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ruled the red carpet at the Academy Awards
Swan graced the Oscars on Sunday night in several ways: Besides Natalie Portman in her Rodarte violet colored draped gown in silk chiffon with Swarovski crystals, co star Mila Kunis wore a very low cut, lingerie style Elie Saab gown in lavender with lace details. But other stars had a bit of a dancer vibe, including Mandy Moore in a gold beaded, illusion gown by Monique Lhuillier and Hailee Steinfeld custom made Marchesa.
Steinfeld accessorized her crystal covered, hand embroidered, tea length tulle dress in pale pink with a ballerina style, diamond and platinum Fred Leighton headband.
And, added Cernek, Portman was as gorgeous and amazing as you think. The gown by Laura and Kate Mulleavy made skillful use of a delicate neckline to draw attention from the empire waist that is pretty standard for maternity dresses, she observed, and the Tiffany Co. tassel earrings were a perfect complement.
Most Read StoriesNew wife feels sting of inheritance plan snub Dear CarolynSeattle just broke a 122 year old record for rain because of course it didFishing 101 can help parents cope with daughter's nasty 'best friend' Dear CarolynSeattle's March for Science draws thousands on Earth Day including a Nobel Prize winner WATCHCowlitz Tribe opening $510M casino complex they hope will draw 4.5M visitorsUnlimited Digital Access. $1 for 4 weeks.
There was some controversy ahead of the Academy Awards about Swan and who should get the credit for its very influential looks. Rodarte did design some of the outfits,van cleef flower fake necklace, but Amy Westcott was the film official costume designer.
Portman was making a personal choice. She calls the Rodarte designers Cernek says.
Another big statement on the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles was host Anne Hathaway in a big, attention grabbing strapless red gown from the Valentino archives.
Gwyneth Paltrow metallic, embroidered sheath gown with a slit style V neck by Calvin Klein Francisco Costa hit the trend of a more seductive, sophisticated Oscars look versus flashy, skin baring styles.
I think people looked really good. They went couture and body conscious, not overtly sexy, said Hal Rubenstein, fashion director of InStyle magazine. was a lot of sheer, a lot of high necks. There was no real clunker in the bunch. higher neckline of Amy Adams L Scott gown, covered in purple caviar beads with a back hem slit, was contrasted by her chunky pendant necklace. was a Shanghai nightclub sexy but quite covered up,van cleef clover fake necklace, said Cernek.
one thing we seeing a consistent amount of is silhouettes fitted to their bodies,van cleef and arpel knock off necklace, whether it romantic or structured, said stylist Cristina Ehrlich, who worked with Adams.
Melissa Leo Marc Bouwer gown, which had a collar style neckline, was an atypical choice of this most classic and glamorous occasion of the awards show season.
Reese Witherspoon channeled a bit of Brigitte Bardot in her black gown by Giorgio Armani Prive with a white band around the strapless bustline, and Hilary Swank strapless, gray Gucci had the unexpected twist of delicate feathers at the hemline. (He gave his best tux prize to Tom Ford fitted suit on Justin Timberlake.)
Jennifer Lawrence surely raised her profile status in a slinky, scoopneck, fire engine red Calvin Klein gown. It wasn the usual Oscar glam look. She looked more like a swimsuit pinup except for the 42 carats of Chopard yellow diamonds on her wrist but it worked for her.
Jennifer Hudson showed off her slimmed down figure in a tangerine orange halter gown by Versace. was a great way to say, what? I a star, I got the power and I fierce, said style expert Suze Yalof Schwartz. was the ultimate makeover dress. her dress didn do it, then her jewels did. Jeweler Neil Lane valued her 20 carat ring, long, basket earrings, and bracelets at $1 million.
Cate Blanchett went the couture route in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci. The pleated, pale wisteria dress was embroidered with pearls, crystals covered in leather and a swath of yellow beads around the neck.
InStyle Rubenstein thinks Michelle Williams beaded Chanel Couture gown will end up the controversial choice in next day conversations, but it doesn deserve it. think Michelle Williams dress doesn show up well in photos, but if you could see the iridescent beading, it an extraordinary piece of work. It photographs very, very simple,van cleef arpel knock off necklace, but it pretty sensational. dress that needed to be seen in person to appreciated was Halle Berry champagne colored Marchesa strapless gown with a pouf of tulle around the bottom. dress was a movie star dress, said Yalof Schwartz from her perch at the red carpet. fit her like it was melted onto her body. Marisa Tomei in a vintage, 1950s era navy gown by Charles James from Lily et Cie paired with 1960 sapphire and diamond jewelry from Van Cleef Arpels, and Nicole Kidman in a strapless, white Christian Dior gown with silver embroidery. If the buzz wasn going to be about her choice to wear Dior in the aftermath of the suspension of designer John Galliano, it would have been about her 19th century, old mine cut diamond necklace from Fred Leighton.
Ehrlich, who partnered with Victoria Secret, said, a lot of psychology involved in making the looks look as effortlessly as they do. It all very glamorous with a lot of different takes on it. Bonham Carter worked with costume designer Colleen Atwood for her black corset gown with cat scratched sleeves. She told E! that she chose an outfit that would film instead of fashion. said he just so pleased there is so much to talk about instead of a sea of safe looks. didn do cookie cutter stuff. I was delighted.
Swan graced the Oscars on Sunday night in several ways: Besides Natalie Portman in her Rodarte violet colored draped gown in silk chiffon with Swarovski crystals, co star Mila Kunis wore a very low cut, lingerie style Elie Saab gown in lavender with lace details. But other stars had a bit of a dancer vibe, including Mandy Moore in a gold beaded, illusion gown by Monique Lhuillier and Hailee Steinfeld custom made Marchesa.
Steinfeld accessorized her crystal covered, hand embroidered, tea length tulle dress in pale pink with a ballerina style, diamond and platinum Fred Leighton headband.
And, added Cernek, Portman was as gorgeous and amazing as you think. The gown by Laura and Kate Mulleavy made skillful use of a delicate neckline to draw attention from the empire waist that is pretty standard for maternity dresses, she observed, and the Tiffany Co. tassel earrings were a perfect complement.
Most Read StoriesNew wife feels sting of inheritance plan snub Dear CarolynSeattle just broke a 122 year old record for rain because of course it didFishing 101 can help parents cope with daughter's nasty 'best friend' Dear CarolynSeattle's March for Science draws thousands on Earth Day including a Nobel Prize winner WATCHCowlitz Tribe opening $510M casino complex they hope will draw 4.5M visitorsUnlimited Digital Access. $1 for 4 weeks.
There was some controversy ahead of the Academy Awards about Swan and who should get the credit for its very influential looks. Rodarte did design some of the outfits,van cleef flower fake necklace, but Amy Westcott was the film official costume designer.
Portman was making a personal choice. She calls the Rodarte designers Cernek says.
Another big statement on the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles was host Anne Hathaway in a big, attention grabbing strapless red gown from the Valentino archives.
Gwyneth Paltrow metallic, embroidered sheath gown with a slit style V neck by Calvin Klein Francisco Costa hit the trend of a more seductive, sophisticated Oscars look versus flashy, skin baring styles.
I think people looked really good. They went couture and body conscious, not overtly sexy, said Hal Rubenstein, fashion director of InStyle magazine. was a lot of sheer, a lot of high necks. There was no real clunker in the bunch. higher neckline of Amy Adams L Scott gown, covered in purple caviar beads with a back hem slit, was contrasted by her chunky pendant necklace. was a Shanghai nightclub sexy but quite covered up,van cleef clover fake necklace, said Cernek.
one thing we seeing a consistent amount of is silhouettes fitted to their bodies,van cleef and arpel knock off necklace, whether it romantic or structured, said stylist Cristina Ehrlich, who worked with Adams.
Melissa Leo Marc Bouwer gown, which had a collar style neckline, was an atypical choice of this most classic and glamorous occasion of the awards show season.
