

In my humble opinion, the looks for this year's SAG awards were a bit of, well, a flop. Though there wasa wide variety of colors and style, very few of the dresses stunned me, and most of them made me think, "What the hell is that?" So here is my personal overview of these dresses.

Amber Heard wearing Zac Posen Pre-Fall 2012. This dress is, well, interesting to say the least. What's with the t-shirt-esque neckline and sleeves? And the cutouts? I don't get it. I would say that this look is bad. To me, this is not a red carpet look; had I the chance to tweak it, I would make the bottom of the dress hit above the knees. Then perhaps it would be more of a club look.

Angelina Jolie in Jenny Packham Fall 2011. This dress isn't too bad, but I don't particularly favor the leathery, metallic, or whatever it is material. The drapey effect and length, however, are fantastic and flattering. I'd say that this look is good. You go Jenny Packham!

Ashlee Simpson wearing Jenny Packham. Once again, another fine job done by Packham. The shape is lovely and flattering, as are the embellishments. The sheer bodice adds a touch of modesty to an area that is not-so-modest. This is one of the best looks of the night.

Dianna Agron in Carolina Herrera. This is one of those dresses that makes me think, "Oh God, what is that?!" The bottom half of the dress is fine, but what's going on with that neckline and those straps? This would have been a bit better if it were sleeveless and had a sweetheart neckline. Also, that color. What? It suits her, but it's a bit too fun for the red carpet. This look is bad.

Emily Blunt wearing Oscar de la Renta. Another one of those "What the hell?" dresses. I really enjoy the cut of the dress, but what is that color? It pops against her pale skin and dark hair, but is it lime green trying to be pastel green? Pastel green trying to be neon? Or did the cameras just completely blow it out of proportion? Any which way, the color looks like it belongs to a scene queen's myspace profile background. This look is bad.

The lovely Emma Stone in Alexander McQueen. This gets no critique. I don't care if this is a biased opinion. I love Alexander McQueen and all of his work is automatically perfect - to me at least. This look is one of the evening's best.

Kaley Cuoco in Romona Keveza Spring 2012. Uh...what. Are you species-confused? You're not a swan, you're a human. The bodice is nice, but not the feathered skirt. This look is bad.

Kelly Osbourne in Badgley Mischka Pre-Fall 2012. What's with the funky white dresses? The long cut and the broad sleeves make Kelly look shorter than necessary. Though the detailing on the sleeves are interesting, this look is bad.

Sofia Vergara in Marchesa. I absolutely love everything about this dress. The hue is lovely, the shape is figure-flattering - this dress is stunning on her. Definitely one of the evening's best looks.

Thanks to Style Bistro, this blog post was able to happen.

Thank you for reading!

Love,

Tessa

Scarves, every which way

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:19:00 +0000

Scarves. You can pretty much count on them always being in style in one form or another. Silk, knit, square, skinny, bulky, fine, tassled, with pockets, flannel, chiffon, printed, plain, striped, or squiggly. A brightly colored scarf adds a splash of color and turns a plain, dull outfit into a serious fashion statement.

If you're anything like me, you have more scarves than you know what to do with. Literally. You open your scarf drawer and close it again because you just don't know how to incorporate it into your outfit.

I'm going to throw a few ideas at you. These are best suited for fashion scarves - cotton, linen, silk, chiffon - rather than cold-weather scarves (knitted, yarn, bulky, etc).

The standard - loop it loosely around your neck. Classic and lovely, it's my go-to style

You can tie it tighter around your neck, turning the knot to the side 1950s style. This works best with a smaller scarf, although using a longer scarf would have a certain dramatic flair to it.

Or go really crazy and don't tie it at all. Go for that carefree-crazy look. It will look like the scarf just settled around your shoulders without you realizing it and is coming along for the ride!

But don't limit your scarves to your neck, oh certainly not! Wear them on your head!

They make great headbands...

They can hide a boring hair tie....

Or even wrap up all your hair for a bohemian look!

