Welcome to Crescendo's blog, which we launched (in part) to keep you updated on Crescendo news and events. But that's just the start. We’re packing this blog with advice and information about fashion, makeup, shopping, health and fitness and much more. The goal: To make your life a little easier, a lot more fun and, of course, eternally stylish. We’ll interview fashion insiders, designers, stylists and experts. When we discover a great makeup trick, we’ll share it with you. When we hear about the coolest new product, well, then so will you. And when we’re obsessing over the latest fitness craze, it won’t be long until you are, too. (Our obsession is your obsession.) So check back soon, write to us often and, most of all, enjoy the read.
November 11th, 2011
Students of fashion! Get out your number 2 pencils for our pop quiz. Find out how much you know about your favorite designers and moments in design.
1. Which designer is credited as the first to use ethnic models in runway shows?
(A) Yves Saint Laurent
(B) Christian Lacroix
(C) Oleg Cassini
(D) Christian Dior
2. Who started her line with the intent "to design modern clothes for modern people"?
(A) Cynthia Rowley
(B) Coco Chanel
(C) Eileen Fisher
(D) Donna Karan
3. Who worked on costume designs for the TV series “Miami Vice”?
(A) Bob Mackie
(B) Giorgio Armani
(C) Gianni Versace
(D) Karl Lagerfeld
4. Who designed Madonna's dress for her 2000 wedding to actor Guy Ritchie?
(A) Tom Ford
(B) Vera Wang
(C) Stella McCartney
(D) Isaac Mizrahi
5. Who does cartwheels at the end of her fashion shows?
(A) Anna Sui
(B) Betsey Johnson
(C) Vivienne Westwood
(D) Nanette Lepore
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September 21st, 2011
While there was no need for umbrellas on the red carpet at this year's Emmy Awards, it was certainly still raining. Raining pears that is! Although the 63rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards were home to many stunning ensembles, take a peek below to find our favorites among this year's pear-shaped red carpet celebs. Work it ladies!
Christina Hendricks
The 36-year-old Mad Men star sizzled in a silk satin gown by Johanna Johnson – the first dress she tried during her Emmys fitting! Christina finished off her look with shoes by Christian Louboutin, a Judith Leiber clutch, and Palladium jewelry. The moody period drama about Madison Avenue advertising executives was honored as television's outstanding drama for the fourth consecutive year.
Sofia Vergara
The 39-year-old Modern Family star chose a custom Vera Wang coral one-shouldered gown with tumbled tulle and chiffon draping. Completing the look with Casadei heels and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry, Sofia was at the top of every best dressed list! Sofia celebrated the multiple awards collected by the Modern Family cast by attending the Fig and Olive afterparty, a restaurant in Los Angeles.
Evan Rachel Wood
Channeling old Hollywood glamour, Rachel wore an Elie Saab LBG (little black gown) that was covered in sequin. Her short 'do topped off the ultra stylish classic look.
Nina Dobrev
The up-and-coming Vampire Diaries star not only held her own among red carpet pros but she actually beat many of them out (Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet) for the night's best dressed. Nina paired the stunning Donna Karan gown with sparkling Neil Lane jewels, a Judith Leiber clutch and Brian Atwood heels. The sexy curve-hugging design of the gown and its pleated train took this actress staright to the A-list!
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September 9th, 2011
Arwa Jumkawala, owner of GemKitty, shares her thoughts on making the right statement with statement jewelry.
1. Save the prints for tomorrow.
When you wear statement jewelry, your necklace should be the star of the show. Everything else is a bit player. Stick to neutral solids and avoid bright prints that would compete for attention. If you’re not sure, a black shirt will always work. Sorry, today is not the day for leopard print.
2. Go with classic necklines.
When wearing statement necklaces, you want your shirt’s neckline to be an understated canvas for your sparkle. A simple scoop or v-neck that helps the necklace stay flat works best. Collars, halters and frills will interfere with the way the necklace sits on your décolletage.
