Pet-Inspired Jewelry: Whimsical or Weird?

Animal jewelry is trending big these days with Chopard's couture creature line lighting up the high end and buggy costume baubles giving the 'low-end' some serious buzz. But there is a glittering subset of this jewelry category that, well, never goes out of style.

Pet jewelry.

I'm not talking about the ridiculous diamond collars and gemstone studded food bowls that one might find on the Beverly Hills barker. I'm talking about the cute little diamond cat pendant or dog bone bangle pet owners wear to show their love for their furry little friends (you know who you are!).

OK, I confess. It doesn't take much for me to channel my inner 'crazy cat lady' - I just love those furry little divas. And that's just what Fred Meyer Jewelers is banking on, I'm guessing, with the launch of their new pet-inspired jewelry line, The PAWSitively Yours Diamond Jewelry Collection.

The line features both whimsical fashion and high-end rings, pendant necklaces and charm bracelets starting at $99.99, with three dollars from every item purchased going to the Humane Society of the United States. 

Cool.

I also found this cute little kitty who needs a good home on JewelClub: 

But I wonder if we animal lovers might be taking our obsession a bit too far when it comes to lighting up our wardrobes with a pet-inspired piece? I need a reality check. 

Is it pet jewelry too much or a touching sentiment? What do you guys think?

Vanity Fair Oscar Party Brings The Bling

Not ready to let go of Oscar night just yet? Here are some fun shots of the folks that didn't make the Oscar red carpet but sizzled at the night's true big event - The Vanity Fair After Party. And the bling was still serious. This is Vanity Fair not Us Weekly, folks

The carpet featured a veritable Who's Who of Hollywood icons - Jodie Foster! Jane Fonda AND Peter friggin Fonda!?! Jackie AND Joan Collins!







And the ingenue factor went waaay up from the lackluster Oscar showing - Natalie Portman, Amy Adams, Anna Paquin, Jessica Simpson, Vanessa Hudgens, Emma Roberts the list goes on...

A surprisingly svelte Jennifer Hudson sparkled in navy with diamond chandelier earrings.

And Hilary Swank officially entered the 'trying too hard' club with this get up, no? But that diamond pendant is as stunning as the cleavage drop!

And finally - will you look at the ice on Joan, Joan Joan! I was called out by Kathy Ireland yesterday on Twitter for criticizing her gi-normous diamond bib necklace choice, which she pointed out was from Elizabeth Taylor, herself.

Point taken.

But it's only icons like Liz and Joan (and filthy rich drag queens) who can really pull off such extravagance in my humble opinion. I mean, LOOK at this diamond ensemble, will you? Not even Charlize could attempt such a display.

Bless you, Alexis. Bless you, Vanity Fair. My cup is no longer half empty - it runneth over..

Oscar 2010 - A Diamond Debbie Downer

Now that I'm re-hydrated from my champagne overload and Oscar 2010 has bid his farewell, there are a few lingering thoughts I'd like to get off my chest before we close the book on this awards season.

While many of the fashion gurus this morning threw around words like 'diamonds galore' 'daring' and 'out of the box' in their roundup coverage, I am wondering if we all saw the same telecast?

The jewelry tweeps and I were in full agreement last night as we dished our way through the red carpet coverage that not only was there little to NO jewelry to speak of - the styles we did manage to spot didn't do anything for us in the 'wow' department.

The telecast gave us Demi Moore in perhaps the night's most beautiful ensemble (minimal bling- of course), and ABC featured Kathy Ireland with the entire Cullinan mine on her chest as she screamed her way through their lackluster coverage, but I didn't gasp aloud like I did in years past. I didn't spit-take my bubbly. I didn't covet. Or croon.



And is it me or did everyone from Amanda Seyfried to Jennifer Lopez and beyond choose silver Armani Prive frocks? Silver is the new gold - I get it - but the look worked last year on Anne Hathaway and Gaga took it to the Grammy Awards this year. Let's move on, shall we?

Maybe there are just too many awards shows these days. It was hard to top this year's Golden Globes with all of the Oscar nominees plus red carpet stars like Kate Hudson, Drew Barrymore, Marion Cotillard - not to mention all the TV folks we love to gawk at.

In short - I was afraid of a snorefest and - save for the Kathryn Bigelow win and a few diamond divas (Mariska Hargitay, bless your heart) - I got a flatline.

What did you guys think? I fear I am being a 'glass half empty' jewelry hound. Where's that champage again?