Wear your scarf as a belt....

...a sash....

...or purse accessory!

Just don't do that thing where you fold the scarf into a triangle, drape it around your shoulders and tie or pin it in front...it's just so old-ladyish. It's so bad I couldn't even find a picture of it!

New Website!

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:22:00 +0000

We've done a major overhaul on our website.

It's much fancier now.

It's quite lovely.

Go check it out!

www.savanella.com

Color!!

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:35:00 +0000

I stumbled across this blog while surfing Facebook, and before I knew it, an hour had gone by. I can't stop visiting this blog, seeing if she's updated, reading old posts. It's just so HAPPY!

ColorMeKatie is colorful, happy, whimsical, lovely, and spectacular. It makes me happier just seeing the bright colors that she uses or pictures of her latest crazy adventure.

Go check out her blog, then just TELL me that it didn't make your day 10000000 times better!

Lace be a Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:21:00 +0000

What does lace mean to you?

Elegance?

Lingerie?

Ballerinas?

Biker Chic?

Grandma?

Shoes?

Weddings?

Goth?

Tea time?

Flirtations?

Jewelry?

Vintage?

Corsets?

Innocence?

Furniture?

Punk?

Parasols?

Is it classy? Trashy? Old fashioned? Risque? Timeless? Too much? Too little?

We love it.

Lace tank in black and white.

Night on the Town Dress.

The Trench - Everywoman's Coat

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:06:00 +0000

It's rare to find an article of clothing that really works for nearly every body type. But I just can't think of a body type that isn't flattered by a trench coat.

Ok, all those women are roughly the same shape. But let's explore the options.

-Hourglass: An hourglass figure is wider on the top and bottom than in the middle. Generally considered a fantastic figure to have anyway, it's the body a trench was made for since the trench coat usually belts at the waist. Your smallest part is accentuated, and your curves are given the room they need in a very flattering way.

-Pear: A pear shape is bigger on the bottom than the top. A trench coat's broad shoulders and collars or lapels will help to balance out your hips, while the belt will bring in your waist. Instant hourglass! Get a trench with a flared skirt, and your hips will help provide the intended shape, rather than looking uncomfortably constrained.

-Apple: Don't you love all these fruit names? (Not!) An apple shape is widest at the waist. This doesn't necessarily mean you're overweight, it means yours breasts and shoulders aren't much wider than your waist, however big it is. Regardless, again the belted, flared skirt trench comes to the rescue. The flared skirt and wide top will give you more shape at top and bottom, while the belt will make you appear to have a more distinctive waist than you really have.

-No hips: Have a case of waist-becomes-thighs, or back-becomes-legs, with no hips or butt to break things up? It's nice to be thin or even "athletic" but you long for some womanly curves....you already know where I'm going with this. Flared skirt = instant hips. Belt = instant waist.

QED the trench coat works for everyone. Case closed.

My absolute favorite item in our current line is the Uptown coat. The camel color is sophisticated, the silk lining is like water, and the oversized hood stays on your head without mussing your hair.

Then there's the Uptown Coat's outgoing little sister, the Downtown coat. With her hoodless, wide collar and cheerful color, she's bold, bright, and beautiful. And she knows it.

Whatever your style-uptown elegance or downtown fun-you can't go wrong.

Model: Emily Lund

Photographer: Sean Atcheson

http://www.savanella.com/shop-2/outerwear/

Flash Fashion Show

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:11:00 +0000

We decided to try something new-a twist on the ever-popular flash mob and a twist on the traditional fashion show. Mix them together and you have a flash fashion show. We performed at the Culver City Westfield mall on Sunday, December 11th. The mall was super helpful and accommodating. They even set us up with a sound system.

The cast was incredible-we put this whole thing together with two short rehearsals and they all came out, were completely professional, and had a great time doing it. Check out our two party crashers-hilarious!

There are several other videos on youtube from different vantage points. But this one is definitely the best!

