Diamonds and Divas in DC

The 2010 Kennedy Center Honors were handed out this weekend to the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Sir Paul McCartney, Merle Haggard, Bill T. Jones and Jerry Herman. And the red carpet was littered with a tony crowd of well-wishers that included a wide range of jewelry choices.

Let's start with THE DIVAS:

The woman who put the D in Diva was on hand to upstage anyone who deigned make an entrance grander.

Diana Ross.

Floor-length mink? Check. Diamond jewelry overload? Check. Silver sequins? Check. The only thing missing was a wind machine and a Central Park downpour to make this moment shine brighter.

But no one outshines.... The Oprah.

Wearing a cleavage-bearing white dress shirt/gown combo, the O beamed in diamond teardrop earrings as she was honored (and roasted) by the likes of Chris Rock and President Obama, among others.

THE DANGLERS:

Shoulder duster earrings are making a comeback, with Holly Robinson Peete and Gayle King sporting the trend to perfection.

THE DOMINO EFFECT:

Black and white diamonds are a seasonal favorite, and Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles along with a surprisingly svelte Jennifer Hudson sparkled in subtle black/white earring choices like these beauties for only $166.

THE DO-OVER:

Who doesn't love Mary Louise Parker? I just don't love the bed-head hair, awkward red carpet pose and too-tired statement neck/long black gown combo. Check, please.

Thoughts, jewelry hounds?

Oh, and the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony (which ALWAYS makes me cry) airs on CBS on December 28th.

Holiday Jewelry Trend: Bling Out in Black and Gold

The holiday season is full of jewelry fashion conundrums. With office parties, ornament exchanges, kids' concerts, family functions and all manner of caroling and cocktailing - it's no wonder someone thought it best to spike the eggnog (well played).

But I've got a simple jewelry solution for every festive occasion that's both on trend and traditional: bling out in black and gold.

I spotted Katy Perry in the trend at the Grammy Nomination Party just last night.

Fashion darling, Christian Siriano, just launched his own vintage-inspired bauble line, Regal Estate, that's littered with black and gold beauties - all for $29.95 on his burgeoning fashion site sendthetrend.com.

The always fab, JewelClub, has a ton of black and gold styles in their sample sale stash for a steal.

And my favorite luxury location, Luxist, highlighted the trend recently with these more expensive interpretations.

My thought this year is to get two or three classic black and gold styles and rotate them. Pile 'em on for the big events or add just a sprinkle of sparkle for the daytime dalliances. And the looks will keep on giving year-round - unlike some trends that expire as soon as they make a splash (bug jewelry, anyone?)

So the moral of the story? Keep Santa season simple this year without skimping on style. And keep the eggnog close.

Duchess of Windsor's Jewelry Sells Big!

Update: Royal jewelry is all the rage these days. Sotheby's got WAY more than the expected $4.5 million for this highly anticipated sale. How does $12.5 million strike you?  And that stunning panther bracelet went for a whopping $7 million all by itself. Meow!


When it comes to the world of purchasing uber-jewelry, there are jewelry auctions ...and there are Jewelry Auctions.

Sotheby's is holding an event in the latter category this fall when the world can bid on 20 pieces from The Duchess of Windsor's haute couture jewelry collection.

The Duchess, formerly American socialite Wallace Simpson, was the woman behind King Edward the VIII abdicating the British throne back in 1936, creating a royal scandal so huge, Fergie's cornucopia of connundrums looks like chump change.

Thankfully for jewelry lovers, the Duke lavished his beloved with beautiful baubles throughout their lives (he abdicated the throne, not the royal bank account) and commissioned some of the world's most talented jewelry designers to do his bidding.

Here is just a sampling of the stash that Sotheby's expects will bring in upwards of $4.5 million.

This Cartier diamond bracelet is expected to garner a $350,000-450,000 pound pay day.


According to Luxist, Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier's High Jewelry Director, created this realistic onyx and diamond panther bracelet designed in 1952. It's considered one of the best of her "three dimensional "great cat jewels.


Jeanne Toussaint also created this flamingo brooch, decorated with rubies, sapphires, emeralds, citrines, and diamonds. It is listed with an estimate of 1,000,000-1,500,000 pounds ($1,520,000- $2,300,000) - and it's my personal favorite, in case you're doing some early Christmas shopping.


To celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, The Duke commissioned this emerald, ruby and diamond brooch by Cartier that incorporated their initials. This piece is expected to realize 100,000-150,000 pounds ($152,000- $230,000).


The full auction, which includes 16 additional gems from the Windsor collection will take place in London on November 30th.

Which one of the Windsor wonders would you like to take home to your jewelry box?