Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, jewelry hounds. Turkey jewelry doesn't seem like a good idea, but these items just cracked me up.

Be sure to carbo load for that Black Friday blitz tomorrow!

Tiger Woods’ Doghouse Jewelry

Jewelry has always been a ‘go to’ option for guys who find themselves in the proverbial doghouse. Poker night run late? How about a pair of diamond studs. Forget her birthday? Better make a beeline for some bling.

And whether or not you agree with the tactic (I for one think it’s a meager attempt to buy our love – depending on the carat count, of course), the measure has indeed proved successful over the years.

Let’s revisit the Kobe Bryant incident for a moment, shall we?

Remember when the married basketball star was acquitted of raping a woman who was NOT his betrothed back in the day? Enter a $4 million purple diamond ring for wife, Vanessa, after the dust settled. Talk about setting the bar...

The latest sports figure to bark at the moon is the notoriously private golf phenom, Tiger Woods. We’ve all heard the affair rumors, and TMZ is reporting that Woods told an unnamed source ‘he needed to give his wife a ‘Kobe Special’ or make a trip to Zales to get a ‘house on a finger’ in order to make things right.

Judging from his wife’s golf swing, he might want to buy the whole store…

Halloween Jewelry for Your Inner Goth

Blasphemy! Lechery! Blood! My jewelry box is crying out for a little death and destruction today, so let's get in touch with our inner goth in honor of the year’s creepiest holiday.

If you worshiped The Cure, wore black in honor of Morrissey’s interminable depression, or call The Nightmare Before Christmas your favorite holiday film, you’re already way ahead of the game. For those of you who need a refresher, here is a doom and gloom jewelry primer.

Cross necklaces are the building block of any Goth girl jewelry wardrobe. No, not the dainty little gold cross you might see on your sweet Aunt Linda. We’re talking large, layered, chunky cross necklaces that are definitely NOT a statement about how ‘devout’ you are.




Skulls: According to the experts at FIT,

“The human skull is the type of object once treasured as a memento mori (a reminder of death), later collected as a scientific specimen, and (is) now ubiquitous as an inspiration for gothic accessories.”

Diamond skulls are my favorite skeletal incarnation, but you can find them in an array of precious metal options.





Spikes: Instrument of death meet jewelry accessory. ‘Nuff said.








Chokers: Necklaces generally fit snug around your neck if you’re a goth princess. Perhaps to protect against your run-of-the-mill vampire or to show off your close relationship to a world without oxygen.








Bats and Spiders: Bats are big these days what with vampire chic taking a bite out of the fashion world, but you can expand the category to include spiders, webs, and any matter of the creepy and the crawly.













Rubies: Blood is big in the underworld, people, and what other gemstone could possibly represent the vampire elixir better than the ravenous ruby. Find them on a cross pendant or a spiked cuff, and you’ll double down on the all-important death and destruction factor.

So whether your true persuasion is uber-angelic or devilishly devious, Halloween is the perfect night to accessorize like it’s going to be your last. In the meantime, I’m off to dig up my Siouxsie and the Banshees concert T and that pesky white foundation.

Orlando Bloom’s Stolen Jewels

Pirates of a different sort robbed superhunk, Orlando Bloom’s, treasure chest of nearly $500,000 in jewelry and loot this week.

Officers were called to the Pirates of the Caribbean star's home in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, after one of the actor's relatives found the home had been broken into, police spokeswoman Tenesha Dobine said.

Cash and jewelry were taken, but Dobine declined to provide a value for the items. Celebrity website TMZ.com reported that $500,000 worth of goods was stolen. Two pricey watches are rumored to be among the missing loot.

Yikes!

While nothing can replace the emotional value of your jewelry, there are steps you can take to protect your financial investment from the sticky finger brigade that seems to be having a field day in Hollywood lately (see Paris Hilton and Queen Latifah for more)

Check out this earlier entry about jewelry certificates, appraisals and insurance, and sleep a little better at night knowing your jewelry stash is safe from the urban pirates.

Diamonds, Yellow Gold and Bunny Ears Marvel at The Met

The jewelry, the gowns, the divas, the drama – all were present and accounted for at The Costume Institute’s gala at The Met last night in the Big Apple. And true to its reputation as the fashion world’s Oscars, anyone who is anyone in the fashion and celebrity circles got their grubby little hands on an invite.

