Michelle Obama's State Dinner Sparkle

While green was the stand-out color at the Golden Globes, Washington DC was rockin in red as Michelle Obama stepped out at the administration's third State Dinner (with Chinese president Hu Jintao) in a dream of a dress from Alexander McQueen.  

Yes. THE Alexander McQueen - the design house known for reptile shoes, garbage can hats and runway shows that have tongues wagging long after the models go home to nurse their champagne hangovers.

I applaud her decision - not only because it was a risky choice (there were many designers of Chinese descent that could have been selected). But because she looked so darn good!

But enough about the dress (read more excellent McQueen/Michelle analysis here on the Daily Beast). I also loved her jewelry choice - a pair of ruby and geode teardrop earrings in 18kt gold from New York designer, Kimberly McDonald according to the Mrs. O blog.

Geode is having a huge moment, with Kelly Osbourne and Michelle Pfeiffer wearing the stone to the Golden Globes (both by McDonald), and the demand for jewelry made from more 'natural' materials still going strong for 2011.

The stone has a science fiction quality to it, I think - which is why it was the perfect compliment to a floor-length red hot Alexander McQueen masterpiece, whose reptile influences we all know and love (especially these shoes from a few seasons ago).

OK. I'll stop gushing. I'm just so pleased we don't have to endure another pants-suit-pearl-strand-laden First Lady fashion snoresville. Am I right? Somewhere, Jackie O is smiling....

Pearl Jewelry 101

From Coco Chanel to Michelle Obama, women have always considered pearl jewelry a must-have addition to their jewelry collections.

Ever wondered how those oysters manage to create such a shiny little miracle? Or what about the five most important factors to consider when buying pearls?

Here is a pearl primer from my sugar momma, Jewelry.com, that tells you all the pearls of wisdom you'll ever need to know! Enjoy!


Pearl Jewelry 101:

Pearl, the birthstone for June, is among the most timeless, classic and treasured of all gems. Throughout history, pearls have been associated with wisdom, wealth, purity, romance and mystery. The ancient Egyptians were buried with them. In Rome, pearls were considered the ultimate symbol of wealth and status. The Greeks prized them for their beauty and association with love and marriage. Medieval knights wore them in battle as a talisman against injury. And during the Renaissance, some European countries banned all but nobility from the right to wear them.


It's hard to believe that such a luscious, beautiful gem comes from such humble origins. A natural pearl starts out as a grain of sand or microscopic worm that works its way into an oyster and cannot be expelled. To protect its soft body from this irritant, the oyster secretes a smooth, hard crystalline substance called nacre. Layer upon layer of nacre coats the foreign object and hardens, ultimately forming a pearl. In general, the thicker the nacre, the richer the 'glow' of the pearl - which can greatly enhance its value.


Although early pearl gathering depended on divers braving the oceans' depths to retrieve these treasures, the vast majority of pearls today are grown, or cultured, on pearl farms by surgically inserting a small shell bead, or nucleus, into the mantle of an oyster.

Even though pearls are harvested en masse on pearl farms, producing a quality pearl is an extremely rare event. It is estimated that half of all nucleated oysters do not survive - and of those that do, only 20% bear marketable pearls.

When shopping for pearls, the five factors that determine value are luster (surface brilliance); surface cleanliness (absence of spots, bumps or cracks); shape (generally, the rounder the pearl, the higher its value); color (pearls come in virtually every hue of the rainbow, and a few others, too); and size (the average pearl sold is 7-7.5 millimeters, but these gems can be as small as 1 millimeter or as large as 20 millimeters).

Because pearls are soft, ranking only 2.5-4.5 on the Mohs scale for hardness, they require special care. Natural oils from the skin, as well as hair spray, lotions and cosmetics, can dull their luster. Like other jewelry, they should be cleaned with a soft damp cloth and stored in cloth or cotton away from other jewelry to prevent scratching. Also, avoid allowing your pearl to come in contact with harsh chemicals, which can erode its surface. And if worn frequently, pearl necklaces should be brought to a jeweler once a year for re-stringing to prevent strand breakage.

Tom Binns Gets Real

Jewelry designer, Tom Binns, is having a good run. He's Michelle Obama's go-to guy for big statement pieces and he's been tapped as one of the designers of the upcoming Alice In Wonderland jewelry line to debut when the film opens in the spring.


And while I love to drool over his over-the-top creations (he started his career working for fashion icon, Vivienne Westwood, to give you an idea) there's the small matter of 'price' when it comes to owning a little Binns beauty of your own.

Until now.

I just discovered the Binns 'Get Real' jewelry line set to debut in Paris next month is a response to the troubled economic times that cramp a jewelry hound's style. His solution? Cut out big jewelry from magazines, laminate it, wear it and call 'er good.


