Style Fix

Ok, now I understand … kind of … why Nicole Richie went out this weekend wearing two belts, half a dozen each of rings and bangles, over-sized sunglasses, and a weird head band thingy.

It was all in the name of self promotion! Apparently, Nicole recently revealed her own line of jewelry and accessories called House of Harlow 1960, named for her daughter.

Click on the photo to see more snapshots of Nicole’s Beverly Hills day out on Faded Youth Blog.

I spied a young 20-something female donning a massive charm bracelet the other day. The chain itself was large and industrial looking, and then each charm was substantially bulky itself. The bracelet consisted of one three-dimensional, half-dollar size, mama polar bear, and a handful of similar, quarter-size baby polar bears.

As you can probably guess from my thorough analysis of the bangle, I spent quite a bit of time spying on her (we were stuck in traffic on a public bus). After careful considerations, I decided that, although I am 100 percent in support of animal rights and environmental education, this was too way much.

A charm bracelet can, however, be a fun way to customize your own piece of jewelry, with each charm representing something special to you.

For a fun twist on the classic, charming wrist look, check out Pandora’s new charm earrings! Their Mix-and-Match collection debuted last year in Europe, and is traveling to North America for in time for the fall season.

This Pandora line offers a choice of 10 styles of 14K gold and sterling silver hoops (with unique shapes - some are spirals), and 74 interchangeable charms and pendants that feature gemstones such as white and watermelon-colored pearls, amethysts, sapphires, and diamonds. New sets, such as an antique cameo one, are being added, and Pandora continues to carry a Build Your Own Bracelet collection if you are more interested in a (moderately sized, non-tacky) charm bracelet.

Click on the thumbnail picture here to view a full-size shot of some of the silver options.

There’s appreciating a designer’s work, but not seeing them as flawless. Then there’s loving it, buying it every chance just because it has the designer’s name on it. After that, it becomes an unhealthy obsession.

I used to think that label lust couldn’t get much worse than paying $50 or even $100 for a plain white tee bearing nothing but a name, but I was wrong. It apparently goes much further and gets much worse.

For $128, Marc Jacobs addicts can don his lower label’s moniker - Marc by Marc Jacobs, around their neck. What better way to say “I love you” to Marc, and “I’m crazy and want you to know it” to friends and passers-by.

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Fan Necklace, which stakes no claims on what kind of precious metal it is made out of, shown here can be purchased from Shop Bop for $128. It can be mocked for free, anytime, anywhere. And remember, “happiness is wearing a little something Marc every day.”

Teenage and young 20-something girls and women tend to get overzealous when it comes to accessories. When getting ready (likely in a group, with chipper pop music playing), they get too focused on liking each individual piece of flare, that it becomes too hard to see the big picture.

Usually, this makes for good critiquing of teen celebrity outfits. But that seems too cruel to do too often. Especially since hardly none of us, myself included, can claim innocence in the matter: we all did it in high school, college, or both. It is just a way of developing our fashion taste and style identity.

So I commend the Bag Lady on her fun way of pointing out that starlets at the Teen Choice Awards loved their accessories, without destroying their ego: a fun matching game of teen-to-20 celebs’ faces and their award-night accessories. Go check it out!

She’s on the cover of TV Guide this week, looking like a smoking hot 20-something starlet … except she’s only 15. But that argument and commentary on Miss Miley Cyrus, of Hannah Montana fame, is over played.

On Monday, July 21, Miley stopped by the MTV TRL studios, along with Teddy Geiger and Emma Stone, in the teen-appropriate getup shown here. You have to hand it to the little pop icon, she has more confidence, spunk, and sheer cuteness her little pinky that most celebrities can ever dream to have.

Five points to Miley for an age-appropriate outfit that makes her happy.

However, those points are immediately negated by the sheer number of accessories. A hat, a bubble ring, two belts, a lace vest, and several bangles.

It’s a common youthful mistake, and even college girls still struggle with it. But ladies, the age old advice always holds true: Take off one accessory before you walk out the door.

This weekend was the Miss America Pageant 2008. In the weeks preceding the beauty competition was the more entertaining show - TLC’s Miss America: Reality Check. The top 52 (the states plus D.C. and Virgin Islands) women were pitted against each other in competitions; forced to jump into a pool, thus messing up their hair and makeup; told that their hair looked like a helmet and their makeup was that of clowns; and given advice on their gowns, looks, walk, talk, and more (you gotta love reality TV).

The whole point was to update the pageant. Did it work? Let’s analyze.

1. See these earrings? They made appearances multiple times on multiple lobes in multiple neon colors during the reality show without being thrown back to the 1980s. They even made an appearance on the big night. Where were was the advice on the accessories, TLC? To find a picture I had to search 80s costumes!

2. Several girls who became faves during the reality series, weren’t even given a nod on the stage. Instead, those who refused to change instantly made it to the top. We still saw teased, sprayed hair; heard bad vocals and saw comical pointe dances; and were subjected to endless ice skater-ish, sequined, sheer dresses.

3. Their introductions were “modern.” There were movie quotes (Miss Washington asked us “How do you like those apples?”), attempts at jokes (Miss Georgia said that her state was the only place where you could have both a Southern accent and a college degree); slightly offense “oh my, did she just say that” moments (Miss Nevada thanked you for leaving your money in her state), and all around poor choices made.

4. And the pageant’s changes? Oh so corny! On stage there was a DJ that played beats instead of songs, and a losers’ party with dessert. Not to mention, if you watched it replayed after the live performance, they gave away who was going to win! More than one commercial told viewers who the winner was when there were still ten women in the running.

So while I appreciate the attempt, and was entertained by Reality Check, it did not work.

