–Britney Spears is out and about in a cute little red and white striped sundress, a little gold necklace with small gold ball pendant, and a dynamite pair of very dark sunglasses with red rims.  Wow!  Does she look good!

   –Are those little clutch handbags holding their own on popularity charts?  You better believe it.  How about pretty Kayla Ewell who plays the naughty bad girl in the new hit, The Vampire Diaries.  She may pop pills and act slutty on-stage, but showing off on California streets this delightful vixen dresses adorably in a yellow print mini-skirted dress and hangs on to a really adorable gold metallic clutch bag with silver hardware.  Ewell also shows off a stunning diamond ring worn on the index finger of her right hand.  Hey, we’re seeing more and more of that…

A SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN USUAL COCKTAIL RING LOOKS TERRIFIC ON THE INDEX FINGER.  HERE ARE SOME RINGS TO TRY:

• Large enameled CZ ring in choice of colors.

• Murano style glass rings with brilliant color and design.

SCHOOL BELLS RING: Few things pull in customers like a red hot promotion, and what better promotion than featuring a couple of big name personalities to host a shopping event to benefit your own local school system?  That’s something the Dior boutique on 57^th Street in Manhattan knows a lot about!  During a recent 2-hour charity event headlining Caroline Kennedy and Wendi Murdock, the store racked up sales of almost $70,000, 15% of which went directly to the Fund for Public Schools. The biggest sale of the day was a $25,000 fur coat. 

RUSSIAN REPLAY: It’s not that long ago that the western world ran a non-stop ridicule of all things supposedly Russian:  fat-women, fashion-less wardrobes, drab personalities.  So what has happened?  Suddenly the ladies from Mother Russia are gorgeous beyond measure, their clothing is often design-spectacular and their jewelry, well … this is the land of the Romanoff’s, after all.  Proving out the new world view of Russian taste, is Podium Jewelry, an exclusive Moscow retail concept that is now moving into Paris with all its glitter and glam. 

The company (which already operates a classy outlet in France’s Courchevel ski resort area) is opening a new store not far from the former home of Colette, where it will soon show off its edgy, handcrafted jewelry pieces, made by a number of top firms (such as Loree Rodkin, and Garrard) as well its own Podium Fine Choice Line. The medieval-looking store interior has been designed along the lines of an ancient jewelry workshop.

 JEWELRY AS ART:  Leave it to Van Cleef and Arpels to put a world spotlight on their

own firm while showing off some of the most extraordinary jewelry pieces in recent

history. The firm is hosting a major retrospective exhibit in Tokyo now through January

17^th consisting of 250 pieces taken from its own and other major jewelry collections.

Among the outstanding pieces on view are a tiara worn by Princess Grace, a

 ruby and diamond bracelet commissioned by Marlene Dietrich, and Etruscan-

inspired gold bracelets owned by Jacqueline Kennedy. 

   –After closing in Tokyo, the exhibition will go on to Beijing, New York, and Paris.  

OLD CLASSY: Vintage costume jewelry is hot, hot, hot!  The Florida House of Lavande  

certainly knows that!  The Palm Beach posh costume jewelry firm has put its couture

collection on exhibit at Henri Bendel in New York and will put the pieces on sale to the

public in early November.  A glass bib with crystals and stones originally made for

Pauline Trigere will sell for almost $6,000, while a Givenchi purple and blue resin

heart necklace from the late Seventies will carry a price tag of $948.    

VINTAGE COSTUME JEWELRY COULDN’T BE MORE IN DEMAND! HERE ARE SOME PIECES FOR STARTING YOUR OWN COLLECTION:

• Exquisite jet black beaded vintage style necklace looks like an estate find!

• Wholesale bridal jewelry with vintage flavor.  Gorgeous crystals and pearls go with anything!

“We started working on this several months ago,” Kevin Harter, vice president of fashion direction at Bloomies says.  “So we went to our designers and partners and asked them to come up with merchandise.” 

The exposition has already started in most Bloomingdales’ stores, and the windows of the New York 59^th Street’s flagship will highlight the collection beginning early November.  The products, centered mainly on men’s and children’s items, include Ts and hoodies, bags, ties, scarves, and a bevy of other fun, Superman-oriented things. 

So far, the promotion has gone so well that “We’re already reordering,” Harter says. Among the DC Comics most widely known Superman characters are Superman himself, Wonder Woman, and Batman.  No one superhero is outselling the other. 

Pick out a number of fun accessories; show them off with a handful of Superman comics, and Voila!  You’re in on the anniversary special, too!

HERE ARE A FEW GREAT ITEMS TO START THE SUPERMAN PROMO ROLLING:

• Solid silver grey ties for a sharp crimestopper’s outfit!

• Wide fashion bracelet in hammered design – Wonder Woman would love it!