Happy Holidays from Krystal Savanella Designs!

How to Wear a Cropped Jacket

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:22:00 +0000

Lately, our cropped, military-style Tavern Jacket has been getting a lot of attention. Made out of luxurious Italian wool and sporting two rows of buttons, there are dozens of ways to fasten this jacket.

Here are a few tips on how to best wear a cropped jacket.

- Cropped jackets create a slightly bulkier look up top, so combine it with a longer, form-fitting top to emphasize your waistline. The combination helps to create the appearance of a svelte figure.

-Cropped jackets are perfect for pairing with dresses, especially dresses that hit at the knee or shorter. A longer jacket with a shorter dress can make your torso look weirdly long; a cropped jacket lets the dress shine.

-You've put together a totally cute outfit, but it's a little chilly and you want something to add a bit of warmth. The problem is that your favorite pea coat/sweat shirt/sweater/vampire cloak covers up your bomb outfit. Solution: Cropped jacket. Especially worn open, it won't hide what you're wearing, but it will keep your arms and shoulders warm.

LBD? NBD.

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:27:00 +0000

The Little Black Dress. So ubiquitous it's often known simply by its initials. Always right, never wrong, no matter what.

But where did it come from? At what point in fashion history was it decided that a simple, elegant, short, black dress was the ultimate fashion staple for any classy woman? I took my question to the one place where all answers reside.

Wikipedia.

Turns out we have Coco Chanel to thank for liberating black from its mourning-only status. Which is really rather fantastic, because our lady Chanel happens to be a huge inspiration to Krystal Savanella.

According to Wikipedia, in 1926 Chanel published a sketch in Vogue of a short, black dress which was mostly ignored at the time, although the magazine did describe it as "the frock that all the world will wear."

It wasn't until the Great Depression that the Little Black Dress really took off. The masses flocked to the movies to forget their own lives for several hours, drinking in the elegant actresses in their fashionable, black, dresses. Black stood out on film best, so the trend was practical as much as it was fashionable.

But it took a Holly Golightly to cement the reputation of the LBD.

The dress was Givenchy, not Chanel, but it hardly mattered; Chanel still gets the credit for bringing the LBD into the fashion spotlight.

The '70s and late '90s had an obsession with color that set black back a little, but fashion is a fickle mistress and has once more decided to shower the LBD with love. I don't think it will ever stay out of style for long.

Timeless, classic, and versatile are the words that Krystal designs to, so when combined with her admiration for Coco Chanel it is only fitting that every Krystal Savanella Designs season thus far has featured its very own LBD. We call the latest one the Secretary Dress, inspired in part by this photoshoot:

Photography by Sean Atcheson

That's Josie Ratan as The Boss, with Emily Lund doing the pose that gave the dress its name. By the way, the Secretary Dress has two pockets in the front, cleverly sewn into the seams.

Photography by Sean Atcheson

In just a little over 14 years, the LBD will celebrate its 100th birthday. I wonder what Chanel will do to mark the occasion?

The Secretary Dress is available at our website.

12 Days of Giveaways

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:43:00 +0000

We've got something special for you with December's giveaway. We are going to do 12 days of giveaways, starting on Wednesday, December 14, and going right up until Christmas. Every day of those 12 days we will be giving away one of our sassy little neck ties. We have them in all sorts of colors-black, mint, leopard print-and they're silky soft besides. Our friend and model Amanda rocked one, along with our black lace tank and silk blazer-

So, how to get one: Tweet, tweet, tweet!! Starting today, December 1st, every tweet and retweet about this giveaway will improve your chances of winning. Every day of the giveaway we will randomly select one winner from all our little tweeters. The more you tweet, the more chances you have!

Simple enough, right? Just make sure you mention us-@KSDcouture-in your tweet!

EmilyReviews reviews Krystal Savanella Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:16:00 +0000

Lisa over at Emily Reviews has reviewed one of our beautiful silk scarves. We're glad to hear that she liked it! It's exciting when you see others enjoying your product.

