Popping the Question? Let Her Eat Cake!

Between the AIG debacle and Natasha Richardson’s shocking death, it’s hard to find something to smile about this week. And guys? I’m afraid I am the bearer of even more bad news.

Just when you thought getting on bended knee couldn’t be any more nerve-wracking (and, let’s face it, costly in this day and age), Manilla businessman, Angelito Araneta Jr. came up with yet another way to spend your hard earned dollars with his latest creation - a diamond and gold engagement cake.

Apparently a diamond ring and your undying love and affection is no longer enough, gentlemen.

The 21-year-old businessman instructed his catering company to come up with a bejeweled culinary creation that is covered in 24-karat gold leaf and 15 African diamonds. The price for this essential part of the mating ritual? A mere $2600.

Kinda makes having your cake and eating it too an entirely different proposition.

Call me old fashioned, but if you're going to shell out $2600 extra bucks for the occasion, I'm thinking the money could be better spent on, say, an even BIGGER diamond ring instead of a gold-leafed reason for me to do more Tracey Anderson workout videos.

Just a thought.

Bling No More

It appears that Mrs. Madoff's woes have just begun. For all you women out there that have dreamt of marrying a millionaire and living the life of luxe in a swanky Gossip Girl-size apartment in New York - remember - there's a price to pay.

For Mrs. Madoff, the shame and humiliation has just begun. The government wants to seize the couples’ $7 million penthouse apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan; three resort homes located in the South of France, Palm Beach, and Montauk ; four boats; four cars; a Steinway piano; $65,000 in silverware and..... wait for it....... $2.6 million worth of jewelry owned by Mrs M and about 35 watches and cufflinks owned by the Ponzi Prince of Wall Street.

As for the watches and cufflinks? It's clear the fiddly financier isn't going to need them in the big house he currently calls home.

Good riddance!

The Emperor's New Movie

What would entice some of Hollywoods hottest divas to spend an evening in a museum? Designer clothes and a movie of course. Blondes, brunettes and razor thin silhouettes turned out in force to honor the last Emperor of fashion and catch a movie premiere.

Special effects be gone - this one was all about the clothes..... Valentino's clothes. The documentary, Valentino: The Last Emperor, debuted in New York last night at the Museum of Modern Art with an audience of hard-core fashionistas, wanna-be fashionistas, muses, critics and the seriously beautiful.

Valentino is renowned for his penchant for all things - well all things extravagant. He's never been one to nod in the direction of minimilism. The septuagenarian designer, with his perma-orange tan, is known for his outlandish sense of more is more and less isn't by any means more. The movie, (which has been receiving mixed reviews - depends I suppose on where you stand on the more or less side of the scale) shows the man's six pugs on board their master's private jet, having their teeth brushed and being adorned with diamond earrings.

Doggy diamond earrings, now there's a thought (that should be banished).

Last night it was a diamonds on divas - not dogs that were causing a rucus. Surprisingly not as much bling as one would expect in an evening devoted to the Emperor himself.

Madonna, Gwyneth, Anne and Agyness were on hand to bow before the Emperor. Madge sporting a knuckleduster ring and looking as ageless as ever. Gwyneth in her signature black - and Ms. Hathaway knocking 'em all for six in a stunning white dress and just the right amount of bling.........

Score one for the brunettes last night....way to go Anne.

Vince Vaughn - Celebrity Engagement Ring Sighting!

Funny man, Vince Vaughn, might keep moviegoers in stitches, but he is all kinds of serious about his diamonds. The 38-year-old actor proposed to his Calgary realtor girlfriend, Kyla Weber, on Valentine’s Day, and the engagement ring made a glittering debut this weekend.

Vaughn was introduced to Weber in May by a mutual friend. Since then, the two have been inseparable.

The happy couple took the four-carat diamond stunner to the movies in Santa Monica over the weekend, and hovering paparazzi got a good look at the rock - which is worth a reported $125,000.

"It's magnificent," fellow realtor, Sylvia Smith, told, Sun Media. "It's a great big diamond surrounded by other circular diamonds."

No wedding date has been set but Weber, 29, recently relocated to L.A.

"They're both very excited," adds a source close to Vaughn. "He's a simple, Midwestern, good guy and she's very down-to-earth, which is exactly what Vince is all about."

With Brad and Angelina dominating the Oscars, John Mayer bailing out yet again, and now Vince Vaughn's pending nuptuals - you gotta think - this just isn’t Jennifer Aniston’s year.

PIE!!!

jessica alba is just hot, even more so when she is pregnant
RAWR

Diamonds and Divas Debut at The Met

Diamonds, gold and gorgeous fashion were all on display at last night’s glittering gala celebrating the Metropolitan Opera’s 125th anniversary.











The Opera (with a capital “O”) is NOT the place for the pants suit, and I’m happy to report nary a one could be found as stars like Brooke Sheilds, Patricia Clarkson and Juliana Marguiles lit up the runway with tasteful diamond looks and gowns galore by the evening's sponsor, Yves Saint Laurent.











Big Love’s Gennifer Goodwin looked lovely in a YSL printed dress with black diamond earrings and metallic cuffs, and supermodel Claudia Schiffer opted for a similar statement on the wrist with a series of silver bangles to go with her basic black.



















Other red carpet highlights included Kanye West’s main squeeze, Amber Rose, in icy diamond studs, Becki Newton and Diane Kruger keeping the bling to a minimum with gorgeous strapless gowns – both by YSL – and Zoe Saldana in verdant green with diamond drop earrings.



















Fashion misses included Parker Posey in a burgundy bolero and layered gold chains, Emily Mortimer in an unflattering maroon sequined YSL number with minimal bling, and Mary Kate Olsen, whose right hand rings and black kimono dress would have worked better without the Elvira make up and bed- head hair.

Not to be missed, however, were the amazing gala performances, which included a tribute to Placido Domingo and a star-studded sampling from The Met’s upcoming season. Clocking in at over three hours, the jam-packed program perhaps gave the crowd a reason to root for the ‘fat lady’ to sing. But regardless of the singers’ stamina, a diamond-filled, pants suit-less night at the opera is a glowing success in my book.

Julia Is Back in Basic Black

Julia Roberts is back on the red carpet promoting her film, Duplicity, after a long hiatus. And while it’s great to see the Pretty Woman back in action, the Hollywood A-lister is clearly not taking any big risks in the fashion department.

Roberts wore a (yawn) black pants suit with yellow gold hoops on the carpet in London and a Lanvin LBD with classic diamond drops in gay Paris. She looked stunning, of course, but here’s hoping she takes it up a notch once she makes it back states-side.



















While Julia Roberts is arguably the most bankable leading lady working today, it took a bit of coaxing from co-star Clive Owen to get the mother-of-three out of semi-retirement.

"I [took] her out for lunch and told her that I'd read a script that was dynamite and it would be great for the two of us to do it," he said at the premiere. "She was actually pregnant, so I had to wait another year before she finally read it and said yes."

And even though the superstar made noise to red carpet reporters about wanting to work in the London theater, she isn’t making any big plans in the near future.

“I’d like to do it when by kids are a little bigger. It’s a big transplant to come over here, though, and it would take up a lot of time. But a girl can dream!”

Maybe she'll get used to the spotlight again and start taking more risks - in front of the cameras and in the fashion department (a girl can dream). But, for now, I'll take classic Julia while I can get it.