Rodeo Drive Walk of Style honors Grace Kelly and Cartier

Last night Cartier became the first jewelry company to receive the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style award, joining the company of previous recipients Armani, Valentino and Tom Ford for Gucci. The late Grace Kelly, princess of Monaco, was also honored for her style and support of the arts.  

The awards ceremony, held outdoors on Rodeo Drive just north of Wilshire, was more intimate than in years past, when Gloria Gaynor sang during the Tom Ford fete and Kanye West hit the stage for Ferragamo. But this year's elegant and subdued setting was far more fitting for Kelly and Cartier.

Demi Moore presented the award to Cartier, citing her most prized possession from the French jeweler -- her engagement ring. The bevy of baubles Moore wore last night, including white gold, diamond and onyx hoops, three white gold and diamond link bracelets, twi white gold and diamond Laniere bracelets and a diamond pave ring, weren't so bad either. In fact, her sparkling wrists gleamed all the way to the back of the crowd.

Prince Albert II of Monaco accepted the award on his mother's behalf after a couple of video montages of famous movie scenes featuring Cartier pieces and a look at Kelly's life as an actress and princess.

Following the refreshingly quick awards ceremony, guests walked (yes, walked) directly across the street to Blvd restaurant at the Regent Beverly Wilshire hotel. The crowd, with many women wearing Cartier's signature deep red hue, snacked on shrimp tempura and signed their names on bid sheets at the silent auction table.  

Despite all the glitz and cocktail frocks, the most interesting (and unexpected) style statement was made by columnist George Christy, who was perched on a couch wearing a striped shirt, blazer, fedora and beaded moccasins.  He completed his look with a fragrant gardenia stuffed into his pocket in lieu of a pocket square.  

Camilla Belle was another stylish guest, in a white feathered dress and a smattering of sparkling Cartier jewels that made her look elegant and polished, like a modern princess.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos, from top: Demi Moore speaks before presenting the award to Cartier; George Christy. Credit: Melissa Magsaysay

Bearded & Tschorn: Earrings for the mustache maven

Photographer Jonas Gustavsson, one of the two lensmen who regularly shoots the fashion weeks of the world for us, knows about my fascination with facial hair, so when he ran across a conversation with boldly bearded jewelry designer Philip Crangi on the Fashion Informer blog, he sent it straight away.

I recently became fascinated with Crangi's handiwork after seeing the bent railroad spike cuffs and cuff links (from the lower-priced Giles & Brother by Philip Crangi line) that accessorized Michael Bastian's Spring/Summer 2010 collection on the New York runways.

Apparently I'm not the only one, he was a runner-up (along with Phillip Lim -- Rogan Gregory took top honors) ) for the 2007 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award, and last year took home the CFDA Swarovski Award for accessories design.

While the Fashion Informer post is a fun read (and, true to its name, informative), what was even more delightful was the discovery of these Giles & Brother by Philip Crangi Tiny Mustache Earrings, available in sterling silver ($65) or 14-karat gold vermeil ($78).

I think they'd be the perfect gift for the 'stache groupie in your life (a sub-species I discovered during my embed with the World Beard & Moustache Championships crowd over Memorial Day Weekend).

Not to mention, it just may be the only permissible form of ear hair there is.

-- Adam Tschorn

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Photo: Giles & Brother by Philip Crangi gold vermeil Tiny Mustache earrings ($78). Credit: www.gilesandbrother.com.

Club Monaco adds vintage jewelry to its accessories offerings

In an effort to up its fashion quotient, Club Monaco is adding vintage jewelry to its accessories collection. The retro pieces -- including necklaces, bracelets, earrings and an assortment of sweater pins and shoe clips -- hail from the early to mid-20th century, and were culled from antique fairs across the country.

The refurbished baubles will only be available in one Southern California location -- the Club Monaco store in Beverly Hills (401 N. Beverly Drive). Other outposts carrying the collection include Fifth Avenue and 57th Street in New York and a smattering of shops in Hong Kong. Prices start at $39.

J. Crew pioneered the trend of mass retailers selling vintage accessories last year, when it started hawking refurbished retro Rolex watches, priced between $2,000 and $4,000.

Call it gimmicky, but I like the idea of finding vintage treasures outside of an estate sale or independent jewelry store. And I'd rather blow my jewelry budget on classic, time-tested pieces than on the oft-overpriced adornments found in higher-end mass fashion stores, including Club Monaco and J. Crew. (With bargain-basement stores like Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe turning out such great-looking costume jewelry, it's hard to imagine that J. Crew's $125 fake pearls still sell briskly.)

And, best of all, no one has to know where you scored that awesome Art Deco shoe clip.

-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: Courtesy of Club Monaco

Voters choose 'Embracing the Hope' setting for famed diamond

Last month we mentioned that, as a PR stunt for a Smithsonian Channel documentary, you had a chance to vote on which of three Harry Winston settings the famous Hope Diamond should temporarily reside. And,

based on the number of comments All The Rage received (and we weren't even the ones tallying the votes), folks had some pretty strong opinions on the topic -- though most of you said you would prefer it remain in its traditional setting (to which it will return by the end of next year).

More than 100,000 votes were apparently cast over the last month, and the winner, called "Embracing the Hope," pictured, was revealed today at the Smithsonian’s National History Museum in Washington, D.C.

The 45.52-carat blue diamond will be on display -- with no setting -- in the Smithsonian Museum’s Winston Gallery in the Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals until April 2010, after which it will be displayed in its new setting. That's also when the Smithsonian Channel’s “Mystery of the Hope Diamond” documentary is set to premiere.