3. Minimize other accessories.
Otherwise, they’ll steal the statement piece’s thunder. If you’re wearing a chunky necklace, pair it with naked ears or simple stud earrings.
4. Create your own.
Rummage through your jewelry box. Can you layer several necklaces or bracelets together to create your own unique item? I like to take simple, beaded necklaces, twist them together and create one big chunky piece. It’s about trying new things. A good way to get your feet wet is to layer several different chain necklaces at different lengths. It tends to work well no matter what.
Finally, I like mixing metals, styles and colors, but if you’re hesitant, go with monochromes. When all of the bracelets you layer are the same turquoise hue, for instance, you’ll unify different styles and materials.
5. Play up your assets.
Statement jewelry draws the eye and commands attention. Think about where you want your admirers to focus. For example, if you’re having a fantastic hair day, you might want to wear statement earrings. If you feel it’s the night to show off your cleavage, wear a piece that stops just short of that area. When I get my nails done in a bright color, I’ll wear bangles or a big cocktail ring to complement my manicure.
6. Size yourself up.
Keep your body proportions in mind when styling! If you’re petite, a super long necklace will make you appear even tinier. If you have a long face, lengthy chandeliers will emphasize this. If you have short fingers, a big cocktail ring is not the best look. Ask a trusted friend.
And have fun!
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August 24th, 2011
If your pocketbook isn’t up to a kitchen renovation, some of the simplest touches can enliven your space's look. After all, it’s fall, a time of reinvention (if not renovation). San Francisco interior designer Kristi Witt presents easy ideas for a more elegant kitchen.
New hue. In the kitchen, paint offers the most bang for a hard-earned buck. Since cabinetry takes up wall space you’d otherwise need to paint, a small amount makes a big impact. Try a focal wall or, under your cabinets, go with a dash of color that coordinates with your backsplash tile.
Art and soul. Why reserve art for your living room? A salon arrangement of photos or a solo statement piece gives your kitchen soul. If your ceilings are high, use the empty space above your cabinetry to draw the eye upward.
Bowled over. Those gorgeous bowls and cake pedestals—usually reserved for entertaining—are notorious space hogs. But when arranged above your cabinetry at varying heights, they become showpieces.
Spring cleaning. Be honest about those dusty cookbooks and dented pots. Are these never-used eyesores adding to your quality of life? Let them go for an instantly sleeker kitchen.
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August 17th, 2011
A gracious host makes her guest feel like royalty. A gracious guest makes her host feel like…inviting her visitor back. As we prepare to spend time at our friends’ homes this fall, we checked in with etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, who offers these rules of thumb.
Be a gracious houseguest. These few considerations will get you invited back.
* Send your host your travel itinerary in advance.
* Never assume your host will pick you up from the airport. In fact, consider renting a car, which allows you the freedom to explore at will.
* Present a small hostess gift, like decorative napkins or stationary.
* Investigate activities you’d like to pursue on your own. Even if your host won’t admit it, she’ll appreciate a break. You might, too.
* Help with the chores. Your host may decline it, but a thoughtful guest knows to sing for her supper.
* Avoid hot topics—politics! religion!—when you suspect your host has opposite views.
* Remember the adage: “House guests are like fish. After three days, they start to smell!” So even if you were unable to do everything you’d planned, don’t extend your visit.
* Write a thank you note within 48 hours.
Recommended read: Gottsman’s blog. It’s packed with useful, modern etiquette advice on everything from how to write a love letter to tattoos in the workplace.
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August 16th, 2011
Recently, we spoke with Amanda Monteiro, Crescendo’s adopted industry pundit, about an interesting conundrum in high fashion: Some of the most hyped fashion designers never achieve bottom-line success—or not the kind that’s lasting. What gives?
In this installment of “Fashion Myths: Debunked,” Monteiro—an industry pro who mentors emerging fashion talent via her blog MODEcollective—shares her thoughts here:
Sometimes, magazine coverage of the next big thing in fashion gives the perception of business success. Many times, that perception is incorrect. Often, the designers who don’t seem as sexy are the ones who reap financial rewards from sales.