Reese Witherspoon channeled a bit of Brigitte Bardot in her black gown by Giorgio Armani Prive with a white band around the strapless bustline, and Hilary Swank strapless, gray Gucci had the unexpected twist of delicate feathers at the hemline. (He gave his best tux prize to Tom Ford fitted suit on Justin Timberlake.)
Jennifer Lawrence surely raised her profile status in a slinky, scoopneck, fire engine red Calvin Klein gown. It wasn the usual Oscar glam look. She looked more like a swimsuit pinup except for the 42 carats of Chopard yellow diamonds on her wrist but it worked for her.
Jennifer Hudson showed off her slimmed down figure in a tangerine orange halter gown by Versace. was a great way to say, what? I a star, I got the power and I fierce, said style expert Suze Yalof Schwartz. was the ultimate makeover dress. her dress didn do it, then her jewels did. Jeweler Neil Lane valued her 20 carat ring, long, basket earrings, and bracelets at $1 million.
Cate Blanchett went the couture route in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci. The pleated, pale wisteria dress was embroidered with pearls, crystals covered in leather and a swath of yellow beads around the neck.
InStyle Rubenstein thinks Michelle Williams beaded Chanel Couture gown will end up the controversial choice in next day conversations, but it doesn deserve it. think Michelle Williams dress doesn show up well in photos, but if you could see the iridescent beading, it an extraordinary piece of work. It photographs very, very simple,van cleef arpel knock off necklace, but it pretty sensational. dress that needed to be seen in person to appreciated was Halle Berry champagne colored Marchesa strapless gown with a pouf of tulle around the bottom. dress was a movie star dress, said Yalof Schwartz from her perch at the red carpet. fit her like it was melted onto her body. Marisa Tomei in a vintage, 1950s era navy gown by Charles James from Lily et Cie paired with 1960 sapphire and diamond jewelry from Van Cleef Arpels, and Nicole Kidman in a strapless, white Christian Dior gown with silver embroidery. If the buzz wasn going to be about her choice to wear Dior in the aftermath of the suspension of designer John Galliano, it would have been about her 19th century, old mine cut diamond necklace from Fred Leighton.
Ehrlich, who partnered with Victoria Secret, said, a lot of psychology involved in making the looks look as effortlessly as they do. It all very glamorous with a lot of different takes on it. Bonham Carter worked with costume designer Colleen Atwood for her black corset gown with cat scratched sleeves. She told E! that she chose an outfit that would film instead of fashion. said he just so pleased there is so much to talk about instead of a sea of safe looks. didn do cookie cutter stuff. I was delighted.
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Seadrill SDRL Stock Plunges After Oil Prices Drop,van cleef and arpels fake necklace
NEW YORK (TheStreet) Seadrill (SDRL) stock is retreating 5.44% to $2.78 in afternoon trading Thursday after oil prices weakened following a build up of crude oil at the Cushing,vca replica necklace, OK delivery hub.
WTI crude is down 0.79% to $37.45 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude is falling 0.68% to $39.57 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange this afternoon.
"We are in the aftermath of yesterday's (EIA) data, but if you zoom out there's still oversupply and record inventories,van cleef and arpels replica clover necklace," ABN Amro senior energy economist Hans van Cleef told Reuters. "Production numbers from places like Iran and Iraq are in focus with people looking to see how it translates into the overall supply picture."
Bermuda based Seadrill is an offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industries.
Separately,van cleef and arpels butterfly replica necklace, Seadrill has a "sell" rating and a letter grade of D at TheStreet Ratings because of the company's generally high debt management risk, disappointing return on equity and generally disappointing stock performance.
You can view the full analysis from the report here:
TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk adjusted" total return prospect over a 12 month investment horizon.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) Seadrill (SDRL) stock is retreating 5.44% to $2.78 in afternoon trading Thursday after oil prices weakened following a build up of crude oil at the Cushing,vca replica necklace, OK delivery hub.
WTI crude is down 0.79% to $37.45 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude is falling 0.68% to $39.57 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange this afternoon.
"We are in the aftermath of yesterday's (EIA) data, but if you zoom out there's still oversupply and record inventories,van cleef and arpels replica clover necklace," ABN Amro senior energy economist Hans van Cleef told Reuters. "Production numbers from places like Iran and Iraq are in focus with people looking to see how it translates into the overall supply picture."
Bermuda based Seadrill is an offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industries.
Separately,van cleef and arpels butterfly replica necklace, Seadrill has a "sell" rating and a letter grade of D at TheStreet Ratings because of the company's generally high debt management risk, disappointing return on equity and generally disappointing stock performance.
You can view the full analysis from the report here:
TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk adjusted" total return prospect over a 12 month investment horizon.
Goods Firms Are Seeking Corporate Shelter
The 88 year old jewelry company on Paris's prestigious Place Vend had no comment Friday on a report in the French financial newspaper, Les Echos, that it was on the block. But a source at LVMH Mo Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA said the big French luxury goods group had "seen the Van Cleef Arpels dossier recently" and considers the company "a nice business."
"It would fit into our strategy," the source said, while adding that it had not yet made an offer.
Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH, said in March that he wanted to expand the group in the luxury sector,van cleef alhambra knock off necklace, and jewelry is one area in which it is not present. He freed up $2 billion for acquisitions this year by untangling a cross shareholding agreement with Guinness PLC.
"It would make a degree of sense, because LVMH is flush with cash and this is an area in which they are weak," said Andrew Shepherd Barron, analyst at Kleinwort Benson Securities in London.
The newspaper said the jeweler had annual sales of 600 million francs ($107 million) and was valued at between 1.5 billion and 2 billion francs.
LVMH, which had sales last year of 23.8 billion francs, owns a large stable of prestige brands, including Hennessy cognac, Mo Chandon and Veuve Clicquot champagne, Louis Vuitton leather goods and Christian Dior, Givenchy,van cleef arpels knock off alhambra necklace, Christian Lacroix and Kenzo perfumes and beauty products.
Last month, LVMH's Dior unit agreed to pay 1.96 billion francs to take control of Guerlain perfumes.
Also interested in Van Cleef Arpels, according to Les Echos,van cleef replica necklaces, is Chanel SA. But a spokeswoman there, Marie Louise de Clermont Tonnerre, called the report "inexact, not true."
Chanel, owned since 1924 by the Wertheimer family, operates a network of 70 boutiques around the world.
Analysts said the remaining family owned prestige products companies were facing increasing pressure as their bigger competitors set up worldwide marketing and distribution networks.
"Globalization is what it's all about," Mr. Shepherd Barron said. "Allying with a major distribution network is crucial, because small companies like Van Cleef Arpels can't afford to do it alone."
Sales of family owned companies are also often prompted by French succession law, in which a founder's stock is evenly divided among his survivors at his death. As original stock gets splintered in successive generations, some family members seek to cash in their shares, forcing the company to be put on the block.
In recent months two other family owned companies in the sector found new owners. Christofle, the tableware company owned by the Bouilhet family, was sold to the Borletti family of Italy, while Lalique, the jeweler and glass maker, was sold to Pochet SA, a French maker of bottles for the luxury sector.
Under LVMH, Mr. Shepherd Barron said, Van Cleef Arpels could be expanded as an independent operation or perhaps integrated into Vuitton and set up as "a shop within a shop."
Van Cleef Arpels has 15 boutiques in Europe and the United States, plus more than 20 other sales points in Asia that it operates with local partners.
The company was founded in 1906 by three Arpels brothers and a brother in law, Alfred Van Cleef. The company today is presided by Jacques Arpels,van cleef and arpels knock off butterfly necklace, with day to day management in the hands of Ferdinand Ripoll.