Yup. The tongue-in-cheek 'Get Real' collection is made from photographs of rings, necklaces, earrings and watches clipped from glossy magazines that Binns reassembles, laminates and affixes with safety pin closures to add the final touch.

If it seems a little like cheating, think again. I kindof love the idea, and with the Tom Binns name, well, you've got a great conversation piece as well as a collectible statement jewel to throw in the mix.

What do you guys think? Would you buy laminated paper jewelry? Would the Tom Binns name a factor in your decision? Would you make your own? Weigh in!

Celebrity Jewelry Stars of the Week

Update: Rumor has it the necklace SJP is wearing here is a diamond snake from the Brangelina Asprey jewelry collection. To be continued...

Three leading ladies stole my heart recently with their icy jewelry fashion choices. It’s the holiday season after all – time to bring out the big guns. And while I certainly don’t have the budget to bling out like these fabulous females, it doesn’t hurt to break your lower jaw just lookin’ at ‘em, right? So. Here goes.

First up is Sarah Jessica Parker in a stunning wrap-around diamond creation worn to the UK premiere of her latest romantic comedy, Did You Hear About the Morgans? Hard to tell if the movie will be any better than her previous rom com outings post SATC (we'll just call Failure to Launch a 'minor' misstep), but this diamond doozy more than makes up for her collecting the proverbial paycheck.

Next up is the leading lady who gives the term ‘family jewels’ new meaning. Queen Elizabeth stepped out this weekend in more carats than a bunny convention – giving her royal subjects and eyeful of ice just in time for the holiday season. Cherrio, mortals!

And finally – I just have to drool like the rest of the world over Michelle Obama’s Kennedy Center Honors ensemble. Purple is ‘her’ color, and she knocked it out of the park in a strapless Peter Soronen number with a Tom Binns gemstone statement necklace that couldn’t be more perfect (um, yeah, that lower jaw thing is happening).

What do you guys think of this triumvirate of taste? Am I scoring some good looks to satisfy your inner jewelry hound? Weigh in!

MIchelle Obama's Jewelry Statement

Statement necklaces are the perfect way to work that holiday party outfit this season, and I just discovered a fab way to wear them on none other than Michelle Obama.

It's been a while since I've featured our First Lady's fashion choices, but the thorough Mrs. O blog seems to have all that covered for those of us who are curious. That's where I found this great holiday look that Obama wears on the cover of Glamour magazine this month. Jason Wu is credited with the fun and flirty red dress (apparently from Obama's own closest - not a stylist) and the amazing statement necklace is Fenton by Dana Lorenz.

The Fashionista-in Chief has worn Fenton before, but this piece is simply bananas in my book - the ideal inspiration for our own holiday accessory selects. And everyone from department stores and flea markets to high-end boutiques are teeming with statement necklace styles this season after the runways indicated the category was here to stay.

What do you guys think of this look? Classic holiday chic? Or too over-the-top for your taste? Weigh in!

Brooch Diplomacy - Madeleine Albright Communicates with Jewelry

If Michelle Obama is ushering in a new era of power brooch diplomacy, she wouldn’t be the first. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, a tenacious negotiator, loved to communicate her mood and intentions through her brooches, and now the Museum of Arts & Design in New York will exhibit 200 of her favorites.

Albright "found that what she wore and how she presented herself had a lot of interpretive meaning to those she was with," said Holly Hotchner, the museum's director. "The pins became an added way that she communicated as secretary of state."

"Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection," scheduled to open today, comes 10 years after the museum presented "Brooching It Diplomatically," a show of pins created by contemporary artists inspired by the ones Albright wore.

"She started acquiring pins because of their inherent messages, their whimsical and pictorial quality," said David Revere McFadden, the museum's chief curator. "It's not about jewels and gems, it's about jewelry as a communication device."

The collection is diverse, ranging from Americana styles — including flags and eagles — to ones with flora, fauna and insect themes. She always brought a selection with her on her travels so she could be ready for any situation.

For instance, Albright chose to wear a bee pinwhenever she felt talks amounted to "something like a sting," McFadden said.

"It's a very gentle way of saying to whomever she is speaking to: 'Listen carefully because I'm kind of telling you where I think this conversation is going,"' he said.

When she thought negotiations would likely go well, she would wear a balloon pin. Another pin, made of stainless steel, shows the head of Lady Liberty with two watch faces for eyes, one of which is upside down. The pin allows both her and others to check the time.

I wonder how many times Albright said the word ‘pinhead’ during the Bush administration?

The exhibition, running from Sept. 30 though Jan. 31, 2010, will be accompanied by a book, "Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box," written by Albright.

