Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Saying goodbye is never easy

Today is the last day of August. I guess I have no choice but to say good-bye to summer. I always find it hard because I never want this season to end. What my summer was about...

The Mediterranean... What's not to love about this picture?


Waking up to this view in the south of France. The trees, the morning sun, the fresh air, the pool and the sound of birds singing...


The refreshing drinks (they're all non-alcoholic, by the way!). The one in the middle was the most delicious watermelon cocktail!


Outdoor festivals and desserts (here: crepe with Nutella).


Discovering nature with the family. The boys built a dam / useless bridge across a stream and I built a stone path, which led from our little picnic mat to the edge of the water. I really got into it and was busy for at least an hour, collecting stones - it felt strange but good to concentrate on something like this! (do you know the feeling?) 


And simply enjoying those warm, sunny days.


I will miss you, summer! 

p.s. I wanted to post more photos but had trouble uploading them. I've been having quite a few problems with blogger recently (including google friend connect). Anyone else?

Monday, August 30, 2010

2010 Emmy Awards Jewelry Round-up


Jewelry fashion at the 2010 Emmy Awards was an eclectic mix of surprising statements and safe bets. Chandelier earrings, big necklaces and crazy cuffs mixed with (snore) diamond studs, bare necks and lots and lots of basic black. Thankfully, I had my friend, Veuve Clicquot, with me to even out the ups and downs.


BUT - I wasn't hurled into a red carpet funk, like I was at the barren bling-scape at this year's Oscars. And I have Lorraine Schwartz to thank. As you'll see, she was responsible for most of my favorite 'lower-jaw-drop' moments last night.

(And Jimmy Fallon's Glee-inspired Bruce Springsteen opening number made me want to give up jewelry blogging forever for a life of song.)

The Recap:

Kim Kardashian paired her bejeweled Grecian goddess of a Marchesa gown with an 80-carat (!) Lorraine Schwartz cuff in both white and champagne diamonds that kicked a slow-starting red carpet into high gear.


And then Lea Michele came on the scene in a ruffled navy Oscar de la Renta fantasy dress and a stunning diamond mesh statement necklace with that 'blackened metal' look that's apparently all the rage this season. Glee!!!!! And we have Ms. Schwartz to thank again.


Eva Longoria Parker and Julia Louis-Dreyfus sparkled in big earring statements from Loren Jewels (rubies) and Irene Neuwirth (chrysophase and diamonds), respectively.


But wait. Just when you thought the statement necklace was a sparkling Lea Michele mirage only to slink back to our 2009 red carpet roundups - enter: Heidi Klum in all legs and diamond and ruby neck candy by (you guessed it!) Queen Lorraine. Big win!



Yellow gold was a 'trend-lette' last night, with Glee's Jayma Mays in Neil Lane stunners and Modern Family's Sofia Vergara in a head-to-toe gold look with a dress by Carolina Herrera and jewels by (drumroll....) Lorraine Schwartz!


As were red gemstones - like this 60-carat rubellite and diamond ring by Ofira on Kyra Sedgwick (in addition to all the ruby looks mentioned above).


January Jones walked the line with me in the dress department (a daring cobalt blue Versace) but her bed-head hair style hid 10.12 carat Cartier diamond stud earrings worth $1.2 million (the horror!) and did nothing to make her avant-garde garment choice work.


And speaking of 'find the diamonds' chic - Christina Hendricks (in another trend-lette - purple), Julianna Margulies, and Julie Bowen walked the Emmy red carpet with nary a jewel to the naked eye. C'mon, ladies!



So all in all, there were some colorful, daring moves that outshined the 'play it safe' crowd at this year's Emmy-fest. I am missing many of your favorites, I'm sure (Tina Fey? Anna Paquin? Betty White?) - so weigh in with your comments and questions!

And if you want a fun jewelry romp through the Twitter-sphere, check out my live tweet at #emmyjewelry last night with great 'tramps like me' @jenniferheebner, @jessicawalden, @Michelle_Orman, @AGTA_Spectrum, @gemgossip, @JulReDesigns, @quinsultant, @Treflebijoux, @Cocoabebe and MANY more!

Chanel fall collection 2010: Enigma, Inimitable Intense, Paradoxal


I finally went to pick up my reserved goodies... and I must say, I'm rather pleased with my latest Chanel purchases.

I picked up the Enigma (19) eyeshadow quad without even swatching it, which (thinking about it now) is usually a silly thing to do but I wanted it. That's a good enough reason, right?


* * *

I also got the new Inimitable Intense mascara, this simply being the technologically more advanced, more intense version of the already existing Inimitable. It holds the curl all day and gives my lashes a dramatic boost. Yes, I really like it! (and how gorgeous is/are the model(s)? Not sure if it's the same person?)


* * *

And I picked up Paradoxal (509), obviously. It's usually more purple than grey but it depends on the light. I applied two coats. (On the right: with a ham, cheese and mushroom crepe.)


* * *

I got some samples of the Beauté Initiale skincare. Has anyone tried it?

Friday, August 27, 2010

Barbie the Fashionista

I used to love Barbie... (I never had a Ken but that didn't bother me). She was the gorgeous all American girl with the beautiful long blonde hair, big blue eyes, perfect lips, dainty feet and stunning figure. (These days I would also add: no split ends, no wrinkles, no spots, no sagging. Ever). Who didn't / wouldn't want to be like her?

Fast forward many years and... Barbie has black hair! And darker skin! And designer clothes! Wow! Starting with 'around the world', just have a look at the modern Barbie... "Barbie for grown-ups"!

Around the world: Japan, Italy, Spain


Brides: Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier


Brides / Designers: Vera Wang (first two), Dior


Designers: Kate Spade, Versace, Burberry


Royals: Empress Josephine, Marie Antoinette, Queen Elizabeth I


Hollywood: Audrey Hepburn, Scarlett O'Hara, Marilyn Monroe


And now I have another reason to be jealous of Barbie: her amazing Louboutin shoe collection!


So um... who wants to join the Barbie Fan Club with me?!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Royal Wedding Round-up


The diamond tiara set is out and about again - this time at the royal wedding of Prince Nikolaos of Greece to longtime love, Miss Tatiana Blatnik (an event planner for Diane von Furstenberg).

While the bride was the only one with a tiara to triumph (check out Jewelry.com for details), the usual suspects showed up in their summer best.

Who is your favorite royal?

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden:


Princess Letizia of Spain:


Queen Sofia of Spain:


Princess Madeleine of Sweden:

Queen Margrethe of Denmark

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark:


Prince and Princess Michael of Kent:


Infanta Elena of Spain:


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