In addition to its jewelry, the company has lent its name under license to the Swiss watchmaker, Start, and to a line of perfumes First, Gem, Tsar licensed to Elf Sanofi SA. That pharmaceuticals and beauty products company said it is not negotiating the sale of these licenses.
The 88 year old jewelry company on Paris's prestigious Place Vend had no comment Friday on a report in the French financial newspaper, Les Echos, that it was on the block. But a source at LVMH Mo Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA said the big French luxury goods group had "seen the Van Cleef Arpels dossier recently" and considers the company "a nice business."
"It would fit into our strategy," the source said, while adding that it had not yet made an offer.
Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH, said in March that he wanted to expand the group in the luxury sector,van cleef alhambra knock off necklace, and jewelry is one area in which it is not present. He freed up $2 billion for acquisitions this year by untangling a cross shareholding agreement with Guinness PLC.
"It would make a degree of sense, because LVMH is flush with cash and this is an area in which they are weak," said Andrew Shepherd Barron, analyst at Kleinwort Benson Securities in London.
The newspaper said the jeweler had annual sales of 600 million francs ($107 million) and was valued at between 1.5 billion and 2 billion francs.
LVMH, which had sales last year of 23.8 billion francs, owns a large stable of prestige brands, including Hennessy cognac, Mo Chandon and Veuve Clicquot champagne, Louis Vuitton leather goods and Christian Dior, Givenchy,van cleef arpels knock off alhambra necklace, Christian Lacroix and Kenzo perfumes and beauty products.
Last month, LVMH's Dior unit agreed to pay 1.96 billion francs to take control of Guerlain perfumes.
Also interested in Van Cleef Arpels, according to Les Echos,van cleef replica necklaces, is Chanel SA. But a spokeswoman there, Marie Louise de Clermont Tonnerre, called the report "inexact, not true."
Chanel, owned since 1924 by the Wertheimer family, operates a network of 70 boutiques around the world.
Analysts said the remaining family owned prestige products companies were facing increasing pressure as their bigger competitors set up worldwide marketing and distribution networks.
"Globalization is what it's all about," Mr. Shepherd Barron said. "Allying with a major distribution network is crucial, because small companies like Van Cleef Arpels can't afford to do it alone."
Sales of family owned companies are also often prompted by French succession law, in which a founder's stock is evenly divided among his survivors at his death. As original stock gets splintered in successive generations, some family members seek to cash in their shares, forcing the company to be put on the block.
In recent months two other family owned companies in the sector found new owners. Christofle, the tableware company owned by the Bouilhet family, was sold to the Borletti family of Italy, while Lalique, the jeweler and glass maker, was sold to Pochet SA, a French maker of bottles for the luxury sector.
Under LVMH, Mr. Shepherd Barron said, Van Cleef Arpels could be expanded as an independent operation or perhaps integrated into Vuitton and set up as "a shop within a shop."
Van Cleef Arpels has 15 boutiques in Europe and the United States, plus more than 20 other sales points in Asia that it operates with local partners.
The company was founded in 1906 by three Arpels brothers and a brother in law, Alfred Van Cleef. The company today is presided by Jacques Arpels,van cleef and arpels knock off butterfly necklace, with day to day management in the hands of Ferdinand Ripoll.
In addition to its jewelry, the company has lent its name under license to the Swiss watchmaker, Start, and to a line of perfumes First, Gem, Tsar licensed to Elf Sanofi SA. That pharmaceuticals and beauty products company said it is not negotiating the sale of these licenses.
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The Hottest Engagement Ring Trend for 2013
Even in the dead of winter, emeralds can make you feel like spring is just around the corner. Emeralds are associated with balance, harmony, growth,fake van cleef butterfly necklace, and prosperity all attributes the world could use in abundance this new year. And for many cultures, emeralds symbolize beauty and healing. The color green is the most abundant hue in nature; humans see more green than any other color in the spectrum,van cleef and arpel clover necklace, according to Pantone's Leatrice Eiseman. It is also May's birthstone and the patriotic color of Irish pride for the "Emerald Isle."
While it's true that we've been seeing more and more emerald jewelry at fancy celeb photo ops, what I want to focus on here is the addition of emeralds to bridal jewelry. This is a striking new trend that I believe is a fantastic development. We'll look at two facets of the trend: engagement rings with emeralds for center stones and engagement rings with diamond center stones and emerald side stones.
First, let's take a look at engagement rings with emerald center stones a la Halle Berry. Olivier Martinez proposed to the actress last year with a stunning four carat Colombian emerald engagement ring in a textured, hand forged, yellow gold setting. Flanked by two smaller diamonds, this emerald is an exquisite specimen of vibrant color.
What I love most about this ring is that it's not a diamond! It's refreshing to see celebrities pop the question with something unique and different because it makes it okay for the rest of us too. There is no law that stipulates that all men must buy diamond engagement rings for their fiancees; rather, the diamond industry has led us to believe it's like committing a crime if they don't. I applaud all men who buy gemstone engagement rings and all girlfriends who will be excited to wear them. If it was good enough for Prince William to propose to Kate with his mother's blue sapphire ring, then it's probably good enough for you too.
What do you need to know when purchasing an emerald center stone? Color, color, color. With emeralds, and many other gemstones, the color of the stone is of paramount importance since it is the gem's hue, tone, and saturation that grab your eye and captivate you. While the hue (where the shade of green falls in the spectrum of colors) and tone (measure of dark and light) are necessary to consider, it's absolutely crucial to investigate the emerald's saturation, or intensity of color. Be sure to select a lively, vivid, intensely colored emerald rather than a dull, flat, limp one. This is the key to buying an eye popping emerald center stone for an engagement ring.
While emeralds are far from "cheap" in an absolute sense, they cost considerably less than diamonds. Use the money you save forgoing a diamond to get a larger stone. Or just save it for any of the many other wedding related expenses.
Next let's take a look at diamond engagement rings with emerald accent stones. This style is great for the couple who still wants a conventional diamond center stone, but wants to add a splash of green to the colorless look of the diamond with smaller emeralds in the setting. The most common shapes for emerald side stones are emerald, round, pear and trillion, usually with one emerald on each side of the diamond. But you are only limited by your imagination and your budget.
Now check out this Art Deco diamond center stone ring with an emerald halo:
As you may already be aware, the decadent Art Deco style of the 20s and 30s is the new retro look, and one we expect to see more of in 2013. This old school ring from about 1930 features an approximately one carat round diamond surrounded by a halo of emerald cut emeralds, and diamonds on the band of the ring. This is truly a fantastic option for those of you looking to design a custom engagement ring. Classy, unique, and spectacular all at the same time.
Green Ice, New Trend or Revisiting another Era?
What may seem like a new trend today in 2013 is most likely a throwback to a time when emeralds enjoyed more popularity. Who better to teach us this lesson than first lady and fashion icon Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy? When she accepted John F. Kennedy's proposal with this memorable Van Cleef Arpels 2.88 carat diamond and 2.84 carat emerald engagement ring in 1953, it became the standard of elegance.
And though the days of Jack and Jackie seem a world away,fake van cleef arpels necklace, the first lady's style remains a classic example of the dazzling combination of the icy white diamond and the vivid green emerald.
Ira Weissman is a diamond industry veteran with a decade of experience at one of the world's largest diamond polishers. He has traveled the world buying and selling diamonds and now dedicates his time to helping consumers make the most of their diamond buying decisions. He has been featured on Anderson Cooper, CNBC,van cleef and arpels alhambra necklace price replica, and has been quoted by MarketWatch, The Village Voice, and BankRate. Visit Truth About Diamonds to educate yourself about diamonds.
Even in the dead of winter, emeralds can make you feel like spring is just around the corner. Emeralds are associated with balance, harmony, growth,fake van cleef butterfly necklace, and prosperity all attributes the world could use in abundance this new year. And for many cultures, emeralds symbolize beauty and healing. The color green is the most abundant hue in nature; humans see more green than any other color in the spectrum,van cleef and arpel clover necklace, according to Pantone's Leatrice Eiseman. It is also May's birthstone and the patriotic color of Irish pride for the "Emerald Isle."