Get Michelle Obama’s Toywatch on Jewelry.com

From blingy brooch jewelry to gardening and upper arm workouts, our nation’s First Lady is setting trends all over the place. The latest look that has Obamaphiles drooling is a bright lavendar watch she wore in Paris while sightseeing with her daughters.

The watch is from Toywatch and as soon as the style hit the airwaves the watchmaker had the style on backorder. Well, I’ve been doing some digging in the Jewelry.com treasure chest and just happened to find it offered from their brand new Diamond Partner, Nordstrom.


Priced reasonably at $195, the purple timepiece from the Plasteramic Collection is perfect for casual daytime use or could cause a stir if paired with a fun cocktail dress.

If Michelle can bare her arms in the halls of Congress and sport blingy diamonds in the daytime, you can wear a purple watch to a formal. Go for it.

And if purple isn’t your style, they have an array of colorful options – from bright green and orange to pretty in pink.

So check out the Nordies Toywatch collection on Jewelry.com by clicking right here, and be sure to browse through their other hot jewelry styles.

Designer names like Dolce & Gabbana, Juicy Couture, Betsy Johnson, Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade and more are all there for the taking - all at prices that will make your frugalista side smile wide.

What do you guys think of the watch style? Perfectly purple or a plastic poser?

Michelle Obama’s Bare Arms and Big Bling

The diamond divas came out to shine at the Washington Correspondents Dinner this weekend, but no one glam-ed it up more than the Divine Mrs. O in a shock of color and a hunk of jewels.

Gone are the pearls and pant suits of First Ladies past. Obama is bringing in bright colors, brooch bling and bare arms that have the fashion world buzzing – including her own husband, who poked fun at his wife’s toned appendages during his side-splitting dinner speech.

“She's even begun to bridge the differences that have divided us for so long, because no matter which party you belong to we can all agree that Michelle has the right to bare arms.”

Who doesn’t love a Presidential pun, right?

While I know that Michael Kors is responsible for Michelle's pretty-in-pink floor-length dress, I’m still on the look-out for the designer of her flowery statement necklace (Twitterers, any hints?).

There are two jewelry designers the First Lady has often leaned on to make her look pop: Loree Rodkin, who supplied the diamonds for the Inauguration Festivities, and the eccentric California artist, Tom Binns, who designed the huge pearl and crystal look she dazzled us with at the first formal White House dinner in February.

What do you guys think of her sense of style? Shiny and bright? Or too over-the-top?

Paris Hilton to Win, Place and Show

How can one socialite drip in diamonds all the way from the blue grass of Kentucky to the blue bloods at the Kennedy Center in one weekend? Ask Paris Hilton, who was the belle of the ball at not one but two high profile social events in the past few days.

The first, of course, was the 135th Kentucky Derby, where a long shot came in first and Hilton dazzled the southern belles with her hunky arm candy and her chunky jewels as the co-host of the Barnstable-Brown pre–Derby event.

Wearing a poured-on Tadashi dress, the heiress sported serious caratage on her ears with a huge diamond cuff and right hand ring to top ‘er off.

And while Paris didn’t win any bets that day, she won a few hearts in our nation’s capital the next evening as she and her main man made a glittering appearance at the Kennedey Center’s Spring Gala, where Washington luminaries were entertained by the likes of k.d. lang, Lily Tomlin and other notable names.











Wearing a trendy gem-encrusted headband with yet another icy cuff from her treasure chest and a huge diamond ring rumored to be her grandmother’s, Hilton stole the show as the DC power scene scurried to fly in her orbit.

Thankfully, Michelle Obama entered the Presidential box to upstage her and bring everyone back to the real reason they were there – to celebrate women in the arts.

Which, of course, as a star of such worthy films as "The Hottie and the Nottie" and "Repo: The Generic Opera" our papparazzi-challenged reality star can so, like, relate to.

Brooch Diplomacy - Michelle and Madeleine Communicate with Jewelry

If Michelle Obama is ushering in a new era of power brooch diplomacy, she wouldn’t be the first. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, a tenacious negotiator, loved to communicate her mood and intentions through her brooches, and now the Museum of Arts & Design in New York will exhibit 200 of her favorites.

Albright "found that what she wore and how she presented herself had a lot of interpretive meaning to those she was with," said Holly Hotchner, the museum's director. "The pins became an added way that she communicated as secretary of state."

"Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection," scheduled to open in September, comes 10 years after the museum presented "Brooching It Diplomatically," a show of pins created by contemporary artists inspired by the ones Albright wore.

"She started acquiring pins because of their inherent messages, their whimsical and pictorial quality," said David Revere McFadden, the museum's chief curator. "It's not about jewels and gems, it's about jewelry as a communication device."

