July 2009 Archives

Have you ever been inside of an Anna Sui boutique? Well, if not, you should definitely check one out, if you happen to have one nearby. They are altogether adorable - with quirky black and purple decor and plenty of whimsy in the form of modern takes on antiques, butterflies, flowers and plenty of other girly-meets-edgy touches that make you feel as if you've been transported to another world filled with magic and wonder. I love Anna Sui's wacky but wearable styles and appreciate her sense of individuality. I found myself drooling over many of the pieces in her fall collection - particularly a lot of the necklaces she adorned her models with on the catwalk which can be seen here. She showcased elaborate chokers, powerful cameos, layered necklaces like the ones shown here, among others that are all to die for.

Love, love, love. I simply cannot wait for fall.

This "Connie" necklace by Fiona Paxton is one of many reasons I'm warming up to gold again. I love the drapey quality and the vibrant graphic design that reminds me of the kind of thing a Roman Goddess would wear with a long column style dress. So feminine - and yet still packs a significant punch. Available for $340.

So I had lunch with my mom the other day, and she was wearing a number of pieces I was drooling over, including a museum-quality cameo and a gold link bracelet. I asked her if it was vintage - and she said yes. (Keep in-mind, that my mother's business is vintage and estate jewelry). That being said, I wanted the bracelet, but she wasn't about the part with it because it is the only gold-tone piece she owns at the moment that works with the recently acquired cameo.

Anyway, today, I found this $58 Estate Link Bracelet on the J Crew website - and I'm thrilled, because it practically mirrors my mom's!

Speaking of my mom, I'll be doing a post on her jewels, (the ones that are available for purchase) soon, but she is lacking a website, so it might take a bit longer than I'd like. Let's just say however, that she is a hidden resource in Los Angeles for phenomenal vintage pieces that won't break the bank, that sell for 10 times the price elsewhere.

In case you get impatient, and don't want to wait for the next post because you're a vintage jewelry junky like myself, you can check out her wares at all of the Senna Cosmetics boutiques in Beverly Hills, Tarzana, Corona del Mar and Valencia - www.sennacosmetics.com. And while this isn't a Beauty Snob post, Senna Cosmetics' products are amazing - and I don't care what anyone says - Anastasia is NOT the Queen of Brows. Eugenia Weston, founder of Senna Cosmetics is.

Much like statement necklaces, I am thrilled to see that chandelier earrings are also here for the long-haul. When they're as intricate and well-adorned as these Jose & Maria Barerra White Chandelier Earrings, they lend so much dimension to a look - and can serve as the sole accessory of what would otherwise be a dull outfit. With 24k gold plating and delicate Austrian crystals and seed beads, these earrings are a great bet for $340.

Starting today, Dana Rebecca Designs, a collection of fine jewelry, will be on sale via the Gilt Group. Pieces including these Lori Paige earrings are available at half off. Originally $5,500, these stunners featuring 9 carats of pink amethyst and 1.90 carats of ever-irresistible diamonds, are now just $2,750. Click on this link to see more pretty sparkly things and go ask your sugar daddies for some pocket change.

Starting today, Ippolita is launching a half-price sale for select jewels on their website. There are some phenomenal pieces including these 18k Onyx and Smoky Topaz Earrings for $447.50. They were originally $895, and they will be again as of August 4th, so if you're looking for some classic accessories, get 'em while you can.

Evidently, bold necklaces and bold accessories in general are here with us through 2010 folks, so if you're into demure, quiet, subtle jewels, the next few seasons probably aren't for you. Sorry.

I, on the other hand, LOVE bold accessories, so over the next year or so, I'm going to have many happy field days.

This Givenchy Beaded Floral Necklace is one of my favorite examples of a great statement piece. It's large, graphic and feminine - and would make any simple dress suddenly look far more interesting. I have no idea what this baby runs, but it's drool-worthy and part of the couture collection for fall, so my guess would be that it's up there.

As we all know, some things in life just aren't fair. Take for example the freakishly beautiful and talented Padma Lakshmi. Not only is she drop-dead gorgeous, but she's smart as a whip and has held a successful career as an award-winning author and television host for programs including the Emmy-nominated Top Chef series on Bravo. Not too shabby.

Recently she launched a jewelry collection inspired by the female form, aptly named "Padma" with its drippy, sensuous curves and exotic shapes. Pricing ranges from $300 to $6,000 and can be found at Bergdorf Goodman.

Today I'm coveting the 14k and 10k Lattice Pod Earrings with Briolettes.

What's next Padma? Politics? World peace? Or perhaps just global domination...

What happened to Marc Jacobs? I'm starting to think that he might have experienced some type of trauma that has reverted him back to childhood, or at least the uncomfortable teenage years of trying too hard to find an identity - and has thus created a line of jewelry intended to infect us all with the same age-inappropriateness.

Unless you're buying this Skull Watch Necklace for your wannabe-goth-punk-kid who normally shops exclusively at Hot Topic, then I just don't get it.

It can however be yours for $200, though I think it might wind up on the shelves of Hot Topic for under $20.

My lack of a post yesterday can be attributed to a multitude of things, including fodder for an upcoming post which I am quite excited about. I was at the brand new Judith Leiber boutique at Two Rodeo yesterday, and was absolutely blown away, but more on that later.