While it's true that we've been seeing more and more emerald jewelry at fancy celeb photo ops, what I want to focus on here is the addition of emeralds to bridal jewelry. This is a striking new trend that I believe is a fantastic development. We'll look at two facets of the trend: engagement rings with emeralds for center stones and engagement rings with diamond center stones and emerald side stones.
First, let's take a look at engagement rings with emerald center stones a la Halle Berry. Olivier Martinez proposed to the actress last year with a stunning four carat Colombian emerald engagement ring in a textured, hand forged, yellow gold setting. Flanked by two smaller diamonds, this emerald is an exquisite specimen of vibrant color.
What I love most about this ring is that it's not a diamond! It's refreshing to see celebrities pop the question with something unique and different because it makes it okay for the rest of us too. There is no law that stipulates that all men must buy diamond engagement rings for their fiancees; rather, the diamond industry has led us to believe it's like committing a crime if they don't. I applaud all men who buy gemstone engagement rings and all girlfriends who will be excited to wear them. If it was good enough for Prince William to propose to Kate with his mother's blue sapphire ring, then it's probably good enough for you too.
What do you need to know when purchasing an emerald center stone? Color, color, color. With emeralds, and many other gemstones, the color of the stone is of paramount importance since it is the gem's hue, tone, and saturation that grab your eye and captivate you. While the hue (where the shade of green falls in the spectrum of colors) and tone (measure of dark and light) are necessary to consider, it's absolutely crucial to investigate the emerald's saturation, or intensity of color. Be sure to select a lively, vivid, intensely colored emerald rather than a dull, flat, limp one. This is the key to buying an eye popping emerald center stone for an engagement ring.
While emeralds are far from "cheap" in an absolute sense, they cost considerably less than diamonds. Use the money you save forgoing a diamond to get a larger stone. Or just save it for any of the many other wedding related expenses.
Next let's take a look at diamond engagement rings with emerald accent stones. This style is great for the couple who still wants a conventional diamond center stone, but wants to add a splash of green to the colorless look of the diamond with smaller emeralds in the setting. The most common shapes for emerald side stones are emerald, round, pear and trillion, usually with one emerald on each side of the diamond. But you are only limited by your imagination and your budget.
Now check out this Art Deco diamond center stone ring with an emerald halo:
As you may already be aware, the decadent Art Deco style of the 20s and 30s is the new retro look, and one we expect to see more of in 2013. This old school ring from about 1930 features an approximately one carat round diamond surrounded by a halo of emerald cut emeralds, and diamonds on the band of the ring. This is truly a fantastic option for those of you looking to design a custom engagement ring. Classy, unique, and spectacular all at the same time.
Green Ice, New Trend or Revisiting another Era?
What may seem like a new trend today in 2013 is most likely a throwback to a time when emeralds enjoyed more popularity. Who better to teach us this lesson than first lady and fashion icon Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy? When she accepted John F. Kennedy's proposal with this memorable Van Cleef Arpels 2.88 carat diamond and 2.84 carat emerald engagement ring in 1953, it became the standard of elegance.
And though the days of Jack and Jackie seem a world away,fake van cleef arpels necklace, the first lady's style remains a classic example of the dazzling combination of the icy white diamond and the vivid green emerald.
Ira Weissman is a diamond industry veteran with a decade of experience at one of the world's largest diamond polishers. He has traveled the world buying and selling diamonds and now dedicates his time to helping consumers make the most of their diamond buying decisions. He has been featured on Anderson Cooper, CNBC,van cleef and arpels alhambra necklace price replica, and has been quoted by MarketWatch, The Village Voice, and BankRate. Visit Truth About Diamonds to educate yourself about diamonds.
Parisian Exhibit Reveals Secrets of Fine Jewelry Making
PARIS Which of the 450 jewels would attract the biggest crowds at this collection on display at the French Museum of Decorative Arts?
Would the biggest draw be the gold and diamond "lion" choker with piercing emerald eyes that was a gift to new grandmother Elizabeth Taylor from Richard Burton in 1971? Or would it be the zipper necklace, with lines of diamond teeth, made in 1951 at the inspiration of the Duchess of Windsor, whose hard face and sharp jewels appear in a photograph on the wall?
Maybe a crush of visitors would gravitate to one of the most fabulous flower brooches, a peony clip from 1937, its ruby petals curled over diamond leaves? Or cluster in front of ballerina brooches redolent, in their sweet innocence, of the postwar period of the 1950s?
Few would guess that the Van Cleef Arpels exhibition "Art of Fine Jewelry," at the Muse des Arts Decoratifs in Paris until Feb. 10, would be a draw not just for its fabulous and fashionable sparkles but also for a series of films showing works in progress.
Continue reading the main story
A specialist in gems gasps as he rubs between his fingers a fiery ruby, saying, "Oh la la! There are no words!" And a polisher proudly describes his progress from a young apprentice through the workshop.
This enthusiasm for works in progress rather than just finished objects shows a turnaround in attitudes. High jewelry used to be about lofty secrets. That is why Van Cleef's most famous invention in 1933 was called a "mystery setting," because the gemstones were mounted without, apparently, any claws to hold them in place.
But even that process is decoded in the display, which shows the rails in which the stones are clamped, looking like squares in a bar of chocolate. Beside the didactic explanation, mystery set jewels are displayed in one of many plexiglass tubes that enable the visitors to look at the jewels from every angle. That idea, too, is symbolic of the openness of this exceptional exhibition.
The Van Cleef story started in the 1920s when a wedding between the scions of two jewelry clans the Van Cleefs of Amsterdam and the Arpels family from Ghent, Belgium founded a dynasty.
At that time, the sinuous curves of the Art Nouveau movement were being replaced by linear modernity. Van Cleef swiftly picked up influences from a changing world. Beatrice Salmon, the museum director, explains in her preface to the sumptuous catalogue, with more than 500 illustrations, that Egyptian references mirrored the discovery in 1922 of the Egyptian pharoah Tutankhamun's tomb and that the culture of the 1970s produced jewelry with a hippie beat.
The founding purpose of the decorative arts museum was to show that beauty and utility can coexist. And that is the message of this exhibition. It includes digital effects that allow visitors to take a virtual "backstage" trip around the jeweler's Paris premises in the Place Vendme. By using a gesture recognition system, a three dimensional tour moves through the workrooms.
On a more glamorous note, the show displays the elegant modernity of tiaras worn by royal figures, including Empress Farah Diba of Iran and Princess Charlene of Monaco at her 2011 wedding.
Stanislas de Quercize, the chief executive of Van Cleef (before he takes over as chief executive of Cartier, another jeweler within the Richemont luxury group) said this was his fourth exhibition since 2009.
The Paris show follows ones in New York, Tokyo and Shanghai, each different. Mr. de Quercize said that whereas the exhibition in New York at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum,van cleef clover necklace, part of the Smithsonian Institution, might have put more focus on particular themes, the Parisian version had been designed to look at the chronology.
"I wanted it to be as pedagogic as possible," he said, referring to the exhibit. "It is 20 years since we had an exhibition in Paris. The idea is to show very creative artists,van cleef arpels necklace replica, with artisanal virtuosity, the choice of the best stones, with the aim of making jewelry eternal,fake van cleef & arpels necklace, international and universal."
The display, designed by Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku, softens the high central nave with giant undulating petals above the showcases.
The displays take the curator Evelyne Possm's story from the small decorative boxes of 1920s to the invention of the famous minaudire, or box evening bag, in 1933. After the delicate jewelry of the '30s comes the return of yellow gold in heftier shapes in the 1940s. There are different reflections of the changing decades until the invention in 1968 of the still popular "Alhambra" design. Its four leafed motifs on dangling chains reflected the spirit of the hippie years.