Jewelry was - for the most part - an understated affair, with lots of diamond studs, cuffs and statement earrings. And model, Agnyess Deyn, sported a huge diamond necklace to rival the likes of those on the Hollywood red carpets.
But it was the clothes that took center stage last night with yellow gold and blue emerging as the colors of choice, hemlines ranging from ‘too short’ to ‘tutu-esque’ and the pants suit threatening to steal the girly gown’s thunder.

The winners for me were classics like Marion Cotillard in Dior and Chopard diamonds, Renee Zelwegger in olive green Carolina Herrera with a matching statement necklace, and a vampy Anne Hathaway in Marc Jacobs and Van Cleef. Love that she’s taking a page out of the Drew Barrymore bed-head playbook, right?














And my favorite jewelry look had to be on Jessica Alba, who sported Angelina-inspired emerald earrings to go with her Jason Wu bejeweled number.















And the losers? OK. You know how I loathe the misguided pants suit. And I would have made an exception for Rihanna, had the mini-mouse sleeves not put the look over the top. I just really wish I could embrace the D & G sleeve silhouette they've littered their spring and fall lines with – but it just looks silly to me. Am I right?





























Leighton Meister and Kate Moss in a Liz Taylor-inspired turban (yes, a turban) went a bit too far off the fashion trail for my taste.















And finally, a word (or a few) about Madonna. A part of me knows she is aware that the blue bunny ears are ridiculous. A part of me knows she wears the thigh-high boots and lingerie-inspired outfits because - well – she can.

But a part of me is longing for a Madonna fashion paradigm shift like she used to give us when she emerged with black hair or a kimono or a pointed bra. This is just feelin’ tired.

What do you guys think of the looks last night? Weigh in!

And don’t forget to Twitter with me and my sugar mamma, Jewelry.com for all the latest jewelry tidbits from the around the globe.

It’s a tough life, but somebody’s gotta Twitter it!

Rihanna’s Rocks Still in Police Custody

It’s bad enough when your boyfriend turns out to be a big loser, but to lose your jewelry on top of it all? Insult? Meet injury.

Pop sensation, Rihanna, is seeking the return of $1.4 million in jewelry she was wearing the night she was allegedly beaten by jerk, I mean, boyfriend, Chris Brown.

Donald Etra, an attorney for the "Umbrella" singer, filed a motion Tuesday asking that Los Angeles police and prosecutors return a pair of earrings and three rings, which were seized as evidence.

The motion states that Brown's attorney, and a Los Angeles Police Department detective overseeing the case, do not object to the return of the items. They have agreed that photographs can be used if the case goes to trial.

The filing includes a general description of the items, saying they all are made of "yellow metal" and all but one includes "white stones."

Leave it to the fuzz to take away any modicum of glam in their diamond description. White stones? Please.

The good news is, Rihanna is not responsible for the jewelry once returned. The filing indicates the baubles were loaned to the singer by four companies, which want the items back for events overseas.

In the meantime, Rihanna is moving on with her life expressing her desire that prosecutors and Brown reach a plea agreement before a trial, but that the 21-year-old singer would testify if called.

Anatomy of a Jewelry Crush

Jewelry crushes come into my life every so often. My most recent bout was with glamazon goddess, Charlize Theron. From the first row at fashion week to her high falutin’ party wear, the woman rocked my jewelry world every time she stepped out for a while there. But my heart has been missing something now that she isn't making the rounds much these days.

Enter: Drew Barrymore.

Jewelry crushes are fickle, folks, let’s face it.

I don’t know what that Grey Gardens shoot did to the woman, but she appeared every bit the refreshed focused fashion maven on everything from morning talk shows to red carpet round ups. The hair, the make-up, the dresses – it’s all working for her right now. And she’s sporting some fantastic jewelry looks every step of the way.


So I just wrote about Drew’s Grey Gardens premiere ensemble in New York. Not a lot of jewelry here, but you don’t need it when you’ve got hundreds of Swarovski crystals intricately sewed onto your couture Alberta Ferretti gown. AND you have a bejeweled clutch and a little diamond hair clip with a net.

You have net? You go with ‘less is more’ in the jewelry department.


