Fashion Week Channels Eighties Glam

New York Fashion Week isn’t as glitzy this year. The party circuit is slower, the shows not as production-heavy, the front rows not as star-studded, but thankfully the fashion is more than making up for the overall feeling of economic malaise.

Metallics, statement necklaces and purples are still in – but the hottest new look has to be the return to eighties glam. Think New York dance clubs circa 1983. And no one is channeling that “Duran Duran meets Dynasty” look better than (who else?) Mr. Marc Jacobs.

Last season he gave us suffragist chic, this season it’s Simon Le Bon meets Pat Benetar. Metallics, neon jewelry, shoulder pads, space make up and crimpy hair littered the Jacobs catwalk.

"I was thinking about the good old days in New York," he said after the show, "when getting dressed up was such a joy."

Not far behind the nostalgia-filled bandwagon is Betsy Johnson, who gave up her runway cartwheel this time for an intimate show in one of her stores. If Cyndi Lauper (or Annie Potts in Pretty in Pink for you die-hards) isn’t the inspiration for this leggings and tutu-filled offering, I’ll eat my Men Without Hats cassette.













So for you newcomers to bangled arms, lace tights and leg warmers, you’ve got a lot to look forward to. And for us old school veterans? Maybe it’s time to dust off the day-glo.

What do you guys think?

Valentine’s Day Jewelry Savings from the NEW Jewelry.com

Jewelry.com (aka: my Sugar Momma) relaunched this week with a brand new look and a treasure chest full of thousands more glittering jewelry styles for your browsing pleasure. While I, of course, love to peruse their celebrity and fashion news, I’ve gotta say Jewelry.com’s brand new search function is what I love the most.

Jewelry hounds (and the people who buy for us) now have complete control over the shopping experience with J.com’s brand new search system. Your girlfriend likes frogs? Type in ‘frog’. You only want to spend $150? Narrow the search by clicking on a price range. She doesn’t like yellow gold? Narrow it further by specifying a metal color. See? Prince Charming to the rescue.

Or how about a pink cocktail ring to go with your little black dress? Type in ‘pink’, narrow the search to rings, and voila! It’s like Facebook - once you start browsing the hours go by like nanoseconds.

I found a few cool deals I thought I’d share with you to get you started:

We all know purple is the color of choice these days. How cute is this amethyst flower ring from JCPenney? And it’s only $69.99. Click on my amethyst ring search here to find that and 32 other sparkly ring styles in that price range.


Of course you can’t get through February without a hunkering for a diamond heart, right? Jewelry.com features hundreds of heart styles – I think this black and white diamond version from JCPenney is totally chic. Check out these heart-stopping looks.


And finally, you gotta love this little Hello Kitty! V-day pendant from Zales. You’ll love this even more, though. If you become a Jewelry.com member (it’s free) you can click on the 'Member Savings' link and a list of coupons and discounts magically appears (like free shipping, 10% off offers, etc.). So Jewelry.com does all the coupon clipping for you - guaranteeing you the lowest price you can possibly get for the bauble. Bingo!
So get to browsing baublers! And if you have issues, comments, concerns – throw them my way. I know people.

Happy Early V-Day J-hounds!

xoxoxox

Jessica Simpson Sparkles at ACM Nominations

Don’t worry - I refuse to subject you jewelry hounds to a diatribe about the ridiculous Jessica Simpson weight gain controversy. It’s called “fluctuation” people. Deal with it.

Let’s focus on the positive, now, shall we?

Tony Romo’s main squeeze helped announce the 44th Academy of Country Music Awards nominations yesterday at the Ford Theater in Nashville, and she showed up looking beautiful in the genre’s favorite accessory – big ol’ jewelry.

Gi-normous earrings have made a regular showing on the red carpets lately, and Jessica’s bejeweled tear-drop danglers could outshine any of them. Also front and center was a long black and gold beaded chain necklace that added a splash of sparkle to her LBD and “Bad-Sandy” in Grease leather blazer.

But Simpson is no stranger to fashion. Her retail empire has a cult following among fashionistas (check out this confessional from Glamour blogger, Tracey Lomrantz), and she just announced an expansion of her jewelry offerings with a new line called Cactus Flower.

