Alexander McQueen Fall 2010 Collection- The End of a Legacy

Just saw Alexander McQueen's Fall 2010 collection for the first time. I'm not going to lie, it almost brought be to tears... so exquisite and meticulously made, so... McQueen. We all mourn his passing, but what a freaking great collection to leave behind for the world to remember him by.

How freaking amazing are those boots? And the baroque textiles and draping?!

And this gown... I love McQueen's ability to combine crazy prints with impeccable construction and design.

xoxo Berit

Howard Stern Crowns Best Mistress with Black Diamond

I fear a new jewelry category was discovered today – and not in a good way.

Shock Jock, Howard Stern, hosted the highly anticipated ‘Best Mistress’ pageant where three of Tiger Woods' many conquests competed for a $75,000 cash prize and a coveted black diamond ‘Mistress Ring’.

It’s never dull, folks.

The Mistress Ring is actually pretty awesome - featuring a 3.5-carat round black diamond surrounded by a half-carat of white diamonds - designed by Philadelphia’s Steven Singer Jewelers. The value remains undisclosed but the novelty of the endeavor? Priceless.

The pageant took place earlier today and was so popular the Howard Stern website crashed due to increased volume. But never fear! The ladies’ 15 minutes of fame was duly extended.

Contestants included Jaimee Grubbs (mistress #2 for those of you keeping count), cocktail waitress Jamie Jungers (mistress #4) and call girl Loredana Jolie Ferriolo (mistress #10).

And the winner? Jaimee Jungers was crowned Miss Mistress after receiving votes from three of the four judges – Gary, AshleyMadison.com (the site that caters to married people looking for affairs), CEO Noel Biederman and Howard.

Classy.

What do you guys think of the new jewelry category? Are entitled sports heroes and corrupt politicians now held to a higher standard by their one-night-stands? Are black diamonds the new black sheep of the jewelry world? Say it ain't so!

Birthstone Blowout

Winter blues got you down? How about this gem to lift your spirits?: JewelClub just launched their 20% Treasure Chest discount on 12 select aquamarine jewelry styles. That's 20% off WHOLESALE, jewelry hounds.

Whether you've got a March birthday girl to buy for this month, or want to partake in some shopping therapy for your own collection - there's no better way to do the deed in my book.

I think my favorite of the bunch is this aqua cocktail ring. With a suggested retail price of $629 you might think it's out of range for a bauble this size. But the regular JewelClub price puts you in the $170 ballpark and with the 20% discount, we're talking $135.

Or this ring is only $75! I mean, can you imagine the smile on her face when she gets this for her birthday instead of yet another bottle of perfume or itunes gift card or what have you? And JewelClub has free shipping and a liberal return policy to make things even easier.

Click here to shop from the Aqua selections on sale - or log in to JewelClub here with the code INSIDER and shop the entire stash of wholesale fine jewels. So many bargains to be had, jewelry hounds - and cool styles to choose from.

Spring fever, anyone?

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?

WOO HOO OSCARS

WOW

I totally loved this years Academy Awards!

SO FUN, so glitzy and showy and old Hollywood!

Except it was sort of poorly dressed. Not the normal stampede of FABITY FAB.

Here are MY awards:

Best Dress:

Gabbie Sidibe-A stunning dress, and looked absolutely stellar on her.

Kristen Stewert-Beautifully made, and perfectly suited to her personality.

Hottest Older Woman: Director Kathryn Bigelow and her banger bod

Most Unfunny Jokes: Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. Such great comics, such weird jokes. A few golden moments, but generally verr stiff and unnatural.

Best Entertainment piece: Neil Patrick Harris. Hilarious, handsome, great jacket, and damn what a lovely, well performed show!

Best at being an A list Ladies:

Meryl Streep- Beyond classy, you looked lovely and were so gracious.

Penelope Cruz- why must you be so damn beautiful? And your accent is beautiful. You are so poised and sexy and spanish

Kate Winslet- at one point, the camera flashed to you, and you looked like the perfect picture of elegance, I almost barfed. Your hair,

makeup, and dress were all fantastic.