The collection is diverse, ranging from Americana styles — including flags and eagles — to ones with flora, fauna and insect themes. She always brought a selection with her on her travels so she could be ready for any situation.

For instance, Albright chose to wear a bee pin whenever she felt talks amounted to "something like a sting," McFadden said.

"It's a very gentle way of saying to whomever she is speaking to: 'Listen carefully because I'm kind of telling you where I think this conversation is going,"' he said.

When she thought negotiations would likely go well, she would wear a balloon pin. Another pin, made of stainless steel, shows the head of Lady Liberty with two watch faces for eyes, one of which is upside down. The pin allows both her and others to check the time.

I wonder how many times Albright said the word ‘pinhead’ during the Bush administration?

The exhibition, running from Sept. 30 though Jan. 31, 2010, will be accompanied by a book, "Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box," written by Albright.

Michelle Obama Brings Fuchsia Fashion to France

The highly anticipated fashion showdown between the world’s most stylish first ladies went down today as our Divine Mrs. O and France’s Carla Bruni-Sarkozy finally met face-to-face.(I love that she hyphenated even though he’s a leader of the free world).

The French model and chanteuse wore a subdued but classy gray Dior trench and Mighty Michelle rocked it in a fuchsia poppy coat by Thakoon. Both had power bow necklines. Coincidence? You make the call.











Bruni-Sarkozy was interviewed inside the Michelle Obama issue of Vogue in March, telling the magazine that she hates makeup, clothes and jewelry (not a sparkle could be found on her today from what I could tell), but she has emerged as France’s fashion icon despite it all.

And while Bruni-Sarkozy is often spotted in haute couture frocks, Obama likes to mix it up with commoner clothes to keep things real. Her color choice today was a massive improvement over the strange teal and brown number she wore yesterday – and the cut couldn’t be more sophisticated.

And she finally gave that pearl strand a break, as she chose to go sans jewelry for her afternoon activities in Strasbourg.

What do you think of our First Lady’s fashion so far? Too flashy or a much needed splash of color?

Michelle Obama Dazzles in London

The anarchists may be protesting, but the fashion police have nothing to worry about in London as our fab First Lady proves she can she can travel abroad in high style.

The divine Mrs. Michelle took off for London yesterday wearing an ivory Thakoon coat and a signature brooch (which I’ve been missing of late). Ever the fashion plate, she changed - on the plane of course(!) – into a chartreuse Jason Wu dress to greet her legions of fans upon arrival across the pond.

This morning brought breakfast with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and wife, Sarah, and later a visit to Maggie's Cancer Care Center. Maybe the bloody protestors of the G20 Summit influenced Obama’s downshift from designer duds to J Crew garb – but she emerged this morning in a J Crew bejeweled cardigan and a mint green jacquard pencil skirt accented with another old friend – the pearl strand – and a series of layered bangles.

When in Rome, right?

The cardigan, by the way, is already sold out in case you're wondering.

Later today, our First Lady is scheduled to have tea and cucumber sandwiches with Queen Elizabeth herself. Will she go for another outfit change (I'm pulling for a big hat, Michelle. Bring it!) or will she J Crew her way to Buckingham Palace?

Stay tuned!

Inauguration Jewels – Be the Belle of the Ball!

Before the excitement of this week’s Inauguration festivities fades into history, I thought it wise to share a way you can capture the feeling forever - in jewels. The celebs came out in droves to the endless Inaugural Balls, wearing gowns, updos and baubles a kimbo. Get their Inaugural looks for less and kickoff your own fashion administration in style.

Yes you can!

We haven’t seen Ashley Judd in a while, but her classic red carpet style is always a winner. Her pearl-drop earrings fit in perfectly with the doyennes of DC , and these white sapphire and pearl drops will impress any economic advisor at only $85 from Zales.










Jennifer Lopez put the pesky marriage rumors to rest, as she and hubby Marc Anthony made a snuggly showing at the Latino Inaugural Ball. Her champagne and black diamond earrings glittered as much as her resurfaced wedding ring. Pop the bubbly for your own pair in 10 karat gold!













Maura Tierney rocked the rotunda with her interlocking circle style. These golden eardrops give you two DC trends in one with cultured pearl drops to bring things full circle.










Earth tones warmed up Gloria Ruben's multi-colored gemstone look at the Creative Coalition Ball - and let’s face it, anything involving heat in a DC winter is a welcome sight. These smoky quartz, garnet, and citrine earrings keep the home fires burning and the ball gowns glowing. And they’re on sale !









Last but certainly not least is a diamond look worn by our First Lady, who danced the night away at what seemed like an endless ball circuit. Luckily, she had a capable partner to give her a hand.