Then I spotted pictures of the star at the taping of David Letterman. Again. Stunning. On any other person this black Giambattista Valli ensemble might have been too much. But on Drew? Perfection. And the gold flower earrings are the right amount of sparkle for the occasion.

Cardinal jewelry crush rule number one: Know when to tone it down and know when to bring it.

Will you take a look at the Los Angeles Grey Gardens premiere pics? Wow. Talk about statement jewelry. Some of you might query - Does she really need the huge jade earrings, the grapefruit sized turquoise cuff and its orange-sized ring sister with an Abdrew GN dress that already has a bejeweled neckline?




















I say 'yes', jewelry hounds. It isn’t diamond overload – it’s turquoise. It’s trendy, it’s fun, it’s LA, it’s fantastic.

And the bed head hair is totally working for me.

Ok. Big. Deep. Breath.

I’m not sure what I’ll do now that the PR push for Grey Gardens is winding down, but I do know that I’ll keep my jewelry crush to one hair shy of stalker proportions. Not to worry, Drew. Just don't be a drop out like Theron, and we're cool.

Are you guys with me on this? Or do I need an intervention?

Miley Cyrus Strikes Gold

Tween sensation, Miley Cyrus, has a little movie coming out today in case you’ve been living in a cave, and the marketing budget leading up to the debut probably equaled the GDP of most developing nations.

The Hannah Montana star attended three premieres, the ACMA awards, and many of the early morning shows – and her jewelry style has been fun, fresh and littered with gold along the way.













Miley loves to layer her chains, and yellow gold appears to be her metal of choice. Stacked bangles are also a trademark look and tasteful statement earrings make their mark when there is a more elegant event on the agenda.

While there has been controversy surrounding the age-appropriateness of Miley’s choices in the past (the infamous Vanity Fair photo shoot with Annie Leibowitz, her 20-year-old boyfriend), it’s refreshing to see the star steer well clear of the Britney/Lolita syndrome. It’s just not what her brand is all about.

Call me old fashioned, but I’m glad young girls have a role model who isn’t catering to the fantasies of emotionally stunted men by wearing school girl uniforms, loads of diamonds, pounds of make up and belly baring costumes.

There’s plenty of time for that later.

And jewelry looks for this generation – including Taylor Swift and the High School Musical set – never seem to take things to Paris Hilton levels. There is bling and there is bling.

So even though I’m just as sick of seeing Miley or Hannah or whatever her name is as the rest of adult America, it’s nice to see that overexposed in her case doesn’t have to mean her body too.

Am I right? Or do I need to loosen up?

Coolio’s Jewelry Robbed After Stage Dive

What ever happened to the days of the benevolent stage dive? Kurt Cobain never had to worry about getting his Vans ripped off when he plunged into a crowd of waiting Gen X-ers. And Pearl Jam’s Eddie Veder always got a ride around the mosh pit when he lept into the arms of his waiting fans.

Well, Coolio, didn’t get such a warm reception last week at a performance across the pond at Staffordshire University, where he reportedly decided to take a dive and instead of jumping into the warm embrace of adoring fans - -he proceeded to land right in the middle of the bar-room floor.

And to add insult to injury, the crowd turned on him and robbed him of his jewelry and other valuables.

"(He) nearly flattened one poor girl then all the students decided to launch on him," said James Fielden, a bartender who witnessed the incident.

"They grabbed whatever they could, including his trainers, watch, chains and glasses. He was pulled back on stage by the bouncers. They got his shoes back for him."

This is certainly no ‘Gangsta’s Paradise'.

I guess the hip hop star should stick with annoying people in the Big Brother house instead of a gaggle of unruly young Brits.

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…

Jewelry Fashions for February

February is a good jewelry month. Aside from the obvious Valentine's Day potential, those of you with February birthdays enjoy a month marked by one of hottest birthstones of the moment - amethysts. The gemstone's purple hue is right in tune with the fashions gracing the catwalks and red carpets this year, and according to Jewelry.com, the stone is said to bring 'peace of mind' to its wearers. Sparkle and sanity. Now that's a winning combination.

Here is Jewelry.com's in-depth look at this royal gem for your reading pleasure:

Amethyst: The Color for Kings

Amethyst has long been a favorite gem of kings and queens for its royal purple hues. The gem, the most precious member of the quartz family, exhibits color ranging from pale lilac to deep purple. Amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were worn by Catherine the Great as well as Egyptian royalty.