Here is the review-it's great!
http://www.emilyreviews.com/2011/11/review-savanella-scarf.html

Krystal Savanella and the Nautical Fashion Show

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:45:00 +0000

Last Thursday evening, the CSUCI yearbook-The Nautical-held a fashion show on campus. They graciously invited us to contribute some looks for it, which we were excited to do. Allie Woerner, show planner and our former intern, tells the story best over at her blog, SparklesandStilettos. Check it out.

Thank you Allie, The Nautical, and CSUCI!

KSD on the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:51:00 +0000

We contributed to TPE's post about the biggest complaints about owning a business. We're #50-check it out!

http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/getting-clients/the-biggest-complaints-about-owning-a-business

November Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:38:00 +0000

It's giveaway time again!! Here in southern California the weather has turned accommodatingly cold, which is how November is supposed to be but rarely is. There's even frost on the roof when I leave for work in the morning. Coffee Bean has their Winter Dream tea latte again, and every day I can wear boots, jackets, and a scarf. I looooooove cold weather clothing!

And that is the theme of our November giveaway. In more than one way. First of all, the prize:

Hellooooo adorable matching scarf and hat. Our logo is embroidered on the scarf, adding a little flair, oh and did we mention-it has pockets.

If you think the jacket looks familiar, you are absolutely right. It's our military-style blazer (The Blazer), and our model Ali rocked it. It fit her perfectly.

So how to get your hands on this hat and scarf? So, so easy. Cold weather clothing, take two.

1) Go to our Facebook page

2) Post your favorite Fall accessory. Motorcycle boots? Striped gloves? Matching hat and scarf??

3) Get your friends to like your post. The post with the most likes at the end of the contest wins!

That's it! The contest starts today at 11:00 AM and ends on Monday, November 28th, and will kick off our Cyber Monday Free Shipping promotion.

Disclaimer: Wearing this hat and scarf will not necessarily earn you attention from good-looking men....but it can't hurt.

Photographer: Aron Korney

Models: Ali Crouse and Eyal BenDavid

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at H&M

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Ohmigosh ohmigosh ohmigosh. I am so excited. H&M is putting out a line inspired by the Lisbeth Sanders character from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

I don't know which part of this excites me the most:

1) The idea of a clothing line based completely off a character from a movie is rather novel and very exciting.

2) The designer, Trish Summerville, is actually the costume designer from the movie....LEGIT.

3) It's a Swedish book....the Swedes made a movie of it before the Americans did.....and H&M is a Swedish store.

4) The look is pretty specific-described as "tomboy meets cyber-punk"- but the pieces are definitely versatile enough to be mixed into anyone's closet. I mean, who doesn't need a leather motorcycle jacket?

To be honest, it's not even my style really. In fact, it's not my style at all. I'm not goth, or punk, or biker, or cyberpunk. So why am I digging it so much? Why am I itching to scurry over to H&M? Maybe it has something to do with Lisbeth.

I read all three books and loved them. Lisbeth is a really unusual character and not everyone likes her, but I was very intrigued by her. I didn't want to be her, I'm not even sure I wanted to know her. But I wanted to keep reading about her. I saw the movie-the Swedish one, come on, it was a Swedish book-and I found myself even more enthralled with her. Lisbeth is compelling. I'm a little peeved that they're making an American version of the movie so soon after the Swedish version; I feel like everyone should go see the Swedish version, it's more true to the books than I'll bet the American one will be. I'm afraid they are going to butcher Lisbeth's character. She's going to be hard to get just right-unlikable yet sympathetic, unrelatable and yet strangely admirable. Oh yeah, and totally badass without being cliche.

Then again, Daniel Craig is going to be in the American version....no complaints there.

KSD is on Main Street!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:53:00 +0000

Mainstreet.com that is.

You spent a ton of money on that truly excellent Halloween costume, but now you can't help thinking-what are you going to do with it come November 1st? Well, this article just came out addressing that very topic, and our very own Ms. Krystal Savanella is quoted throughout! And she has some pretty cool ideas. So check it out!!

