Galas, Gowns and Grown-up Jewelry

Every jewelry hound knows the fall season brings with it all kinds of galas, opening nights and high profile fundraisers - perfect conditions for a good bauble hunt.

I love it when the grown-ups come out to play.

New York City Ballet's Fall Gala:

It's been a while since we've seen Sarah Jessica Parker on a red carpet, and she picked the tony occasion of the New York City Ballet's Fall Gala last night to grace us with a little Halston hotness and some great dress-up jewelry.

I love the necklace layering - not too matchy-matchy and just the right side of gaudy with the metallic sheen of her dress.  What do you think of the choice? Should she lose the longer look?


Los Angeles Philharmonic Opening Gala:

Eva Mendes lit up the left coast last night in a flowing Dior gown and sparkling Neil Lane jewelry that channeled old Hollywood glamour.

This diamond bracelet looks like it was made for her gown. Gorgeous!

Who are your favorite grown-up gamines to gawk at on the red carpet? Charlize Theron is another one on my list - despite her unfortunate gown choice at the Oscars this year.

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.

SATC2 Premieres in London with Hair Extensions, Hats and an Homage

It's baaaaaccck.

Staying true to her SATC London premiere look from 2008, Sarah Jessica Parker wowed the Brits with yet another Alexander McQueen frock topped with a stunner of a Philip Treacy, ummm, hat I suppose you would call it.

While the look she sported in 2008 fell on the wrong side of 'ridiculous' in my opinion, this choice I have to admit is wonderfully whimsical. Perhaps because it's paired with her diamond-studded arm-band homage to the deceased Alexander McQueen, whose untimely death will surely cause a vacuum of envelope pushing in the fashion world (he is the designer responsible for everything Lady Gaga wears to wow these days).



The other leading ladies - probably used to being upstaged at this juncture - didn't disappoint with a stunning Kristin Davis in vintage Norman Norell from Decades and simple diamond studs:


Kim Katrall in vintage Thierry Mugler accessorized with a great Fred Leighton brooch at the waist and that classic Hollywood hair she seems to love of late.


And Cynthia Nixon in teal Narciso Rodriguez with gorgeous vintage diamond teardrop earrings that are hidden by those unfortunate hair extensions (ladies, you're not fooling anyone).



So I'm dying to know if you agree with me. Do you love or hate the SJP hat choice? What do you think of the other looks? Again, Kristin Davis does not disappoint, but I have to give this one to the scene stealer. Thoughts?

'Sex And The City 2' Premieres in Style

High fashion, diamond jewelry, Liza Minnelli - three of my favorite things lit up Radio City Music Hall last night to celebrate the debut of Sex And The City 2. And while rumor has it the fashion in the film is a bit disappointing (don't quote me - haven't seen it yet), the fab four of the female franchise all rocked the red carpet in style.


Let's start with SJP - a vision in bright yellow Valentino, newly blonde locks and a sun-kissed look that screams, "I'm a big star".


She is a fan of the layered diamond bracelet (see her 2010 Oscar ensemble for more), and used the look here since the dress's neckline didn't support a statement piece.


I kindof love the yellow flow here - it's a surprise without being annoying (like that controversial flower hat contraption she wore to the London premiere of the first movie. No, SJ. We haven't forgotten.)


Kim Catrall channeled old Hollywood glam in a metallic Naeem Khan gown with elegant diamond drop earrings and a diamond bracelet to match.


Cynthia Nixon kept things simple in a strapless black Carolina Herrera frock with a bejeweled leaf embellishment and black and white diamond drop earrings.


And my personal favorite - this Audrey Hepburn-esque vision in pink - Kristin Davis in a vintage Jean Desses dress from the 1950s made current by some diamond Fred Leighton drop earrings. Yay.




Who was your favorite of the foursome? Are you a 'Carrie'? A 'Miranda'? A 'Charlotte'? Or a 'Samantha'? Weigh in!

Trend Alert: The "Sex And The City 2" Clover Necklace Craze

Sex And The City is responsible for creating huge jewelry trends out of the horse-shoe pendant, flower right hand rings (like the one Samantha got from Smith in the first movie), and of course - the 'Carrie' necklace.