Like tributaries to a mighty river, side areas of the museum offer details and follow the development of the jeweler. The show goes through to recent collections that have been themed as "Gardens" in 2008 and "Legendary Balls" in 2011.
The nature story is ever present, producing some of the loveliest jewels: a 1937 chrysanthemum with baguette cut diamonds and rubies; or a 1947 Hawaiian inspired flower on a serpent chain bracelet of solid gold.
Another strong theme incorporates the knots,fake van cleef and arpels necklace, bows, lace, tulle and trimmings of haute couture. Of the many textile references, including variations on the zip necklace, the bows are exceptional. The most subtle is the 1949 lace knot in a delicate mix of gold, platinum and brilliant cut diamonds.
Then there are the ties that bind jeweler and client. Those collaborations might have been with the Maharajah of Indore for a colorful Egyptian inspired watch in 1924; or with Daisy Fellowes, a great socialite in her time, who had a circle of emeralds made in 1926.
From the opera singer Maria Callas through Princess Grace of Monaco, Van Cleef created jewels for the famous who marked history. Yet, as this exhibition proves, while society names may fade into insignificance, their jewels remain, as imaginative design and technical virtuosity ensure an eternal sparkle.
PARIS Which of the 450 jewels would attract the biggest crowds at this collection on display at the French Museum of Decorative Arts?
Would the biggest draw be the gold and diamond "lion" choker with piercing emerald eyes that was a gift to new grandmother Elizabeth Taylor from Richard Burton in 1971? Or would it be the zipper necklace, with lines of diamond teeth, made in 1951 at the inspiration of the Duchess of Windsor, whose hard face and sharp jewels appear in a photograph on the wall?
Maybe a crush of visitors would gravitate to one of the most fabulous flower brooches, a peony clip from 1937, its ruby petals curled over diamond leaves? Or cluster in front of ballerina brooches redolent, in their sweet innocence, of the postwar period of the 1950s?
Few would guess that the Van Cleef Arpels exhibition "Art of Fine Jewelry," at the Muse des Arts Decoratifs in Paris until Feb. 10, would be a draw not just for its fabulous and fashionable sparkles but also for a series of films showing works in progress.
Continue reading the main story
A specialist in gems gasps as he rubs between his fingers a fiery ruby, saying, "Oh la la! There are no words!" And a polisher proudly describes his progress from a young apprentice through the workshop.
This enthusiasm for works in progress rather than just finished objects shows a turnaround in attitudes. High jewelry used to be about lofty secrets. That is why Van Cleef's most famous invention in 1933 was called a "mystery setting," because the gemstones were mounted without, apparently, any claws to hold them in place.
But even that process is decoded in the display, which shows the rails in which the stones are clamped, looking like squares in a bar of chocolate. Beside the didactic explanation, mystery set jewels are displayed in one of many plexiglass tubes that enable the visitors to look at the jewels from every angle. That idea, too, is symbolic of the openness of this exceptional exhibition.
The Van Cleef story started in the 1920s when a wedding between the scions of two jewelry clans the Van Cleefs of Amsterdam and the Arpels family from Ghent, Belgium founded a dynasty.
At that time, the sinuous curves of the Art Nouveau movement were being replaced by linear modernity. Van Cleef swiftly picked up influences from a changing world. Beatrice Salmon, the museum director, explains in her preface to the sumptuous catalogue, with more than 500 illustrations, that Egyptian references mirrored the discovery in 1922 of the Egyptian pharoah Tutankhamun's tomb and that the culture of the 1970s produced jewelry with a hippie beat.
The founding purpose of the decorative arts museum was to show that beauty and utility can coexist. And that is the message of this exhibition. It includes digital effects that allow visitors to take a virtual "backstage" trip around the jeweler's Paris premises in the Place Vendme. By using a gesture recognition system, a three dimensional tour moves through the workrooms.
On a more glamorous note, the show displays the elegant modernity of tiaras worn by royal figures, including Empress Farah Diba of Iran and Princess Charlene of Monaco at her 2011 wedding.
Stanislas de Quercize, the chief executive of Van Cleef (before he takes over as chief executive of Cartier, another jeweler within the Richemont luxury group) said this was his fourth exhibition since 2009.
The Paris show follows ones in New York, Tokyo and Shanghai, each different. Mr. de Quercize said that whereas the exhibition in New York at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum,van cleef clover necklace, part of the Smithsonian Institution, might have put more focus on particular themes, the Parisian version had been designed to look at the chronology.
"I wanted it to be as pedagogic as possible," he said, referring to the exhibit. "It is 20 years since we had an exhibition in Paris. The idea is to show very creative artists,van cleef arpels necklace replica, with artisanal virtuosity, the choice of the best stones, with the aim of making jewelry eternal,fake van cleef & arpels necklace, international and universal."
The display, designed by Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku, softens the high central nave with giant undulating petals above the showcases.
The displays take the curator Evelyne Possm's story from the small decorative boxes of 1920s to the invention of the famous minaudire, or box evening bag, in 1933. After the delicate jewelry of the '30s comes the return of yellow gold in heftier shapes in the 1940s. There are different reflections of the changing decades until the invention in 1968 of the still popular "Alhambra" design. Its four leafed motifs on dangling chains reflected the spirit of the hippie years.
Like tributaries to a mighty river, side areas of the museum offer details and follow the development of the jeweler. The show goes through to recent collections that have been themed as "Gardens" in 2008 and "Legendary Balls" in 2011.
The nature story is ever present, producing some of the loveliest jewels: a 1937 chrysanthemum with baguette cut diamonds and rubies; or a 1947 Hawaiian inspired flower on a serpent chain bracelet of solid gold.
Another strong theme incorporates the knots,fake van cleef and arpels necklace, bows, lace, tulle and trimmings of haute couture. Of the many textile references, including variations on the zip necklace, the bows are exceptional. The most subtle is the 1949 lace knot in a delicate mix of gold, platinum and brilliant cut diamonds.
Then there are the ties that bind jeweler and client. Those collaborations might have been with the Maharajah of Indore for a colorful Egyptian inspired watch in 1924; or with Daisy Fellowes, a great socialite in her time, who had a circle of emeralds made in 1926.
From the opera singer Maria Callas through Princess Grace of Monaco, Van Cleef created jewels for the famous who marked history. Yet, as this exhibition proves, while society names may fade into insignificance, their jewels remain, as imaginative design and technical virtuosity ensure an eternal sparkle.
Fliers ask for investigation leads in murder Jersey City fire chief's son
Homicide investigators handed out fliers in Jersey City yesterday seeking information from residents on the recent murder of Darcel Rivers, the son of Jersey City Fire Chief Darren Rivers.
The flier, which was made by the Jersey City Police Department's Major Case Unit, asks that anyone with information on the Rivers' murder call the department's anonymous tip line at 201 547 4245.
"The investigation remains active, and we are still asking anyone with information to give us a call. We are asking for the public's help in this matter," Rubino added. on Fulton Avenue near Van Cleef Street with a gunshot wound to the head. at the Jersey City Medical Center Barnabas Health.
The fire chief said his son was home visiting family and friends and was shot while walking to his mother's home on Fulton after spending time with friends a couple of blocks away.
"He was on the phone with his girlfriend and said 'I'm being robbed,' and then the phone went dead,fake van cleef necklaces," Darren Rivers said at the time of his son's death,fake van cleef flower necklace, adding that his son's phone and money were taken.
In the aftermath of the murder, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop told The Jersey Journal there is video footage that may show the chief's son's killing. On June 5,fake van cleef and arpels clover necklace, Fulop said investigators were making progress,replica alhambra necklace, adding that there are "challenges."
"Sometimes cooperation is not the best from the community in getting leads," he said. "There's a lot of reasons for that . (including) decades of mistrust sometimes between particularly the African American community and police. We try to change that but it takes a long time."
