The Oscars: Berit's Top 5 Wins

Since Claire is the clever, snarky, hilarious one, I'll let her cover the nitty-gritties of the Oscars.

Here's my five favorites, in no particular order, from this past Sunday night:

Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbanna (a design house that I am totally falling in love with). It's such a beautiful color, a wonderful fit, and it's very unique -a breath of fresh air from all the sequins and feathers and flesh tones.

Mila Kunis in Elie Saab. This could have gone incredibly grandma's drapes-y, but the color, fit, and design is just perfect. *Drools*

Gwyneth Paltrow in Michael Kors. It's just so... interesting to look at. Also, probably the first design of Kors' that I've ever actually liked.

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy. Cate Blanchette is so cool anyway, and her gown really fits her persona perfectly. That's 2/5 for lavender-y shaded designs.

Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive. Some people didn't like it, but it's just this beautiful liquid-y fabric in such an electric color that is already big this season.

What were your favorite looks from this years' Oscars?!

Hope you're all having a wonderful week! I just saw Poet Laureate Billy Collins (read his poem ''Litany") read at my school, and he is basically amazing. I'd like to adopt him as my uncle.

-B

2010 CMA Awards Jewelry Fashion

With so many leading ladies from Hollywood's A-list littering the 2010 Country Music Awards, like Gwyneth Paltrow (more on her later), Katherine Heigl and Nicole Kidman, I began to wonder if I was covering the right event.

But these looks came 'round, and I was reminded you can never keep a good rhinestone cowgirl down.

So? What did I learn from last night's jewelry hunt?

Country singers love big old gowns. And Carrie Underwood (almost) won the night with her seven(!) costume changes during her co-hosting gig. But one country music crooner wore a getup that put Miss American Idol in her place - everyone's favorite coal miner's daughter, Loretta Lynn.

 

Now that's country music couture!

Jewelry winners were:

Miranda Lambert in Amrapali statement earrings and a series of bangles:

 

Jennifer Nettles in Kimberly McDonald agate-slice earrings:

Taylor Swift in Neil Lane diamond dangle earrings:

 

Katherine Heigl in sapphire button earrings with a starburst pendant from Ryan Ryan

The other big winner for me was Gwyneth Paltrow. Love her or hate her, the woman showed serious chutzpah by taking the CMA stage and singing a great little ditty from her latest film, Country Strong (see the performance video here).

I know there are a gazillion country singer wannabes out there who deserve their chance, so Gwynnie jumping the line is more than a little annoying. But I like her. Despite her 'lifestyle' website, workout videos and way-too-public friendship with Madonna. And that song is totally sing-in-the-shower-worthy. Well played.

Lots to ponder here, jewelry hounds. What do you think of Hollywood invading the country music scene? Did Gwyneth deserve her standing o? Where is Dolly Parton when you need her? Who wore you fav jewelry look? Weigh in!

Red Carpet Jewelry at the CFDAs

Jewelry and fashion design were honored last night in New York at the hottest ticket in town - The CFDA awards (aka The Fashion Oscars). While fashionistas like Jessica Biel, The Olsen Twins and Anna Wintour came out in couture classics, it was Gwenyth Paltrow who stole the show in my book.




Appearing arm and arm with Michael Kors, who was given the Lifetime Achievement Award, Gwynnie channeled Grace Kelly glam in a long, black paillette one shoulder Kors gown and simple diamond Fred Leighton drops. Now THIS is the way to wear black (see my earlier boring black rant for more)!




Coming in a close second was Sarah Jessica Parker, who was there to pay tribute to the late Alexander McQueen (one of my all-time favorite designers). McQueen, who committed suicide earlier this year, had one last line in the works, including this dress SJP wore to the event. And her Stephen Russell jewelry was pitch perfect - stunning diamond cluster earrings and a series of statement bangles (one of her favorite looks of late).



Check out Jewelry.com today for a roundup of the night's big winners, including the fab Alexis Bittar who took home the Accessories Designer of the Year award.

Chopard Celebrates with the A-List

Jewelry events thrown by luxury design houses are often the best parties for bauble gawking, and no one does it better than Chopard.

Celebrating 150 years of sparkling style and the launch of their couture collection, Animal World (see an earlier post for details), the Swiss watch and jewelry maker threw a soiree last night at Manhattan's Frick Museum where A-list beauties mingled with high society - all dripping in Chopard diamonds.


Gwyenth Paltrow looked lovely in a long lace Antonio Berrardi gown with Chopard’s fancy shape diamond chandeliers set in platinum (24.2 carats) and a rose cut diamond ring set in platinum (13.3 carats).

Kate Hudson sparkled in a grey Lanvin number with Chopard’s chalcedony, sapphire, diamond and iolite chandeliers, a multicolor pearl (558 carats) and diamond (54 carats) sautoir and south sea pearl, pink and black diamond ring. Stunning.

Christina Ricci worked a vintage Kermit green Galanos gown with Chopard’s fancy shape diamond earrings set in 18kt white gold (33 carats).

And Claire Danes looked lovely in Lanvin with air-shaped diamond chandelier earrings set in platinum (20 carats) and a paraiba tourmaline and diamond bracelet set in 18kt white gold (131 carats).

Finally model, Eugenia Silva, rocked Chopard’s black and white diamond swallow necklace set in 18kt rose gold ( 25 carats) and black and white swallow diamond earrings (13.6 carats) from the 150th Anniversary Collection, Animal World.

Blinded by all the ice? It gets better. The New York Times reported that one lucky socialite had to double up on the diamonds when her husband surprised her by purchasing a 'ram'-inspired Chopard necklace from the Animal World collection for, oh, a mere $250,000 - so she had to throw it over the $700,000 diamond bib number she was (sigh) already wearing.

I'm going to lose a lot of sleep thinking about her predicament. No, really.

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.