With SATC2 a mere 7 days from its debut, there's already serious buzz about the next must-have bauble from the show:

The clover necklace.

Not to toot my own horn, but I spotted the clover creation back in the fall when the first pics of SJP came out during the shoot (click here for more). So I figured I'd scout around to find affordable clover pendant options for the SATC-loving jewelry hounds out there (including yours truly).

Patricia Field:

If you want to go authentic, SATC stylist and fashion icon - Patricia Field - has a crystal costume version on her website for $72. Not bad.



Or there's this cheaper, (oops - I mean) more affordable option resulting from her collaboration with Payless - a limited edition piece for $12.99 made out of, well, whatever you can scrounge together for $12.99.

JewelClub:

Better yet, my favorite Sample Sale site, JewelClub, has the real deal - a 14kt gold and diamond version - for only $88.86. Just use the code INSIDER when you log in, enter the keyword 'clover' and grab one for yourself (looks like there's only a few left so act fast!)

In the meantime, be on the look out for more SATC2 fashion fall out, including all the Abu Dhabi-inspired looks like harem pants, gemstone colors, yellow gold and statement necklaces akimbo.


And is anyone else glad to see Aiden back in the storyline? You gotta love Mr. Big, but I've been harboring my Team Aiden leanings ever since she kicked him to the curb. He makes furniture. He eats chicken out of a bucket. He owns a dog. What's not to love, Carrie?

Celebrity Jewelry Stars of the Week

Update: Rumor has it the necklace SJP is wearing here is a diamond snake from the Brangelina Asprey jewelry collection. To be continued...

Three leading ladies stole my heart recently with their icy jewelry fashion choices. It’s the holiday season after all – time to bring out the big guns. And while I certainly don’t have the budget to bling out like these fabulous females, it doesn’t hurt to break your lower jaw just lookin’ at ‘em, right? So. Here goes.

First up is Sarah Jessica Parker in a stunning wrap-around diamond creation worn to the UK premiere of her latest romantic comedy, Did You Hear About the Morgans? Hard to tell if the movie will be any better than her previous rom com outings post SATC (we'll just call Failure to Launch a 'minor' misstep), but this diamond doozy more than makes up for her collecting the proverbial paycheck.

Next up is the leading lady who gives the term ‘family jewels’ new meaning. Queen Elizabeth stepped out this weekend in more carats than a bunny convention – giving her royal subjects and eyeful of ice just in time for the holiday season. Cherrio, mortals!

And finally – I just have to drool like the rest of the world over Michelle Obama’s Kennedy Center Honors ensemble. Purple is ‘her’ color, and she knocked it out of the park in a strapless Peter Soronen number with a Tom Binns gemstone statement necklace that couldn’t be more perfect (um, yeah, that lower jaw thing is happening).

What do you guys think of this triumvirate of taste? Am I scoring some good looks to satisfy your inner jewelry hound? Weigh in!

Oscar, Opulence, and Orange – Oh My!

Jewelry hounds, my favorite designer has done it again. What would we red carpet watchers do without our Fashion Week Oscar de la Renta fix? Yes, this same Oscar who gave us Carrie Bradshaw’s stunning couture moment in the final Paris episode and oodles of Award Show memories.

His Spring 2010 collection was full of color and didn’t skimp on the bling, perhaps because his clientele includes some of the world’s wealthiest women – from icons like Barbara Walters to all those New York ladies who lunch.

For we mere mortals, it’s fun to gawk at the glamour. I am loving his tangerine touches, from simple sheath dresses to coral brooch accents.

And if you thought yellow gold was on its way out – think again. The runway sparkled with gold circle statement necklaces and earrings in addition to over-the-top chandelier shapes that would make Liberace blush.

And those red carpet gowns! How much would you die to see that pink number at the Emmys this weekend? Or, say, Angelina or Megan Fox in that black number?

Thank you, Oscar. For making me a covet-thy-fashionista pile of drool yet again. And for keeping Valentino-esque glamour alive (if you haven't seen the Valentino documentary, Valentino: The Last Emporer, put it at the top of your Netflix queue tout de suite!) .

Which designer makes you want to sell your first born for a chance at greatness? Weigh in!