Google+'s Big Mistake

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:46:00 +0000

I have to admit, I'm impressed with Google+, despite myself. I'm not usually a fan of any product that tries to be the "new" anything-come up with your own idea, don't try to one-up the competition. It just tends to get petty, and the market gets inundated with items that are all basically the same with only minor differences.

So to me, Google+ was just Google being jealous of Facebook and saying, "Me too! I can do it too!" Why would a wildly successful company that already runs half the internet need to infringe on yet another aspect of it? So I resisted joining Google+, on principle. Not that it was hard-and that's another reason why you shouldn't try to emulate the competition-I already HAVE Facebook; why would I want to go through all the work of switching over? And maintaining two separate social media sites that are nearly identical? No thanks.

But, I have a job. And my job involves social media marketing. And while on a personal level I may have no interest in Google+, on a professional level I am highly intrigued by each new social media platform and want to try it out to see how I can utilize it for my company. So in the capacity of my position at Krystal Savanella-House of Couture, I entered the world of Google+.

And that was when I discovered Google+'s BIG MISTAKE.

You can't have a company profile on Google+. Just try to enter your company name instead of a valid name when making a profile, and up pops the message warning you that you are violating their naming guidelines.

Originally, there was no official way for companies to be on Facebook. When Facebook opened up to the public, businesses would make profiles for themselves and had to go around "friending" like everybody else. Some businesses made groups instead of profiles. Then pages came along, and now practically every business has a Facebook page. It took a while, but Facebook paid attention to its users, and learned what they wanted. And one of the things they wanted was a solid way for businesses to have a Facebook presence.

You would think that Google+ wouldn't waste time learning the same lessons that Facebook already learned for it. You would think they would realize that business has jumped on the social media bandwagon. It's not just about socializing anymore- if people are going to use a social media platform, they're going to want to use it for business. That's basic.

Now, Google+ realizes this on some level. They are indeed working on a way to get businesses onto Google+. But they're not ready yet. Instead of encouraging users to be creative while they wait however, Google+ has asked businesses to wait their turn. They're very serious about this. Not only are they asking businesses to wait, they will shut down attempted business profiles. You think I'm kidding?

“We just ask for your patience while we build it. In the meantime, we are discouraging businesses from using regular profiles to connect with Google+ users. Our policy team will actively work with profile owners to shut down non-user profiles.”

Oh Google. That is not the way it works. The internet, the world of social media, has become a consumer-driven world. The users will do what they want to do. They are creative and will find a way. No business profiles yet? They'll make regular profiles for their businesses while they wait. By the time you roll out your business profiles you could have thousands, tens of thousands of companies already in love with Google+ and ready to switch their profiles over. Instead, you're going to punish creativity. You're going to put the brakes on growth. And all those potential users are going to shake their heads in disgust and go back to Facebook, where they are welcome and always have been. Don't make us wait, we won't wait for you.

Capes (and cloaks)

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:07:00 +0000

Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era. I long for petticoats, bloomers, corsets, full skirts...but mostly capes. And cloaks. I go bananas over capes (and cloaks). They're beautiful, elegant, practical. Bulky parkas make you look like a snowman, but a dramatic, floor-length cloak preserves warmth AND appearance. Not to mention the sense of mystery it adds-along with the irresistible urge to swirl the fabric behind you every time you turn. I've always wished capes (and cloaks) would become acceptable outerwear. Except for Halloween though, wearing one will earn you strange looks. (Thank god for Halloween....I own at least 5 different costume capes (and cloaks) and they come out every October).

So when I applied for an internship at Krystal Savanella Designs all those months ago, and looked over the website as preparation for my interview, I knew instantly it was meant to be. Why? Because THIS item is part of the collection:

It was love at first sight. Finally, someone who understood me! Ok, so I may have gotten a little bit overexcited. But I also got the internship. Not saying the two were related. I had to wonder though-was Krystal just as nuts as I am, or was it possible that capes (and cloaks) might possibly be entering the fashion scene? Could I be so lucky?

