Diamonds, Divas and Drama at the MTV VMAs

Before I get to the jewelry fashion and the Kanye West outburst during the MTV Video Music Awards last night, I’d like to just take a moment to reflect on what I thought was – by far - the best part of the night.

MTV isn’t always known to be a class act, and the VMAs is certainly not the place to go looking for it, but whoever was in charge of producing the opening Michael Jackson dance tribute ought to get some kind of award.

Who doesn’t remember running to the TV everytime an MJ video would come on – from Thriller to Beat it? And we ran because we wanted to see those synchronized dance numbers, right? And if it wasn’t Michael it was his sister, Janet, who carried the torch.

Well, for those of you who are square in my demographic – here is a link to the thing. The dancers were amazing - and the Janet Jackson finale was a great way to top it off. I teared up all the way through. It’s not the same as seeing it live, I’m sure, but you’ll get the idea. Nicely done, VMAS.

Now, on to the fashion. First of all, if I see another starlet in a metallic mini dress I’m going to hurl. Enough, already! And Pink and Shakira showed up wearing the same friggin’ one! They are cool, sure, but someone think outside the box, will you?

Diamonds simply dripped from Beyonce, who wore $1 million worth of Lorraine Schwartz jewelry; Taylor Swift showed in the same designer’s diamonds and a stunning beaded Kaufman Franco gown, and the third part of this ill-fated trio, Kanye West, just accessorized with his girlfriend in an unfortunate jumpsuit.

So by now, you’ve all heard about how Mr. West took it upon himself to interrupt Taylor Swift’s wispy acceptance speech to lament the fact that Beyonce didn’t win for Best Female Video. I’m thinking Beyonce will be just fine without yet another award in her trophy case (she won the night's top prize for the video anyway).

In other words, let well enough alone, Kanye. MTV is a corporate juggernaut out primarily to promote big stars (including yourself), not to make fine-tuned artistic statements. If getting a Moon Man was the same as winning the Pulitzer, maybe he'd have more of a point. Maybe he didn't get hugged enough as a child?

Thoughts? On any of this diamond-filled drama?

Stay tuned for Fashion Week updates as the week progresses! I love this time of year!

Fashion Week Jewelry: Take 1

With the Fashion World still nursing their hangovers from yesterday’s Fashion’s Night Out festivities, there are a few jewelry tidbits worth highlighting for you while we wait for the major designers to show later this weekend.

1. Statement Necklaces

Red carpet designer, Monique Luillier, featured the (by now) ubiquitous statement necklace with her spring ready-to-wear line. Is this anything new? Not really. Just further proof that you can keep your signature pieces at the ready for the next 6 months.

2. Bangles

Vena Cava featured Tiffany jewelry on her runway this season and stacked a series of black bangles with almost every streamlined outfit. A good thought to keep on the back burner if you’re ever wondering how to jewel up an outfit.

3. Layers

Gwen Stefani’s seven-year-old line L.A.M.B is still going strong with Bannanarama meets Blondie 80s rock looks for Spring 2010. In true 80s style, Stefani opted to layer each piece with long necklace strands in every incarnation – from pearls to gold and more.

So that’s just a taste of the Fall Fashion Week mayhem to come. Here’s hoping for some new trends to liven things up a bit. So far – I’m not impressed.

Paris Hilton Falls for Cartier

When guys find themselves in the doghouse, buying jewelry may seem patronizing and trite, but let’s face it: diamonds do things to a jewelry hound that are beyond our control.

Exhibit A: Paris Hilton. She and her reality TV star beau, Doug Reinhardt, broke it off in June after an argument, but the dapper duo was spotted walking the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival this week looking cozy, cute and very much a couple.

What gives? Cartier. And lots of it.

Reinhardt was spotted whipping out his Black Amex at the Cartier store in Venice where he purchased not one simple diamond. No. He bought the ENTIRE Panther line of rings, necklaces and bracelets for his beloved. Yes, THE Panther Collection that Rachel Zoe and all the fashionistas have been coveting of late.

So will the rekindled romance last? The jury is out – especially since Hilton was spotted canoodling with soccer stud, Cristiano Ronaldo, this summer - one fella who just might trump a Cartier windfall. Yum.

What do you guys think? Have you ever been wooed by jewelry? Or is the gesture just a lame attempt to buy your love? Weigh in!

Jewelry Inspired by the Silver Screen

We all know the film industry doesn’t just make money selling overpriced tickets and stale popcorn. For anyone who has ever owned a Princess Leia figurine or Leo Titantic shirt (you know who you are), you’re well aware that Tinseltown is happy to throw movie-related merch our way to fill their coffers (and eventually our Good Will donation boxes).

The good news is: there are some worthy movie-related jewelry lines that are set to debut this fall – some from hip, high-end designers that usually only the chosen few can afford.

First, the no-brainer. Nordstrom is launching a Twilight: New Moon clothing and accessory line in October – one month before the entire tween population bum-rushes a movie theater near them for the movie's release.

“I love Edward” and “I love Jacob” heart pendants and charm bracelets featuring film-related icons are just some of the silver and gold-plated offerings. Prices will be right in line with the youngster budget.

A not-so-obvious jewelry line comes to us from the mind of hipster designer, Pamela Love, who was tapped to create jewels inspired by the film, Where the Wild Things Are. Known for her goth style (crow heads, claws and bones are just a few of her inspirations), the 27-year-old worked with director, Spike Jonze to create the pieces that will be available soon through hipster clothing outlet, Opening Ceremony.