Homicide investigators handed out fliers in Jersey City yesterday seeking information from residents on the recent murder of Darcel Rivers, the son of Jersey City Fire Chief Darren Rivers.
The flier, which was made by the Jersey City Police Department's Major Case Unit, asks that anyone with information on the Rivers' murder call the department's anonymous tip line at 201 547 4245.
"The investigation remains active, and we are still asking anyone with information to give us a call. We are asking for the public's help in this matter," Rubino added. on Fulton Avenue near Van Cleef Street with a gunshot wound to the head. at the Jersey City Medical Center Barnabas Health.
The fire chief said his son was home visiting family and friends and was shot while walking to his mother's home on Fulton after spending time with friends a couple of blocks away.
"He was on the phone with his girlfriend and said 'I'm being robbed,' and then the phone went dead,fake van cleef necklaces," Darren Rivers said at the time of his son's death,fake van cleef flower necklace, adding that his son's phone and money were taken.
In the aftermath of the murder, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop told The Jersey Journal there is video footage that may show the chief's son's killing. On June 5,fake van cleef and arpels clover necklace, Fulop said investigators were making progress,replica alhambra necklace, adding that there are "challenges."
"Sometimes cooperation is not the best from the community in getting leads," he said. "There's a lot of reasons for that . (including) decades of mistrust sometimes between particularly the African American community and police. We try to change that but it takes a long time."
Get the goods on the bad and ugly
The stars: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach.
The plot: During the Civil War in the southwestern United States, three gunmen engage in a battle of wits for $200,000 in gold hidden in a graveyard. Along the way there are alliances,replica rolex datejust oyster perpetual, betrayals,ladies rolex oyster perpetual datejust replica, murders, torture, Civil War battles and even a stint in a Yankee prison camp.
The history: This was the third and final spaghetti western director Sergio Leone made with Eastwood. It was Leone's most ambitious film to that point and is one of the best, most influential westerns ever made on either side of the Atlantic.
Leone, who died in 1989 at age 60,replica rolex datejust, began working in films in his native Italy when he was a teenager. His second feature as a director was 1964's "A Fistful of Dollars," a remake of Akira Kurosawa's "Yojimbo" that starred Eastwood, then a "Rawhide" regular. Though "Fistful" wasn't the first Italian spaghetti western, it was the first to find success outside the country and lifted Eastwood out of the ranks of TV regular to movie star. The two teamed the following year in "For a Few Dollars More" and then in 1966 did "The Good, the Bad the Ugly," which was far more epic in scale and size than the first two installments in the trilogy.
The film premiered in Rome in December 1966 with a nearly three hour running time. When it came to America a year later, it had been cut by some 16 minutes.
The restoration: This two disc DVD set features the extended version of "The Good, the Bad the Ugly," which restores the four scenes cut from the Italian release. These sequences were deleted before Eastwood, Wallach and Van Cleef had dubbed their lines from Italian into English. Some 36 years after they completed the picture, Eastwood and Wallach were brought in to dub their dialogue for the four excised scenes. An actor was brought in to imitate the late Van Cleef's voice for the reinstated scenes.
Misnomer: Eastwood's laconic, poncho wearing character was advertised stateside as "the man with no name." It was a great marketing tool, but Eastwood had a name in every one of these films. In "The Good, the Bad the Ugly," he is called Blondie.
Extras: "Leone's West" is a terrific "making of" documentary that features fun, informative interviews with Eastwood and Wallach as well as with film critic and historian Richard Schickel. Equally engrossing is "The Leone Style," a featurette on the director's distinct vision he used extreme close ups of actors mixed with long shots and allowed the film's violent scenes to erupt slowly and methodically and a documentary on the composer Ennio Morricone, who frequently composed parts of the score before filming began so Leone could play the music on the set during production.
There is also a reconstruction of a deleted scene using stills,rolex datejust oyster perpetual replica, the script and clips from the French trailer; the American trailer (which mistakenly refers to Wallach as the bad and Van Cleef as the ugly); and fact filled, folksy commentary from Schickel.
The stars: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach.
The plot: During the Civil War in the southwestern United States, three gunmen engage in a battle of wits for $200,000 in gold hidden in a graveyard. Along the way there are alliances,replica rolex datejust oyster perpetual, betrayals,ladies rolex oyster perpetual datejust replica, murders, torture, Civil War battles and even a stint in a Yankee prison camp.
The history: This was the third and final spaghetti western director Sergio Leone made with Eastwood. It was Leone's most ambitious film to that point and is one of the best, most influential westerns ever made on either side of the Atlantic.
Leone, who died in 1989 at age 60,replica rolex datejust, began working in films in his native Italy when he was a teenager. His second feature as a director was 1964's "A Fistful of Dollars," a remake of Akira Kurosawa's "Yojimbo" that starred Eastwood, then a "Rawhide" regular. Though "Fistful" wasn't the first Italian spaghetti western, it was the first to find success outside the country and lifted Eastwood out of the ranks of TV regular to movie star. The two teamed the following year in "For a Few Dollars More" and then in 1966 did "The Good, the Bad the Ugly," which was far more epic in scale and size than the first two installments in the trilogy.
The film premiered in Rome in December 1966 with a nearly three hour running time. When it came to America a year later, it had been cut by some 16 minutes.
The restoration: This two disc DVD set features the extended version of "The Good, the Bad the Ugly," which restores the four scenes cut from the Italian release. These sequences were deleted before Eastwood, Wallach and Van Cleef had dubbed their lines from Italian into English. Some 36 years after they completed the picture, Eastwood and Wallach were brought in to dub their dialogue for the four excised scenes. An actor was brought in to imitate the late Van Cleef's voice for the reinstated scenes.
Misnomer: Eastwood's laconic, poncho wearing character was advertised stateside as "the man with no name." It was a great marketing tool, but Eastwood had a name in every one of these films. In "The Good, the Bad the Ugly," he is called Blondie.
Extras: "Leone's West" is a terrific "making of" documentary that features fun, informative interviews with Eastwood and Wallach as well as with film critic and historian Richard Schickel. Equally engrossing is "The Leone Style," a featurette on the director's distinct vision he used extreme close ups of actors mixed with long shots and allowed the film's violent scenes to erupt slowly and methodically and a documentary on the composer Ennio Morricone, who frequently composed parts of the score before filming began so Leone could play the music on the set during production.
There is also a reconstruction of a deleted scene using stills,rolex datejust oyster perpetual replica, the script and clips from the French trailer; the American trailer (which mistakenly refers to Wallach as the bad and Van Cleef as the ugly); and fact filled, folksy commentary from Schickel.
Perhaps It Was Just About Time for a Stoning
I can imagine Sharon Stone, on the morning of the Academy Awards ceremony, leaning on her kitchen counter writing on a Things to Do Today pad. In a careless hand meant for her eyes only she scrawls: "Take the dog to the vet, print Quicken tax report fax to accountant, pick up earrings at Van Cleef, clip toenails, remind the Gap to send over stretchy black mock turtleneck,replica oyster perpetual rolex datejust, mail birthday present to Mom."
Maybe the best actress nominee's day didn't start out quite that way Monday,rolex datejust 2 replica, but her evening did include an appearance in a black skirt and top she identified to inquiring reporters as "from the Gap." In a witty turnaround, the woman most responsible for resuscitating Hollywood glamour of late thumbed her nose right at it.
The Academy Awards fashion competition has acquired such a frenzied quality that it's enough to make any woman long to reach for her sweats. It brings to mind the scene from a Woody Allen movie in which Sigmund Freud remarks, "I thought psychoanalysis was an interesting idea. I never dreamed it would become an industry."
Even Giorgio Armani, whose elegant gowns and superb tuxedos whetted Hollywood's appetite for designer clothes, predicted a Stone like reversal. If interest in Oscars fashion became too acute, he reasoned, it would simply burn itself out.