-- Adam Tschorn

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Photo: With more than 100,000 votes cast over the last month, the people have spoken, and the temporary setting for the Hope Diamond, created by the jewelry house of Harry Winston, will be this one, called "Embracing the Hope." Credit: Smithsonian Institution.

Magic trade show brings major marketing spectacles

 

If you managed to push your way past the crowd gathered at the gates of Christian Audigier’s mini-city built within a hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, all you saw in the shadows of Ed Hardy flags and Crystal Rocks sparkles were more and more marketing spectacles by brands showing lines at the Magic trade show.

There was someone posing for pictures dressed in a Sponge Bob Square Pants costume, and then a handful of guys with no pants on--just striped skivvies, standing in front of a men’s underwear booth.

But the biggest show of the day was in the lobby of the Grand Hall, where actors and dancers played out a “Mad Tea Party” to promote a line of jewelry Tom Binns is designing timed to the Tim Burton-directed "Alice in Wonderland" movie, which comes out in March. The dancers were dressed as the various characters from the book, but with a “street” edge. The white rabbit was more blue and looked more like a break dancer than a bunny. There was a random contortionist and a guy on stilts throwing cookies into the audience. A lot of people jumped up and down so fervently for the cookies like bridesmaids revving up to catch a bouquet--you’d think these were the only cookies in Vegas.

After 10 minutes of aimless dancing, banners fell that read “Alice is the new black” and “Who will you wear to the tea party?”  Tom Binns jewelry, I guess.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos:At top, Christian Audigier land at Magic, Left: Man on stilts throwing cookies at the "Alice in Wonderland" "Mad Tea Party"; at right, the "White Rabbit" in blue. Photo credits: Melissa Magsaysay / Los Angeles Times

Tiffany & Co. hits the court at this year's U.S. Open

It’s no secret that Maria Sharapova is a tennis champ who loves fashion.  Aside from bringing her style onto the court, the lithe 6-foot-2 athlete is a face for Cole Haan and most recently a muse to architect Frank Gehry, who has designed earrings for Tiffany & Co. that Sharapova will wear throughout the U.S. Open, starting Monday.

The sterling silver and diamond “Stria” earrings have a vertical, fluid shape to them, like a river -- or a propelling tennis ball. If you’re a tennis, architecture or jewelry fan -- or perhaps all three -- then you’re in luck.  The earrings inspired by Sharapova are being sold at select Tiffany boutiques and at www.tiffany.com for $850. 

--Melissa Magsaysay

Photos: (Left) Tiffany & Co. Stria earrings, (Right) Maria Sharapova / Tiffany & Co.

On Saturday, Tarina Tarantino's 'My Pretty' launch on Melrose

Accessories designer Tarina Tarantino makes an in-store appearance Saturday to launch her "My Pretty" "Wizard of Oz"-themed collection and book. Tarantino will sign copies of the tome from 2 to 4 p.m. Get a free copy of "My Pretty" and a special gift with purchase. Select accessories will be 20% off.

7957 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 651-5155. Noon to 5 p.m.
tarinatarantino.com

-- Max Padilla

Tarina Tarantino goes over the rainbow with new 'Wizard of Oz'-themed jewelry

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Fashion Diary: Lunching with Loree Rodkin

Gossip, first impressions, trends in the making, celebrities and style setters. A regular feature by fashion critic Booth Moore.

Having lunch with jewelry designer Loree Rodkin is like devouring a juicy Hollywood novel. First there are her famous affairs to discuss -- with Don Henley, Bernie Taupin and Richard Gere. Then, her lifelong friendships with Cher and Elton John, and her extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime experiences, such asbeing introduced to Paris by Salvador Dali, and propositioned by Jimi Hendrix (she turned him down).

It’s no wonder that she’s had two offers to option her life story.

Not that Rodkin is a party girl. Far from it. Arriving on the L.A. scene in the early 1970s, she’s gone from being a rock n’ roll interior decorator to a talent manager to a fine jeweler. But she’s never been into drinking or drugs. In fact, she’s babysat her fair share of addicts, including Robert Downey Jr., when he was a client.

"They could call my book ’Designated Driver,’ " she jokes.

Her medieval-meets-modern jewelry is worn by just about everyone in Hollywood. But it is First Lady Michelle Obama who has been the biggest booster lately, choosing Rodkin’s designs for election night and the inaugural balls, where she wore 61-karat white gold and rose cut diamond earrings with garland drops, a 13-carat diamond cocktail ring and a wrist full of diamond bangles.

Vote on the best setting for Hope -- the Hope Diamond that is

You will never own it or touch it and there's a chance you may never even be in the same room with it, but until early September you can have a say in what happens to the 45.52-carat blue diamond -- famously known as the Hope Diamond.

Purchased by jeweler Harry Winston from the estate of Evalyn Walsh McLean, the diamond is being reset to mark the 50th anniversary of its donation to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History by jeweler Harry Winston (who, according to lore, literally "mailed it in" at the time -- via the U.S. Postal Service).

Jacquie Aiche trunk show on Friday

Madison's 3rd Street flagship Jacquie Aiche hosts a trunk show Friday featuring Aiche's handcrafted fine jewelry. Pick up the eye-catching $155 two-tone beaded bracelet, $265 14-carat diamond waist ring or a $488 pyramid "stacker" ring.

8745 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles. (310) 275-1930. Noon to 6 p.m. www.madisonlosangeles.com

-- Max Padilla

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