In the meantime, enjoy this breathtaking Monaco Ring by Judith Ripka, (not to be confused with Judith Leiber), also available at Two Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, for $15,000. In 18k yellow gold with a black onyx center stone, royal pave black diamond shank and bezel set round briiliant diamond prongs, what's not to love?

Judith Ripka's designs are all absolutely beautiful and there isn't a piece in the store I wouldn't wear. If you live in the area, or are visiting L.A. anytime soon, it is worth a trip to either invest in or drool over all the feminine, pretty baubles - many of which are quite affordable, with pricing ranging from $100, (frugal snob), to $60,000, (super-uber snob).

Every so often, I discover a jewelry designer I was previously unaware of, and when they're a talent like Robindira, I am elated. The minute I saw these Byzantine Starburst Earrings from her Modern Antiquities collection, I knew I had to have them. At first, I was a bit confused by the gold hooks against the oxidized sterling silver, and then something just clicked and I was completely into the idea. These are a must-have and at $213, I'd say they're a bargain.

This Vera Wang Crystal Rosette necklace for $850 is so damn pretty - and is a sign of things to come for fall. The modern bohemian look we've seen all summer will transform to a super-luxe, highly decorative and embellished Russian Folkloric style that will exude high-drama and sophistication.

Love, love, love. Now if only we could just breeze past the next 3 blisteringly hot months so I could wear this baby today...

*Sigh*

In fact, some of it is pretty darn cute, particularly for the price, like this
Tori Spelling Bold Brushed Link Necklace

I'm a sucker for chainlink - and I love the weighty look of this piece and for about $60, it's a fun frugal investment - and will work well into fall/winter.

Somebody is going to have to stop me soon... with all of this nature business, but this Chaumet "Attrape Moi" collection - and in particular the si tu m'aimes ring is, in my opinion, to die for.

The whole collection is rather amazing - and Chaumet, which has been creating exquisite jewelry since 1780, was inspired by its original bee symbol dating back to the Age of Napoleon, when they designed the Attrape Moi collection.

Unfortunately, I cannot figure out what this ring in 18k white gold with diamonds goes for, so if anyone has an idea, feel free to enlighten me, even though I'm not sure I want to know because this is one web I would love to be caught in.

And rounding out the nature theme that seems to be inescapable for me are these Owl Drop Earrings by Marc Jacobs for $78.
I really have only one thing to say about these...

Really???

Isn't this Chanel Camelia necklace in 18k white gold with diamonds just, well...so darn pretty? Look at it! Who doesn't love a beautiful flower covered in diamonds? Even if you're not a girly-girl like me, you have to appreciate this piece. I have no idea what on earth it retails for, since Chanel does not list pricing on its website, but I do know that the Camelia collection rings fetch somewhere between $20000 - $36000, so this necklace has to run a wee bit more. I know it's nothing new... the Camelia collection has been around for quite some time, but I felt this necklace deserved a moment in the sun so we could all be reminded of its beauty and the nearly-perfect fashion behemoth that is the house of Chanel.

Anyway, I'm still suffering from a nasty ear infection and can hardly hear in my left ear, so if you happen to disagree with me, that's the ear that won't be listening. Besides, I'm clearly on some extended nature kick...

This John Hardy Bamboo Double Coil Bracelet is yet another reason I feel like a complete moron for confusing his talents with the lack of talent that is Ed Hardy in a prior entry.

It is also another addition to the running nature theme. Let me first explain that I have a strong attraction to bamboo in general. I first fell in love with it when I planted some black bamboo in our yard. After a period of dormancy, it started to grow like crazy - Jack-in-the-Beanstalk style - where I swear that if I sat in front of it for a while, I'd actually see it grow before my very eyes. In any case, we now have a beautiful wall of privacy between ourselves and our rather peculiar neighbors. Bamboo is amazing for a multitude of reasons including its ability to grow in harsh conditions, its ability to subsist on just a little water once it's established, its service in our yard as a phenomenal privacy barrier, its relatively recent popularity as eco-friendly flooring and as a variety of kitchen utensils - among other manifestations we're seeing with bamboo. To boot, it's just really pretty in its many incarnations.

That being said, I adore this bracelet. I know we've seen bamboo bangles done before, but I don't care. Bamboo, particularly when re-created in silver, is a classic piece. It goes with anything and it reminds me of my ongoing quest to surround our entire yard with the real thing.

John Hardy Bamboo Double Coil Bracelet $595.

Banana Republic Garden Statement Necklace
Hmm...

I can't quite make up my mind about this piece. It's certainly interesting - and I do LOVE flowers, particularly vintage-y looking flowers, but is this too much? It almost looks like somebody collected a number of pins/brooches from the '50s and decided to glue them onto a necklace. Still, I'm undecided. I might love it, I might hate it. I spent my morning in the doctor's office waiting to be told what I already knew - that I have an ear infection, so maybe my head just isn't screwed on right today. In any case, I'm enjoying the running nature theme, so I decided to put it up and let you decide.

Alkemie's Tree Cuff
Alkemie, an eco-friendly line of jewelry, uses reclaimed metals and such to fashion absolutely gorgeous nature-inspired pieces, including this cuff bracelet which almost looks as if you've managed to grow the branches of a rather aged oak around your wrist. I love the detail, the eco-friendly nature of the piece, and the homage it pays to the beauty that exists in nature itself. Man do I sound like a tree-hugging hippie. This tree however is one worth embracing for $210.