Discover comfort, style, joy and a little sparkle when you walk thorugh our doors
Published 7:00 pm Tuesday, December 5, 2017
The Cruella “Crew”: Standing: Jeanie Siebarth, Gwen Smith, Debbie Walker, Donna Duhon and Sandra Taveney. Sitting: Carolyn Garrett.
How does the store that embraces comfort and joy year round create a festive atmosphere for the holidays? By adding a little sparkle, of course. Gwen Smith, owner of Cruella’s, is offering new jewelry lines and making sure clothing racks and displays are well stocked with the brands customers love and love to give for Christmas: Magnolia Pearl, Heart’s Desire, Bodil, Double D Ranch and Flax. Cruella’s also offers shoes and boots, including Old Gringo.
Gwen admits she has always had a way of doing things that is all her own. The atmosphere and clothing in her store, Cruella’s, reflects her distinctive sense of panache. Smith started in the retail clothing business selling upscale consignment clothing. However, for the past 17 years, everything she offers is new.
Cruella’s specializes in new one-of-kind clothing, boutique and special brands not found at other stores. Yet, customers find that their selections – regardless of the brand or season – all seem to complement past Cruella purchases. The quality is top notch. The clothing doesn’t go out of style. Pieces mix and match. And linen is always the right fabric to wear in Southwest Louisiana, regardless of the season.
“I’ve just started carrying a new line of jewelry,” said Smith. “It’s called Extasia and it’s created from German glass.”
Extasia, found in many fine stores, is the creation of a designer who wanted to offer classic jewelry with the quality of old-world craftsmanship that works with today’s latest fashion.
“The designs are original,” said Smith. “The hand-pressed glass takes a while to get. It’s cast in Bavaria in steel molds from the 1800s. The cameos are from an Italian village known for being the first place to begin carving cameos.”
French Kande is another jewelry line offered at Cruella’s. Collections feature stunning, vintage French medallions from the 1960’s discovered during the designer’s travels throughout France, according to Smith. It is bold yet feminine and like all the clothing and jewelry at Cruella’s, French Kande is very wearable. It can be dressed up or down, layered or not.
Cruella also offers estate jewelry.
Cruella’s clothing has been described as timeless, modern, modest, sexy, traditional, funky, sophisticated and bohemian. How can the same clothing be described so differently?
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“It’s not the clothes; it’s the woman,” Smith said. “When you’re comfortable with who you are, comfortable in your clothing and you don’t obsess about what other people think of you – it frees you to express yourself, including expressing your own personal style.”
Cruella’s offers gift certificates, plenty of fabrics and combinations ideal for the season. For the best expression of your personal style, seek comfort. Find joy – at Cruella’s.
Location: 2504 Ryan Street, Lake Charles
Phone: 337-439-1881
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11-5 and Saturday, 12-4