According to WWD, Cactus Flower jewelry will feature bright colors and Swarovski crystals with a beachy vibe inspired by Saint-Tropez. And recessionistas will be happy to know the line is available in department stores like Dillards and Macys and has pricepoints ranging from $18-25.

Take that Carrie Underwood!

In the meantime, Simpson is bringing her newly stiffened upper lip to New York’s Madison Square Garden tonight where she continues her tour with Rascal Flatts.

Bring on the bling, sister! And leave the high-waisted jeans at home this time. Just a thought…

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Unforgettable Evening

GOOP guru and Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow glittered in gold for the Entertainment Industry Fund’s “Unforgettable Evening” gala benefiting women’s cancer research last night. Her beaded gold necklace added just the right amount of sparkle to a stunning cream Balmain jacket over a Calvin Klein dress. And her 'barely there' make-up was the perfect complement. Bravo!



























I’ve been cursing Miss Gywnnie for peer-pressuring me into trying those Tracey Anderson work-out DVDs (my calves have been burning for weeks!), but this ensemble puts her back in my good graces. Who needs to walk without limping?

Statement necklaces are holding steady as a red carpet trend, and gala performer, Beyonce, rocked a black-beaded interpretation for last night’s festivities. And her domed gemstone and black diamond earrings and cocktail ring gave her Jean-Paul Gaultier LBD a much-needed splash of color.



























Also making a statement was Rita Wilson in a Lanvin crystal flower necklace with both a pearl strand and a gold chain. As did gal-pal Kate Capshaw, who livened up her basic black with the ubiquitous layered gold chain look (you can spot ‘em on every carpet).














Overall, it was a classy carpet showing for a very worthy charity. I could use some charitable vibes, actually, as I hobble my way through life from my permanent dance aerobics injuries.

Thanks, Paltrow. Thanks a lot.

Gemstone Synthetics and Simulants

Gemstones in their many shades have fascinated mankind for thousands of years. The ancients attributed magical, mystical powers to each stone, and believed many of them could cure specific ailments. Today, jewelry hounds everywhere revere colored stones as a glittering way to express ourselves outside of the diamond landscape.

However, precious stones of good size, color, clarity and cut are so rare that a natural, unenhanced fine-quality stone can be worth as much or more per carat than a diamond of comparable quality. Meanwhile, demand has risen for many stones to the point where nature could not possibly produce enough of them in the specifications desired.

As a way to help serve rising demand and make these stones more affordable and available, gem laboratories have produced synthetic stones and simulants that have the look of natural stones at a fraction of the cost. Keep in mind that there are synthetics and/or simulants out on the market for many colored stones, and reputable jewelers will disclose any synthetic gems or gem simulants that they are selling. To understand what you are buying, here are some key facts about these two growing categories.

Synthetics
Synthetic or "lab-created" stones are grown using the same elements as natural stones. They have the same physical, optical and chemical properties as a natural stone. Lab-created stones also have the same mineral content as naturals. The only difference is that a synthetic stone was created in a factory rather than in the ground. Lab technicians have recreated the conditions of nature and speeded them up by a few million years.

One of the advantages of synthetic stones is that it's easier to get one of large size and good color than it is to get a comparable natural stone. In fact, lab-created gems are usually of better quality than most of the natural gems you'll find in the market today. They have brighter, richer colors and often have fewer "inclusions," or internal flaws, than most natural stones. It takes an experienced gemologist to tell the difference between a high quality lab-created gem and its natural counterpart.

Simulants
Simulants are also grown in the lab. They have an appearance similar to that of a natural gemstone but have different physical, optical and chemical properties.

Gemstone simulants produced in the United States include coral, cubic zirconia, lapis lazuli, malachite and turquoise. Cubic zirconia is the most popular and well-known simulant by far. This man-made stone looks like a diamond but can cost as little as $2 per carat. Of course, it doesn't have the sparkle of a diamond and isn't nearly as hard. Jewelers can easily tell the difference between natural stones and their simulants.

In the past few years, consumer acceptance of synthetic and simulated gemstones has grown - a direct result of consumers recognizing these stones for their own merits, not just as inexpensive substitutes for natural gemstones.

All good news for frugalistas who want to look good without breaking the bank!