Americans don't like tie scores. It isn't enough that the women of the movie industry look beautiful for a billion viewers. Who looks the best? Whose dress was the worst disaster? To satisfy the crowd, someone must win and lose. (In a particularly sensitive move several years ago, the Academy changed the lines spoken by presenters, replacing "And the winner is . . ." with "The Oscar goes to . . ." That small semantic adjustment erased the implication that if one person is a winner, the others are losers.)
Quality is difficult to assess, but quantity can be scientifically measured. Therefore,replica ladies rolex oyster perpetual datejust, Oscar watchers conclude, the designer who dresses the most stars wins. Outside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the TV crew tracking arrivals inadvertently flashed on a reporter from a rival station. "Who designed your dress?" read a placard hanging around her neck.
When that question is the first asked of someone about to be honored for artistic achievement, fashion is given more attention than it should rightfully have.
The emphasis on the designer responsible for a gown has all but eclipsed the woman wearing it,replica rolex perpetual datejust, breaking a cardinal rule of style: A woman should wear a dress, not the other way around.
Stone's List: Sharon Stone's Oscar preparations were a bit more elaborate than our musings suggested. Before deciding Monday afternoon on the aforementioned turtleneck, Stone considered a Valentino gown that had been fitted for her and a dress specially designed and made by New York designer Vera Wang, fashion insiders say.
Stone also went so far as to have several pairs of shoes designed and manufactured by Diego Della Valle for each outfit. All that planning seems to undercut the casualness of her final choice, making it perhaps less of a statement than a move born of desperation and confusion.
Pretty Women: Not to suggest that there were hair and makeup sweepstakes to be won and lost, but both Elisabeth Shue and Winona Ryder combined natural makeup with special do's to great effect. Shue's locks were coiled and twisted in a modern "Sense and Sensibility" interpretation. Ryder expanded on the '30s mood of her Badgley Mischka gown, turning up in marcelled waves only someone as beautiful as she could carry off.
I can imagine Sharon Stone, on the morning of the Academy Awards ceremony, leaning on her kitchen counter writing on a Things to Do Today pad. In a careless hand meant for her eyes only she scrawls: "Take the dog to the vet, print Quicken tax report fax to accountant, pick up earrings at Van Cleef, clip toenails, remind the Gap to send over stretchy black mock turtleneck,replica oyster perpetual rolex datejust, mail birthday present to Mom."
Maybe the best actress nominee's day didn't start out quite that way Monday,rolex datejust 2 replica, but her evening did include an appearance in a black skirt and top she identified to inquiring reporters as "from the Gap." In a witty turnaround, the woman most responsible for resuscitating Hollywood glamour of late thumbed her nose right at it.
The Academy Awards fashion competition has acquired such a frenzied quality that it's enough to make any woman long to reach for her sweats. It brings to mind the scene from a Woody Allen movie in which Sigmund Freud remarks, "I thought psychoanalysis was an interesting idea. I never dreamed it would become an industry."
Even Giorgio Armani, whose elegant gowns and superb tuxedos whetted Hollywood's appetite for designer clothes, predicted a Stone like reversal. If interest in Oscars fashion became too acute, he reasoned, it would simply burn itself out.
Americans don't like tie scores. It isn't enough that the women of the movie industry look beautiful for a billion viewers. Who looks the best? Whose dress was the worst disaster? To satisfy the crowd, someone must win and lose. (In a particularly sensitive move several years ago, the Academy changed the lines spoken by presenters, replacing "And the winner is . . ." with "The Oscar goes to . . ." That small semantic adjustment erased the implication that if one person is a winner, the others are losers.)
Quality is difficult to assess, but quantity can be scientifically measured. Therefore,replica ladies rolex oyster perpetual datejust, Oscar watchers conclude, the designer who dresses the most stars wins. Outside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the TV crew tracking arrivals inadvertently flashed on a reporter from a rival station. "Who designed your dress?" read a placard hanging around her neck.
When that question is the first asked of someone about to be honored for artistic achievement, fashion is given more attention than it should rightfully have.
The emphasis on the designer responsible for a gown has all but eclipsed the woman wearing it,replica rolex perpetual datejust, breaking a cardinal rule of style: A woman should wear a dress, not the other way around.
Stone's List: Sharon Stone's Oscar preparations were a bit more elaborate than our musings suggested. Before deciding Monday afternoon on the aforementioned turtleneck, Stone considered a Valentino gown that had been fitted for her and a dress specially designed and made by New York designer Vera Wang, fashion insiders say.
Stone also went so far as to have several pairs of shoes designed and manufactured by Diego Della Valle for each outfit. All that planning seems to undercut the casualness of her final choice, making it perhaps less of a statement than a move born of desperation and confusion.
Pretty Women: Not to suggest that there were hair and makeup sweepstakes to be won and lost, but both Elisabeth Shue and Winona Ryder combined natural makeup with special do's to great effect. Shue's locks were coiled and twisted in a modern "Sense and Sensibility" interpretation. Ryder expanded on the '30s mood of her Badgley Mischka gown, turning up in marcelled waves only someone as beautiful as she could carry off.
Access all areas on John Legend
Toronto based Four Seasons last year announced that it would launch the hotel industry's first fully branded private jet in 2015. Now in service, it looks like the jet is set to cater for a creatively minded contingent following the announcement that the singer John Legend has helped to structure and will lead The Legend Experience, an 11 day trip that will this September take travellers on a journey "designed to nourish the mind, body and soul."
Constantly touring,replica oyster datejust rolex, the Grammy Award winner has drawn from his most memorable travel experiences to develop an itinerary with Four Seasons and the tour operator TCS World Travel which will, he says, provide participants with the "opportunity to exchange ideas with the greatest intellectuals, artists and tastemakers in the world".
The trip commences in the Napa Valley, California's wine country and an entry point to the Silicon Valley. Opportunities to try locally produced vintages will be plentiful,replica rolex oyster perpetual datejust gold, but guests will also have an opportunity to join a private lunch with renowned venture capitalist Tim Draper and to attend an intimate concert by John Legend himself,replica rolex datejust oyster perpetual, alongside a private auction hosted by the model Petra Nmcov in aid of her Happy Hearts Fund charity.
It will be when flying from California to New York that the group will first experience the Four Seasons private jet. A retrofitted Boeing 757 that typically accommodates up to 233 passengers, the aircraft has been modified to seat just 52 on fully lie flat seats set in a 2x2 configuration and sheathed in white leather. Luxuries on board are plentiful: blankets are made of Mongolian cashmere, earphones are by Bose, Bulgari provide the amenity kits, and culinary experiences are nuanced and imaginative. This first flight will see former White House chef Sam Kass serve the inflight meal and will also provide an opportunity to discuss his thoughts on nutrition policy and how to improve young people's health.
Staying at Four Seasons New York, Manhattan will provide the base for similarly exclusive experiences. Credit Suisse CEO Urs Rohner will discuss private banking and the global financial market with the group over breakfast, chef Marcus Samuelsson will join them for lunch, and cultural excursions will include a private tour of the Studio Museum of Harlem alongside a performance of Sleep No More by immersive theatre troupe Punchdrunk.
In Paris, highlights include "an initiation into the world of jewellery and watchmaking" courtesy of L'Ecole Van Cleef and Arpels, a private tour of the recently opened Louis Vuitton Foundation and an opportunity to meet Valentino CEO Stefano Sassi during a tour of Valentino's home. England's creative industries will get a similarly strong showing, with Four Seasons Park Lane serving as a base for activities that include meetings with Norman Foster and Aston Martin head designer Marek Reichman.
It is Italy that has been chosen as the final stop of the trip, however. The group will fly to Milan for the final days of the city's fashion week and a tour of the new Armani Museum, before moving on to Lake Como's elegant Villa d'Este. There guests will take temporary ownership of three Ferretti Riva yachts and will be able to sail across the lake with champagne in hand.