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August 9th, 2011
Readers will be absolutely stunned to hear new research showing that women struggle to find bathing suits that flatter. (Let's just hope this groundbreaking work wasn't funded by taxpayer dollars.) No, but seriously. The poll, conducted by ShopSmart magazine, does serve up interesting factoids for the bathing suit season:
* The average woman owns 3 bathing suits. Compare that to 7 pairs of jeans and 17 pairs of shoes. (To say nothing of handbags.)
* On average, women pay $47 for a new suit.
* 31% of women say the most offensive swimsuits are those that are not age appropriate. Thongs are next, with 28% calling the dental-floss look offensive.
* 61% of women go swimsuit shopping alone.
* Bikinis are the least popular style overall, except for women age 18 to 34, who love their itsy bitsies.
* 33% like how they look in a suit; 18% don’t.
Attention, women with small waists and full hips! Play up your upper body with swimsuits that feature scoop or other interesting necklines, including bandeaus. Boy shorts and straight skirts minimize hips and provide coverage. But if you're in the mood to show some skin, high-cut legs will elongate your ooh-la-la lines.
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August 5th, 2011
Fashion and beauty brands seem to be announcing "new faces" at an incredibly fast rate. It's hard to keep all of the celebrity endorsements straight. So we put together this cheat sheet of some recent developments.
Hailee Steinfeld is the new face of Miu Miu. Steinfeld is the 14-year-old "True Grit" star who wowed the press with her precocious (but still age-appropriate, refreshingly) style at the Oscars.
* Ashton Kutcher for Brazilian label Colcci: After punking fashion show attendees with a surprise appearance on Sao Paulo runways, Kutcher posed for a hypersexy Fall 2011 ad campaign.
* Betty White for AARP: Okay, probably not the right list. But we love us our Golden Girl.
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July 21st, 2011
Expand your fashion vocabulary with these fun fact bits of terminology.
#1: Whiskering
Whiskering. When cowboys sat on their horses for long stretches of time, they ended up with white lines that ran horizontally across the upper thigh of their jeans. They looked a little like cat whiskers. Back in the day, the wear and tear style was hardly a coveted look among the fashion elite. These days, however, you pay good money for whiskers on your jeans. Meow. Or should we say: "Woah Nelly"?
#2: Partylon
Partylon: A DuPont nylon tulle fabric from the 50s, and quite possibly the best name for a textile in the history of fashion. Why in the world would any woman in her right mind want to wear anything but Partylon?
#3: Jeggings
Jeggings. Jeans + Leggings, duh! Leggings are a type of fitted clothing covering the legs and (supposedly) can be worn by both men and women. Did you know that originally leggings were two separate garments, one for each leg? Modern leggings are typically made from a blend of lycra, Spandex, nylon, cotton, or polyester.
#4: Meggings
Meggings. Male leggings for all! You know you've been wanting to see a pair!
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July 15th, 2011
The good fortune lives on! Since all of you sweet pears responded so well to last week's promotion, we've decided to give you all another chance to get lucky! This week we are featuring four new favorites from our Fall 2011 collection. These styles are yours at 30% off when you place your orders by next Monday, 7/18.
Follow the links below to see 360 views of our four featured styles this week!
Meet Katharina
This comfortable, casual twill/flannel jacket features a cinched waist perfectly tailored to flatter that pear shape, along with a structured collar to add just a touch of drama.
Sale Price: $157
Kay
A throwback to one of our most popular styles from past seasons, this updated knit features a gorgeous neckline and sleeve detail, and is available in berry, cream, and black.
Sale Price: $80
Meet Patty
This pintuck cardigan, available in black and ice blue, sinches in at the natural waist to show off that beautiful figure. Pair it with jeans or wear it as a third piece in the office.
Sale Price: $108
Kay Knit
Our lightweight, jersey version of the Kay Sweater is available in Ice Blue and Black. This comfortable long-sleeved shirt is perfect for that easy day to evening look.
Sale Price: $80
Call or Click today!
888-215-0270
http://www.crescendoapparel.com
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