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I’ve been stalling writing about it, though I don’t why. Perhaps it’s because I often avoid jumping on the bandwagon and seemingly everyone has reported on it. However, the time has come that I can no longer deny it as relevant fashion news that simply must be addressed because it was discussed on Oprah: Julia Roberts has entered the fashion world as a designer.

Now you may have already known that this mommy and actress can design knitting patterns, but now she teamed up with her friend Giorgio Armani (don’t we all wish we could call him a buddy?). If you’re keeping score, this is the first time the Italian designer has worked with another name on a product.

So what’s the landmark product created for (PRODUCT)RED that sets a new footprint on both superstars’ trail?

To be debuted on World AIDS Day - December 1 - online at Emporio Armani, the featured product is a leather (”boo,” says the animal lover in me) bracelet in red or brown with a “Tree of Life” design, the initials J.R. on the inside, and a sterling silver clasp embossed with the Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED logo. They will retail for $175 US for the women’s version and $195 for the men’s.

In a statement, Armani said that “Julia has helped to create a beautiful accessory … which will be a visible reminder of the part that we can all play in fighting AIDS in Africa.”

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I insist you check out independent jewelry designer Karin Collins.

Karin’s beautiful, extremely unique creations are the epitome of recycled materials … and of gorgeous jewelry! Her designs, SpoonFed Art, turn the bowl part of regular kitchen spoons into canvases that capture and amaze as they adorn your neck. Some have a classic, elongated dinner spoon shape, others have a rounder, soup spoon feel, but they all feature mystical artwork that I would be honored to wear.

In addition to using real spoons, Karin incorporates and reuses bits and pieces of this and that including discarded jewelry and watches, broken guitar strings and picks, buttons, beads, pins, needles, broken glass and mirrors, and scraps of metals.

Says Kira Bloom of SpoonFed Art: “She’s recycling old materials one spoonful at a time!”

Another reason I love the company is the story behind it: Karin was working in business and finance, and battling with an eating disorder. Her artwork was her therapy; thus, her profits now help support the National Eating Disorder Association (this kind of therapy is actually what I went to graduate school for!).

Since it is one-of-a-kind, handmade, quality jewelry, expect to pay around $85 to $95 per necklace. However, if you order before the end of September, you can get free shipping … and it’s shipped in real popcorn!

Don’t worry about being wasteful and unfriendly to the earth with foam peanuts, just toss the popcorn to the birds, throw on your SpoonFed Art, and have a guilt-free fashionable day!

Creative rights are hard lines to draw in artistic fields. When a designer creates a dress, how much can they claim to be original? Choosing the color blue has been done before, so has a plunging neckline. Post award shows you can find imitations of all the red carpet gowns for one-tenth the price from labels other than the original designer’s. How do the designers feel in all of this?

Well we at least know how Jessica Kagan Cushman feels.

The one-of-a-kind, couture jewelry maiden has been the buzz of bracelet world over the past year. Cushman’s latest line is that of mammoth ivory (all collected from preserved tusks of animals that died naturally from 10,000 to 40,000 years ago), scrimshaw, phrase bangles. The fun sayings include inspirations from The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, New York graffiti, and simply being an independent woman. I must say, it was refreshing not to see a designer expecting me to plaster a sleazy sexual innuendo on my body.

No controversy yet. The bracelets were doing well, hitting stores, magazines, and wrists.

Chanel then showed off their new “it” bracelets in March: a Chanel quote carved into resin for $600, and they had a waiting list already.

In the past, people have written quotes and sayings on bracelets - just take the “Live Strong” trend for example. Why is this suddenly considered a direct copy? My debate for that would go on for a while. Instead let me finish the designer drama for you.

Jessica got mad; then she got even; then she one up-ed them.

First, there was a classy “Ripped off by CHANEL” bangle, with Chanel written in the designer’s exact font. This move? childish, but made a statement. Even better though, Cushman began designing her own carved resin wrist jewelry for $130 - pocket change compared to Chanel’s version.

Are you following so far? Cushman designs expensive, quality bracelet. Chanel copies with cheaper material. Cushman responds with cheaper price.

Now, however, Forever 21 has jumped on the writings-on-your-wrist bandwagon. Now Cushman has more press than ever, but she also has more direct copies/competitors.

The bracelet is cute, the sayings clever. But the controversy? Well, creative rights are a hard line to draw.

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Looks like I was semi right with at least one of my predictions so far: Heroes healer Hayden Panettiere has inspired a number of earring designs. It’s not quite her own clothing line - yet - but I certainly don’t have hundred dollar jewelry named after me.

The first designer, Melanie Auld Designs, describes The Hayden - her aptly-named gems - as “hand-made 14kt gold-filled 1.5″ hoops from which a beautiful Chrysophase briolette is suspended.”

These ear-danglers were seen on little miss Panettiere at the MTV Movie Awards on May 31, and can be pre-ordered now for an August 21 delivery. Wearing The Hayden, as seen on Hayden, will cost you $175.

Next up, we have *magical* earrings. LisaKirk Designs brings us a pair of magic Rock Crystal Hoops with “positive energy [that] removes mental blocks and promotes a sense of justice.” I am not sold on all that, but they do bear a resemblance to Hayden’s dangling rings from the March 31 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.

With a $140 price tag though, and a look that screams “I made them myself,” I’d hold off until Hayden gets her own line (which she likely will). Besides, your chances are actually pretty good of finding a similar pair at your local art show, too, and with a much more reasonable asking price. But these, of course, won’t be magical.

Click on pictures of Hayden to see them larger, in more detail; click on the earrings to go to the designers’ Web sites.

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