StyleNews: Tarina Tarantino's Crown Jewel - Stylehive

Accessories icon Tarina Tarantino is the talk of Milan Fashion Week, and not just for her ultra-saturated, super-shimmery bangles and bags. She's also just opened a new store on Via Borgogna in the heart of Milan! "The store is (of course!) an homage to my love of sparkle!" Tarina says. "A visit to TT Milano will leave you feeling like you have stepped right into the center of a glittering jewel."

Alfonso Campos, the CEO of Tarina Tarantino, designs and builds all of her stores. Oh yeah, he's also Tarina's husband! He tells Stylehive his favorite feature of the store - their third flagship, which opened its doors July 27 - was "recreating our L.A. storefront sign, which has over 3,000 jet black crystals. We also lit the back of the sign to simulate L.A.€™s magic hour, just when the sun has set. The store front has a 17€™ foot glass window so one can see it glowing from hundreds of yards away."

That it was finished in time for Fashion Week was a feat in and of itself. "It€™s Italy!" says Alfonso. "And in Italy one must get used of the word 'domany,' which means tomorrow." Especially with the level of detail Alfonso puts into the flagships. "We used over 60,000 Swarovsky crystals throughout the store, but we did it in a very subtle way and it doesn€™t feel like Liberace€™s palace," he explains. "It€™s also the first time that I€™m using video installations to showcase interesting fashion videos that we are producing."

But Tarina and Alfonso aren't done. "We are focusing in growing our Japanese market and are looking for the right space to build our flagship there," he tells Stylehive. "Also, Miami and London are in the radar for future flagship stores."

(Um, don't forget San Francisco, Alfonso, you know, near the Stylehive offices? There are some places on Market Street begging for 60,000 Swarovsky crystals!)