Through the ages, various special properties have also been prescribed to amethyst. The Greeks and Romans considered it a strong antidote against drunkenness and drank wine from goblets carved out of the gem. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst could dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence. The stone also is supposed to bring peace of mind to the wearer and prevent fatal poisoning.

In some legends, the stone also represents piety, celibacy and dignity. In Tibet, for instance, amethyst is considered sacred to Buddha and rosaries are often made from it. In the Middle Ages, the gem was an important ornamentation for the Catholic Church and other religions. In fact, it was considered the stone of bishops, and they still often wear amethyst rings.

The birthstone for February, amethyst is an extremely popular gem for jewelry because of its regal color, variety of sizes and shapes, affordability and wide range of hues. It also is the recommended gem for couples celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary.

The stone is mined in Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina, as well as in Zambia, Namibia and other African nations. Very dark amethyst in small sizes also is mined in Australia. But the ideal for fine quality amethyst was set by a Siberian variety, often called Russian or Uralian amethyst, which is now considered a defunct source.

Generally, South American amethyst tends to come in larger sizes than African amethyst. But the African variety has a reputation for having deeper color intensity and is therefore considered more valuable. The African version also is harder to come by than amethyst mined from South America. Most of today's amethyst comes out of Brazil.

The finest and most valuable amethysts are very clear, with very deep color (and they sometimes exhibit reddish or rose overtones). Some stones are so oversaturated with color they have areas that are blacked out, which can negatively impact their value.

Amethyst is available in a wide range of calibrated sizes and shapes, including many fancy cuts. Large fine stones are sold in free sizes but generally the stone is cut in standardized dimensions. Paler shades, sometimes called "Rose of France", were common in Victorian jewelry. Banding - darker and lighter zones of color - is also a common occurrence. Occasionally, amethyst is even found combined with its sister quartz citrine into a single stone called ametrine.

The most common enhancements to amethyst are heat and irradiation. The stone, which ranks a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, is considered durable enough for everyday wear. However, care should be taken not to expose the gem to excessive amounts of bright sunlight, as this can cause its color to fade.

Jewelry Explodes in Paris

The Paris couture shows are taking the runways by storm this week, and while folks generally take a gander at the often-outrageous looks and wonder who on earth would ever wear such nonsense, I find couture gawking the perfect indulgence – especially in these trying times. It’s like rolling around in a vat of Cherry Garcia or having that third - ok fourth - margarita.

So imagine my dismay when I came across the Karl Lagerfeld show for Chanel. It’s all white. It’s suit skirts. It’s a jewelry wasteland. Of course there were fabulously intricate white hats that dazzled the well-heeled crowd, but I’m not in the mood for white right now, Karl. This economy blows. I’m no longer getting my hair highlighted. I want an escape, not a reminder of how bland life is now that I'm off the $4 lattes.

























Thankfully, Christian Lacroix is my new ‘white’ knight in shining couture. Not only are there colors exploding all over his catwalk, but the jewelry is an over-the-top display of decadence the likes of which I’ve never seen before. It’s like going down a bauble-filled rabbit hole on crack.
















































Dinner plate-sized hoop earrings, stacks of mismatched lacquer and crystal cuffs, multiple layerings of giant necklaces, gilded heart-shaped lockets, faux fronds of coral, beaded everything but the kitchen sink… Clearly, words don’t do the show justice, but Style.com’s reviewer comes close:

“(The show) was a pleasure to witness and something to be inspired by. Even if only the very few will own a part of this collection, there's an idea in there for every fashion watcher: If you've got jewelry, it's time to bring it out and try piling it on all at once.”

























So perhaps we mere mortals can take a lesson from the ivory tower of runway fashion. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Anything goes. If you’ve still got those rubber bangles from the 80s, put 'em on with your diamond necklace and that beaded choker you're afraid to wear for fear it makes you look 'easy'.

I may be getting a little couture-crazed, but if you don't want to scare the neighbors, you at least have to get the full effect of the Lacroix jewelry dreamscape by checking out the dizzying pics on Style.com. And be sure to pair your viewing with a nice pint of New York Super Fudge Chunk. You’ll thank me for it later.