And finally, a taste of couture. Tom Binns, known for his avant-garde design style and for adorning our First Lady with eye-catching statement necklaces, is working with Disney to create high-end jewelry inspired by Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Yup. The same Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Anne Hathaway as the Ice Queen.

The 35-piece line has price points that are considerably less than the normal Binns piece ($100 - $500 available in department stores) with six pieces retailing from $1,000 - $2,000 (sold in luxury boutiques). The Tom Binns for Walt Disney signature line will, like the movie, debut in Spring 2010.

So for jewelry hounds and movie buffs (and I openly put myself in both categories), there is no shortage of suited folks in the studio system who understand our passions. Have any of you ever purchased jewelry inspired by a movie? If not, would you? And which movie? Weigh in!

Sex it up with Sapphires

Sapphire is September's birthstone, and there are all kinds of ways you can wear them - whether you're born this month or not. Many women are opting for less expensive creative sapphires these days - scientifically the exact same stone as those found in nature, but they're created in a lab instead of mined from the ground.

Check out Jewelry.com's extensive collection of sapphire gems - created and natural - in a rainbow of colors from blue and pink to white and green.

And here are the down and dirty details about the sexy sapphire for those of you who like to impress your friends with your uncanny knowledge about all things blingy. You know who you are.

Sapphire: The Jewel of the Sky

Sapphire has been sought after for thousands of years as the ultimate blue gemstone. The ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire that gave its blue reflection to the sky, hence the Latin name "sapphiru", which means blue.

The gem has long symbolized faith, remembrance, and enduring commitment. According to tradition, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on tablets of sapphire, making it the most sacred stone. This supposed "divine favor" is why sapphires often were the gem of choice for kings and high priests throughout history. In fact, the British Crown Jewels contain a number of notable sapphires. Prince Charles even gave Princess Diana a sapphire engagement ring.

Sapphire is not only the birthstone for September, it is also the recommended gem for couples celebrating their fifth and 45th wedding anniversaries.

Both sapphire and its sister stone, ruby, are part of the corundum family, one of the strongest minerals on earth. The stone is mined in many parts of the world, including Australia, Cambodia, China, Kashmir, Kenya, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. Sapphires from Kashmir and Myanmar are rarest and most prized because of their vivid blue, velvety look.

Although sapphire is virtually synonymous with blue, the stone also comes in a variety of fancy colors that includes colorless/white, pink, yellow, peach, orange, brown, violet, purple, green and many shades in between (except red, because a red sapphire would be called a ruby). Some sapphires that are cut into a cabochon (dome) shape even display a six-rayed white star. These are called star sapphires, and the ancients regarded them as powerful talismans that protected travelers.

With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, sapphire is harder than any other gemstone except a diamond. This quality makes it extremely durable for everyday jewelry pieces subject to repeated impact, such as rings and bracelets. In general, sapphire can be cleaned with soapy water or commercial solvent and a brush.

Shop Sapphire Jewelry

Learn More About Gemstones

Learn More About Birthstones

Jewelry Shines for NY Fashion Week

Jewelry fashion has always been the lady-in-waiting on the runways of Fashion Week – there solely to make all those lauded frocks sparkle instead of shining bright in its own right.

But it seems the tinseled tide is turning this year, as more and more jewelry designers are using the tents and runways to debut accessory collections first and foremost – relegating the clothes to back of the bus for a change.

Stylist extraordinaire, Rachel Zoe, is debuting her jewelry line with QVC in the IMG Tent, and hipster jewelry designer, Pamela Love, is sharing the low-cost version of her couture gems at the downtown alternative to the big tents, Mac & Milk Fashion Week.

Not to be outdone, Macy’s and Jewelry.com are using the much-publicized ‘Fashion’s Night Out’ extravaganza on September 10^th to debut their new Manhattan Collection, featuring a stunning array of couture gems inspired by the icons of New York.

If you’re in the city on the 10^th, there is an open invite to their premiere party, The Manhattan Exhibition, at the Macy’s flagship store from 6-9pm. The exhibit will feature 10 super high-end museum-worthy pieces – from a Central Park pendant and a Bull and Bear bangle to a Chrysler-inspired ring and a cuff that borrows from the bridges of the Big Apple.

Pretty stunning, if you ask me. And perfect timing.

So join me as I celebrate the jewelry category taking center stage for a change when the fall fashion machine goes into overdrive next week. I’m fastening my seatbelt – and my purse strings.

Sarah Jessica’s Statement Necklace

Rejoice, jewelry hounds! High jewelry season is upon us.

As if to signal all the glorious fashion that is set to befall us, Sarah Jessica is back on the streets of New York shooting Sex and the City 2 – giving us die-hards a glimpse of the fabulous frocks we’ve come to expect from the show.

Looks like the statement necklace is a trend SATC stylist, Patricia Field, is keeping in our vocabulary, as The SJP was spotted wearing a Solange Azagury-Partridge gemstone piece to complement her Halston Heritage dress and cooler-than-thou gold Christian Louboutin pumps (with a gold Chanel clutch to match).

And Heidi Klum may have given up her clover jewelry line, but Carrie Bradshaw is keeping the category alive and well with this little gem to go with her purple Halston number.

Oh, but this is just the beginning, my bling-obsessed brethren. Stay tuned for my Venice Film Festival jewelry coverage (so far, nothing major to report despite a gorgeous Eva Mendez making a red carpet appearance) and NY Fashion Week is but a mere 8 days away.

Fall may be the time when summer’s fruits die on the vine, but its ‘back to school’ vibe for all things shiny gets my jewelry juices flowing like no other season.

Don't you agree?