Best at being an A list Sirs:

George Clooney-My belief is that you are James Bond reincarnated.

Every time the camera was on you was an awesome, entertaining moment.

(But seriously, honey, you need a haircut)

Matt Damon-Such a great actor, but you also seem like such a good dude,

with your head on straight, and just so modest.

Your accent in Invictus was entirely too desirable.

(Lovin the facial scruff, I would like to sex you up till the sun dies...)

Morgan Freeman-nuff said.

Best Presenting Pair:

Tina Fey and Robert Downey Junior-You two were HILARRRRRIOUS.

Truly golden comedic performance. But Tina, who did your hair? Go shoot them.

As for you, RDJ, loved the outfit.

Best Delicioso Gentlemen:

Taylor Lautner- I want to make naughty naughty with Taysexy quite a lot.

He looks like everything I have ever wanted in a male specimen.

(somewhere, Taylor Swift is wishing she hadn't dumped your ass...

oh and she is pissed because Cameron Diaz stole her dress.)

Ryan Reynolds- Shut up and show me where the bedroom is. You are already too damn fine, and then you wore a tux. (where was Scarlett tonight? I miss her and her ample basoomas!)

Best Tribute: To John Hughes. Because he deserved it. But uncanny tranny! Molly Ringwald was like a robot. She didn't BLINK. Also, I noticed she lost like 30 pounds for this. :( I loved your pudge.

Best Montage: James Taylor live performance during the RIP commemoration? PERFECTION.

Best WTF Moment: Oh and WHAT the eff was the clip from New Moon doing in the HORROR MOVIE MONTAGE? roflcopter.

Best AWESOME: Quentin Tarantino- You are the weirdest, most awesome freak.

Most Inspiring Moment: Gabourney Sidibe's response to Oprah's praise- You looked so lovely. And your tears of wonder were the most genuinely touching things of the

night.

Best Acceptance Speech: Sandra Bullock- You have come so far, and I have been rooting for you all the way. Your husband and you are so cute together, and your speech made me cry. Your dress wasn't great, but you got the little gold guy so who cares?

Best Surprise-but-not-really: Monique- I love you. Your speech was classy as can be, and I am just blown by your performance. Not a super big fan of the dress, but you did look lovely.

WORST WORST WORST DRESS: Zoe Saldana-You have sinned. That dress... my eyeballs are bleeding.

Thats all for now, but I will be posting more later!

Claire

Oscar Jewelry Fashion - Is Less More?

Jewelry fashion and Oscar - they usually go hand in hand, right? But as I expected, jewelry hounds, there wasn't an Angelina Jolie emerald moment to speak of on the Oscar red carpet this year. My lower jaw didn't drop once, truth be told.

The big trend we jewelry bloggers agreed on appears to be the 'less is more' minimal earring look to complement the statement dress. From Jennifer Lopez in Armani Prive to Sandra Bullock in metallic Marchesa - the A-list worked the 'wow' factor with bejeweled dresses that could only support a small earring or a layered cuff in the ice department.


Sarah Jessica Parker worked Chanel Couture - with built-in diamond necklace bling. Cameron Diaz rocked gold bejeweled Oscar de la Renta with simple circles on the ears. And everyone from nominees Anna Kendrick and Mo'nique to awards season starlets, Diane Kruger and Amanda Seyfried, sported just a splash of diamonds to make their Oscar debut.


(insert rasping gasp for air here)

To make up for the diamond draught, we jewelry hounds had to turn to our gaudy goddess, Mimi, who sported 43 carats of Chopard diamonds on the ears, and the ageless Helen Mirren, who carried 125 Chopard carats around her neck.



The night's big award winners are still unkown, but the jewelry champs in my book are Kate Winslet in a gorgeous diamond pendant necklace and Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab Houte Cuture and statement chandelier earrings. Nicely done.


More jewelry dish tomorrow. But for now? Back to the champagne.