Following the talks and private tours that typify the earlier days of the trip it's a return to unfettered, straightforward indulgence to finish. And Legend's choice to have the tour's curtain call in Lake Como makes all the more sense when you learn that he married his wife, the model Chrissy Teigen,mens rolex oyster perpetual datejust replica, there in 2013, two years almost to the day from when The Legend Experience comes to an end.
The Legend Experience runs from September 15 to 25 and costs $120,000 per person, based on double occupancy; UK travellers are charged 79,800 per person. Rates are all inclusive and the trip is limited to 50 customers.
Toronto based Four Seasons last year announced that it would launch the hotel industry's first fully branded private jet in 2015. Now in service, it looks like the jet is set to cater for a creatively minded contingent following the announcement that the singer John Legend has helped to structure and will lead The Legend Experience, an 11 day trip that will this September take travellers on a journey "designed to nourish the mind, body and soul."
Constantly touring,replica oyster datejust rolex, the Grammy Award winner has drawn from his most memorable travel experiences to develop an itinerary with Four Seasons and the tour operator TCS World Travel which will, he says, provide participants with the "opportunity to exchange ideas with the greatest intellectuals, artists and tastemakers in the world".
The trip commences in the Napa Valley, California's wine country and an entry point to the Silicon Valley. Opportunities to try locally produced vintages will be plentiful,replica rolex oyster perpetual datejust gold, but guests will also have an opportunity to join a private lunch with renowned venture capitalist Tim Draper and to attend an intimate concert by John Legend himself,replica rolex datejust oyster perpetual, alongside a private auction hosted by the model Petra Nmcov in aid of her Happy Hearts Fund charity.
It will be when flying from California to New York that the group will first experience the Four Seasons private jet. A retrofitted Boeing 757 that typically accommodates up to 233 passengers, the aircraft has been modified to seat just 52 on fully lie flat seats set in a 2x2 configuration and sheathed in white leather. Luxuries on board are plentiful: blankets are made of Mongolian cashmere, earphones are by Bose, Bulgari provide the amenity kits, and culinary experiences are nuanced and imaginative. This first flight will see former White House chef Sam Kass serve the inflight meal and will also provide an opportunity to discuss his thoughts on nutrition policy and how to improve young people's health.
Staying at Four Seasons New York, Manhattan will provide the base for similarly exclusive experiences. Credit Suisse CEO Urs Rohner will discuss private banking and the global financial market with the group over breakfast, chef Marcus Samuelsson will join them for lunch, and cultural excursions will include a private tour of the Studio Museum of Harlem alongside a performance of Sleep No More by immersive theatre troupe Punchdrunk.
In Paris, highlights include "an initiation into the world of jewellery and watchmaking" courtesy of L'Ecole Van Cleef and Arpels, a private tour of the recently opened Louis Vuitton Foundation and an opportunity to meet Valentino CEO Stefano Sassi during a tour of Valentino's home. England's creative industries will get a similarly strong showing, with Four Seasons Park Lane serving as a base for activities that include meetings with Norman Foster and Aston Martin head designer Marek Reichman.
It is Italy that has been chosen as the final stop of the trip, however. The group will fly to Milan for the final days of the city's fashion week and a tour of the new Armani Museum, before moving on to Lake Como's elegant Villa d'Este. There guests will take temporary ownership of three Ferretti Riva yachts and will be able to sail across the lake with champagne in hand.
Following the talks and private tours that typify the earlier days of the trip it's a return to unfettered, straightforward indulgence to finish. And Legend's choice to have the tour's curtain call in Lake Como makes all the more sense when you learn that he married his wife, the model Chrissy Teigen,mens rolex oyster perpetual datejust replica, there in 2013, two years almost to the day from when The Legend Experience comes to an end.
The Legend Experience runs from September 15 to 25 and costs $120,000 per person, based on double occupancy; UK travellers are charged 79,800 per person. Rates are all inclusive and the trip is limited to 50 customers.
Articles about Gucci Group
Gucci Group to Acquire Sanofi Beaute
November 16,replica ladies rolex datejust, 1999 Bloomberg News
Gucci Group, one of the world's best known fashion companies, said it had agreed to buy Sanofi Beaute from businessman Francois Pinault for $697 million to gain the Yves Saint Laurent brand and become the No. 3 luxury goods maker. Gucci also will pay $70 million to designer Yves Saint Laurent and to Pierre Berge, who headed Sanofi Beaute, and will assume about $267 million in debt. The transaction brings with it several perfume brands, including Fendi, Van Cleef Arpels and Krizia.
ARTICLES BY DATEA singular design vision for Gucci
February 1, 2006 Booth Moore
Less than two years after Tom Ford left Gucci, the luxury brand once again has a single design vision. On Tuesday, men's wear designer John Ray resigned,replica rolex oyster perpetual datejust gold, leaving Frida Giannini in charge of women's wear,replica oyster datejust rolex, men's wear and accessories. No reason was given. The move underscores Gucci's confidence in Giannini, despite the lukewarm reviews for her first women's wear collection,replica rolex datejust ii, which was presented in Milan in October.
Gucci Group Agrees to Sell 40% Stake to French Retailer
March 20, 1999 From Reuters
Italian fashion house Gucci Group, fighting a hostile bid by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, agreed Friday to sell a 40% equity stake to French premier retailer Pinault Printemps Redoute for $3 billion. Robert Polet, a 48 year old Dutch national, will join the firm after 26 years at Unilever, most recently as president of the worldwide ice cream and frozen foods division, a $7.
Ending months of speculation, a successor has been named for Domenico De Sole, Gucci Group's chief executive and president and the financial whiz who helped designer Tom Ford build the company into a $3 billion powerhouse over the last 13 years. Robert Polet, a 48 year old Dutch national, will join the firm after 26 years at Unilever, most recently as president of the worldwide ice cream and frozen foods division, a $7.
Gucci Group to Acquire Sanofi Beaute
November 16,replica ladies rolex datejust, 1999 Bloomberg News
Gucci Group, one of the world's best known fashion companies, said it had agreed to buy Sanofi Beaute from businessman Francois Pinault for $697 million to gain the Yves Saint Laurent brand and become the No. 3 luxury goods maker. Gucci also will pay $70 million to designer Yves Saint Laurent and to Pierre Berge, who headed Sanofi Beaute, and will assume about $267 million in debt. The transaction brings with it several perfume brands, including Fendi, Van Cleef Arpels and Krizia.
ARTICLES BY DATEA singular design vision for Gucci
February 1, 2006 Booth Moore
Less than two years after Tom Ford left Gucci, the luxury brand once again has a single design vision. On Tuesday, men's wear designer John Ray resigned,replica rolex oyster perpetual datejust gold, leaving Frida Giannini in charge of women's wear,replica oyster datejust rolex, men's wear and accessories. No reason was given. The move underscores Gucci's confidence in Giannini, despite the lukewarm reviews for her first women's wear collection,replica rolex datejust ii, which was presented in Milan in October.
Gucci Group Agrees to Sell 40% Stake to French Retailer
March 20, 1999 From Reuters
Italian fashion house Gucci Group, fighting a hostile bid by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, agreed Friday to sell a 40% equity stake to French premier retailer Pinault Printemps Redoute for $3 billion. Robert Polet, a 48 year old Dutch national, will join the firm after 26 years at Unilever, most recently as president of the worldwide ice cream and frozen foods division, a $7.
Ending months of speculation, a successor has been named for Domenico De Sole, Gucci Group's chief executive and president and the financial whiz who helped designer Tom Ford build the company into a $3 billion powerhouse over the last 13 years. Robert Polet, a 48 year old Dutch national, will join the firm after 26 years at Unilever, most recently as president of the worldwide ice cream and frozen foods division, a $7.