Yes, yes I could.

In my exploration of this glorious trend, I came across two questions that I think are worth answering.

1) What is the difference between capes, cloaks, and ponchos?

2) How do you wear capes, anyway?

Capes, cloaks, and ponchos

Ponchos are solid pieces of fabric with a hole punched in the middle for your head. They are more shawl-like.

Capes are open in the front and sometimes have slits for the arms, or even sleeves. They are typically more elaborate than ponchos.

Cloaks are just longer capes. Also, standard wear for vampires. Just saying.

How to wear capes

Capes have a big silhouette. Even belted capes have a lot of mass. This is no reason to panic, however. Just balance out the cape with skinny jeans and boots, or a pencil skirt. As long as the rest of your outfit isn't bulky, the cape won't make you look too big.

Capes can be worn with anything, for any level of dress. They look fantastic over dresses for a night out or paired with jeans for a romp around town.

And you know what? Go ahead and swirl it when you turn. It's ok, we'll understand.

Smart Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:22:00 +0000

Picture this: You're in your favorite clothing store, an hour before closing. Usually you can barely afford to window-shop here, much less step foot in the door, but your birthday was last week and Grandma slipped you a few extra greenbacks. You promised her you'd buy something "special, not groceries or gas" so here you are. It's more money than you usually have to spend on nice clothes, but it's also not enough to buy out the store's entire stock of OMGSOCUTE dresses that you've been lusting after.

So what do you do? How to spend this precious money just right?

If you're at all like me, Ross, Target, and TJ Maxx keep you appropriately covered, leaving you to cast wistful glances at Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Urban Outfiters.....sigh! So when you do have a few extra bucks to spend and find yourself in one of these paradises, you're overwhelmed by the options and freeze up.

The first thing I'm going to tell you is it's OK to spend that money at your favorite store. Go ahead and buy yourself one or two nice things, without feeling guilt that you should go buy an entire new wardrobe at Marshalls. Which one or two things? Follow these guidelines to retail bliss.

1) Quality: An item made well is a much better purchase than an item that's 3 times cheaper but falls apart after 3 months. Consider it an investment in fabulous.

2) Versatility: The more places you can wear it, the more reasons to buy it. A simple black skirt with ballet flats and a sweater set is comfortable and suitable for the office, but throw on killer heels and a sexy top and you're ready for that romantic dinner.

3) Timelessness: Some things will never go out of style. Yes, it may cost more now, but if you're still wearing it 30 years down the road, it's going to pay for itself many times over. Every woman needs a Little Black Dress. Or that go-to purse that looks good with everything.

4) Temperature-proof: I adore season-specific clothing (it helps me pretend we have weather, here in southern California), but there's something to be said for a piece that works just as well in winter as it does in summer. My favorite jeans look just as good with sandals and a tank top as they do with boots and a cozy sweater.

Having a smaller wardrobe that stretches farther and lasts longer is better for you, better for your closet (especially if it's small!), and better for your wallet, ultimately. So spend the money, spend it well, and don't look back. You have our blessing.

October Giveaway Winner!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Natalie) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:12:00 +0000

Before I announce the winner, I just want to say that I am SO excited about this contest. So many people participated, and so enthusiastically. It was very exciting and humbling to see. So thank you everyone, I wish we could give ALL of you a sexy black tank. =) Guess you'll just have to ask your mom/hubby/sister/fiance/etc to buy you one for the holidays. ;-)

Ok ok ok, so who's the winner already!? Drumroll please.........Peggy H, on Twitter as @PeggySue753!!!! Congrats Peggy! We know you'll look fabulous in it!

For all the rest of you....don't you worry. November will bring another giveaway. And we're giving away something truly delicious. And cozy. And cute. I can't say more now, but.....definitely stay tuned!