The Pretty Pear

Fan of Kiyonna?

Kiyonna is giving away one $150 shopping spree each day this month. All you have to do is fan them on Facebook and you’re entered to win! The contest ends on August 31st.

Win a $150 gift card from Kiyonna!

I’m really excited about today’s Birthday Celebration prize! What can I say about Kiyonna? If I could get my hands on every item that Kiyonna makes from now until forever, I would be incredibly happy. Their style is right in line with my own – fantastic colors and cuts, feminine but not frilly or frou frou, easy, comfortable and always beautifully crafted and styled. They make clothes that become the pieces you reach for time and again because they just always look and feel good.

If you’ve never tried Kiyonna, now is your chance to see why I rave about the brand. If you’re already a fan, this could be your opportunity to pick up that item you’ve been coveting. A big thank you to the folks at Kiyonna who have been generous enough to provide a $150 gift card to one lucky reader.

Update: This contest is closed. Thanks to all who entered!

Want: London Car Coat from Kiyonna

I loooove this coat from Kiyonna. It's unique but not so super trendy that it will be out of style by next winter. You can see the ruffle detail much better if you click through to the product page. It also comes in black but I really love the plaid. It's available in sizes 10/12 through 30/32 for $250. You can save $25 by using the code WARMWINTER and orders over $100 ship free.

Speaking of coats: what type do you prefer? Do you have more than one? I have a gray pea coat but I'm thinking I might need a second, cuter coat for when it's not crazy cold outside and I can handle some style over substance. I've only ever had one coat at a time so that's a different mindset for me.

Try it on (again): Kiyonna

One of my silly little New Year's resolutions is to buy less clothing, but to spend more on quality, classic pieces instead of trendy whatevers. So essentially... break even. But I'd like to see if it works out better in the long run. I recently ordered three tops from Kiyonna because I believe their clothes are really good quality for the price and I like the style and colors they choose. We'll start with the good.

I ordered the Modal Scoopneck Tee in bordeaux and I'm really considering getting another in black. I was expecting a slightly looser fit but I'm glad that it fits quite snugly around the bust, as I think a loose fit there would look less polished in larger sizes. The ties on the sleeves bugged me a little at first but I got used to them and they are a nice detail on otherwise basic top. I love Modal and the fabric Kiyonna uses is much studier and smoother than other cotton/Modal blends I've seen. I see myself wearing this top for many seasons to come.

I ordered the Modal Kimono Sleeved Surplice Tee in steel blue to go with gray trousers and I think it will work really nicely. I have to admit that I'm mostly sick of the "kimono sleeve" trend but the sleeves on this tee are basically just wide. I wouldn't call them a "kimono" sleeve by any means. The fit is just like you see it on the model and runs true to the size chart. Overall, a cute top that can be worn casually with jeans or a little dressier with a skirt or trousers.

And on the "maybe on someone else but not me" side of things, we have the Modal Convertible Ballet Wrap. I really wanted this top to work because the fabric is so soft and comfy and the wrap style is really versatile but sadly, it just isn't cut for my shape. I have a very defined waist and the bottom hem sits right there in the waist dent and it just didn't work. Maybe if it was a little longer? I do think the style would work for someone with more boobs than hips, though.

I might have a good reason to order one of Kiyonna's fancy dresses someday but for right now, I'm very happy with their tees. I always look forward to seeing what's new on their website. It seems like their styles get better and better every season.

Oh yay!

The wide belted jacket from Kiyonna that I ordered last month is back in stock. I gotta say, this is a really nice jacket. The fabric is much more substantial than I was expecting and the pink lining is just adorable. I was concerned about the length but it hits right at the hip on me.

It's on sale for $50 right now, which is a whopping 65% off, so if your size is in stock and you need a nice fall jacket, order it. It's available in brown with pink lining or black with plum lining.

You can save an additional $20 off an order of $150 or more with the code FALL2007. That code expires on October 17th.

Can she do it?

I am horrible at maintaining a weblog so I'm giving myself a goal - a new post every day for the next seven days. I really like to think my posts through and find lots of pictures and links, etc. but that also keeps me from posting regularly. So I'm throwing caution to the wind and just writing about whatever comes to mind.

Ok, here goes.

Kiyonna is having a sale. Did I mention that? Guess not. Anyway, I ordered that jacket last night and I can't wait to see how it looks. I have a hard time finding jackets that fit at the hip but aren't too boxy through the shoulders, bust and waist. I like that it's a wrap style without a lot of structure and has the belt so I can cinch at the waist. And it has pink lining! I love pink and brown together so that detail sealed the deal for me. It looks like it might be a tad short but we'll see. It's on sale for $50 down from $142. That's amazing.

My favorite lipgloss right now is Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips in Dolly. It's about the same color as my lips but better. It's supposed to be a plumping gloss but I don't see much of a difference there. It is very shiny with a little bit of shimmer, so that automatically makes lips look fuller. Plus it has a minty sensation that's quite enjoyable.

Kiyonna! (finally)

I ordered two items from Kiyonna - the Ruched Surplus Tee in tarragon and the Tab-Front Stretch Bengaline Gauchos in black. The pants, unfortunately, came no where near fitting. I'm typically between sizes and I should have sized up in the pants. Since they're on sale, I'll have to return them for a merchandise credit, which is fine. I'd like to order another top anyway. I'm going to say that with Kiyonna, if you're unsure with sizing, order the larger size.

The shirt fits like a dream, though. It's a tad shorter in length than I was expecting but overall, the cut is ultra flattering and fabulous. I have narrow shoulders and a relatively small chest and it still fits wonderfully. My favorite part is the material - it's buttery soft, lightweight, stretchy but still substantial. It's not that slinky poly fabric, it's very breathable and a good all-year weight.

I would say that the tee is worth the $48. It's good quality and the style and color will work for dressier occasions or just with jeans. I can see the cut working for a variety of body shapes, because it has the gathered detail right under the bust and it's not too low-cut. The sleeves are full but not outrageously so, which I like. It definitely calls for a pretty necklace to compliment the neckline.

I do see myself ordering from Kiyonna again. They carry a lot of tops made from the Modal fabric, which is even more buttery soft and luxurious. I might have to splurge! Kiyonna also carries a lovely selection of dresses.

I've included a photo of myself in the top. It's not a great shot but I didn't want to wait to take a better one!

Up next: Kiyonna!

I think my favorite thing might be trying new stuff and then reporting about it here! My next review (I guess they're reviews) will be for Kiyonna. I've always linked to their site, and I check it out on a near-daily basis to see what's new, but I've never actually purchased anything. Shocking!

I've heard some very mixed opinions about their stuff so I'm excited to see for myself. I placed my order earlier this afternoon and it's already shipped, so points there. Plus there's a free shipping coupon code for orders over $75 (it's SPRING75) so extra points there, too.

Is there an online retailer you're curious about but you want to send me, the canary, into the coal mine to find out for you? Tell me about it in the comments for this post and I'll look into it.