Diamonds in the Ruff

Move over Fashion Week, there's a new kid in town! JCPenney is celebrating Doghouse Prevention Week from February 6th - 13th, and the event is sure to bring us jewelry hounds more pleasure than gawking at stick-thin models in clothes we'll never wear.

Why? Because this Valentine's Day JCPenney is dedicated to schooling the male species in the delicate art of gift giving. And by 'gift' they don't mean your run-of-the-mill Valentine's Day loot. They're talking diamonds, people. This cupid ain't stupid!

Let's face it. We've all had our V-day disappointments. How many times have we faked a smile when the same old box of chocolates surfaces or the proverbial red rose bouquet shows up at the office? It just doesn't take a lot of thought for fellas to go down that well-trodden road, right?

But here's a thought: What if you could throw your man in the gift-giving doghouse for even thinking about calling the florist?

Perhaps you've heard of the over 7,000 guys who were thrown in JCPenney's Doghouse over the holidays. Learn from them by visiting www.bewareofthedoghouse.com, where you and your main squeeze can watch a hilarious (and informative) video about other men's gift-giving failures.

But most importantly, he'll see how he too can avoid The Doghouse by getting you the perfect diamond gift from the jewelry store inside JCPenney. And they have an amazing selection, ladies, so whether it's a pair of tasteful diamond studs or a fun fashion piece, you can rest assured he'll find something to make your heart sing (not sink) this year.

So from February 6th - 13th take this gem of an opportunity to teach your old dog some new tricks for Valentine's Day. It comes down to this: Diamonds or a dog day afternoon in the big house. Sounds pretty straightforward to me.

Grammys' Diamond Glamour and Gaudy Misfires

The 2009 Grammy Awards brought us glittering diamond divas, gauche attempts at rock and roll glamour and gasp-worthy no-shows. Whitney Houston presented without slurring her words, Rhianna dropped out because boyfriend, Chris Brown, is in trouble with the law, and Paula Abdul showed up in a gown worthy of the lido deck on the Starship Enterprise – if it had a lido deck.

Just another day in the life of the music industry.

Lucky for us, musicians love to flaunt the ice, and the Los Angeles Staples Center was frozen over with it. Teen sensations and BFFs, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, looked all grown up in classic black. Taylor wore a floor-length Kaufman Franco number with Lorraine Schwartz brown diamonds, and Miley matched her moxy with black Max Azaria and Mimi So diamond danglers. Keep it up, ladies.










Grammy winner and heart warmer, Jennifer Hudson, wore square diamond dangle earrings and a matching bracelet that worked much better than the Roland Mouret dress that said 'dinner napkin' more than dazzle. And fellow American Idol, Fantasia rocked the ice on every surface from designers, H. Stern and First Lady-favorite, Loree Rodkin.










Not to be outdone was Katy Perry in H. Stern six-stone princess-cut diamond drop earrings, a diamond Sofia bangle bracelet and an H. Stern floral diamond Right Hand. Keyshia Cole brought out the big guns with her Damiani diamond statement necklace, and the wattage winner has to be my new favorite singing obsession, Adele, in over 30 carats of Stephen Russell diamonds. Take that Amy Winehouse!









Metallics made their usual appearance on a sequined Gwenyth Paltrow in Versace and Chopard, Grammy-winner Carrie Underwood wearing Zuhair Murad and Jonathan Arndt diamond drops , Lee Ann Rhimes in Philosophy and Bleeding Love chanteuse, Leona Lewis in Rhandi Rahm.


















But what is a Grammy red carpet without the shenanigans – a.k.a. “The Courtney Love” factor? You just never know what’s going to come at you when musicians on medication dress themselves. This year the big winner is rapper, M.I.A., who busted out with bad roots, a baby bump and a Manish Arora dress that defied explanation.

While the look might not be as shocking as the Lil’ Kim doily episode at the MTV Music Awards (or the Bjork Oscar swan), combine it with the aforementioned Paula Abdul disaster, throw in a dash of trash from Paris, and add the My Favorite Martian choice from Estelle - and we may have us a red carpet catastrophe worthy of a Courtney Love MySpace rant.


















You gotta love the Grammys.

Click here for a complete list of Grammy’s big winners!