MILAN MAKES COMEBACK STATEMENT:  Exports to major countries such as Russia, United Arab Emirates, and Japan continued to drag down Italian leather and accessory goods sales in the first half of the year, and industry observers say they don’t expect any major improvement before the end of 2010.  Still, there was an air of undaunted optimism at the big Mipel exposition in Milan last week, as exhibitors put forth collections filled with innovation and creativity.  Styles tended to be practical, rather than dramatic, with one manufacturer explaining that customers are turned off by too much craziness these days.

Major trends included roomy, deconstructed designs and embellishments such as studs, sequins, embroideries, and fringe.  Natural materials, such as hemp and raffia, were important. Faux snakeskin, often washed, and perforated open work calfskin received a good deal of attention.  Alexandra Gucci put forth an interesting handbag collection, including a silky python bag with napa leather in powdery sky blue.

Color received a lot of attention at the Show.  Pop colors were hot, especially metallic blue, fuchsia, and pink.  Feminine styles were also apparent at the show, along with stonewashed denim items and heart symbols.

PINPOINTING PARIS:  Here’s some more fashion breaking news from the City of Light.  Pleats are IN.  Very IN.  We’re talking about all sorts of pleats, tight and Scottish to flouncy and Gallic, all expressed in short to very short skirts, with updated, if not wild, wardrobe accoutrements.

From Chanel comes a little ladylike black dress, naturally short skirted, with a faux-pleat material pattern, worn with black enameled bangle bracelets running half way up the arm.  Also part of the story is a little black wrist bag.  Very demure. 

Hermes centers his attention on a tennis-like outfit in pale grey, with short pleated skirt and blousy shirt top.  With it:  A wide head band, a small white pearl necklace wrapped around the neck,  a smallish handle bag, and big silver bracelets, one with those very IN spikes.  

YOU CAN LATCH ONTO TOP DESIGNER-LIKE STYLES FOR A FRACTION OF THE BIG PARIS-PRICE.  LOOK HERE:

• Multiple bangles to update any look.

• Dramatic fashion jewelry in modern design.

GOD’S COUNTRY:  If you’re going to promote cold weather gear, what better place to focus on than Mount Everest, high in the Himalayas, and known for its monastic caves, frigid weather, and off-beat mountaineers?  The company involved is Hanesbrands, and it is making its top-of-the-world bid to put special spotlight on its athletic Champion and Duofold brands. 

The company will finance and outfit a special expedition to scale Mount Everest in an attempt to leverage its history and expertise. The ascent will begin in the Spring and will involve a team equipped with special gear incorporating new fabric and design technology meant to withstand high altitudes and frigid temperatures.

To add to the excitement, consumers will be able to monitor the team’s progress by way of video and audio updates on the Website, ClimbEverestWithUs.com.  Jamie Clark, who has already made three attempts at Everest, will lead the team. 

   —Retailers interested in getting in on the action – and hopefully selling some mountain climbing accessories themselves –might consider bringing in TV monitors so consumers can watch the team from inside the store.

THERE WAS A TIME, some decades ago, when men would routinely wear hats once the winter cold settled in.  Men would choose their style and fabric carefully, but the use of hats was mostly practical: to provide warmth and comfort.  Workmen would wear

knit caps, sportsmen would wear sportscaps, many with ear flaps, and office executives would wear more traditional, say, fedora, stylings.  

I remember when much of that changed—in a single TV glimpse of the glamorous new American president, John Kennedy, who was photographed bareheaded in mid-winter, 1960 and who looked so dashing that he single-handedly banished the hat from many men’s wardrobes. 

                                       Michael Jackson Impact

It’s taken a half century for the hat to make a men’s sartorial comeback, but come back it has, Big Time!  Fall fashion dictates a hat as finishing element in many sports-to-more formal ensembles. And, again, the hat’s renewed popularity has been sparked by celebrities—the late Michael Jackson, of course, for the many versions of the Fedora. 

The Fedora continues the favorite of many men’s clothiers, such as Dunhill and Kenzo or Prada.  It’s been mated with everything from a mod T-shirt to a relaxed city suit.  Also, the classic small-brimmed cap is often paired with sportsjacket, contrast shirt and patterned matching small scarf and breast-pocket handkerchief for a casual, yet finished look.  

A bit of faux formality is being shown, with double-breasted suit jackets with contrast buttons accenting the style which nonetheless is unstructured and unlined.

New and comfortable!  And Michael Kors introduced a tan suit that looked quite conventional– except that that jacket is completely sleeveless, baring the arms from the shoulder.  It presents a visual contradiction:  a nicely refined, tailored suit, with startling, even erotic nakedness of the arms.  Wow…

WORN WITH MANY OF THE NEWEST CLOTHING DESIGNS FOR SPRING ARE GOOD-LOOKING, TRADITIONAL FEDORAS AND BOWLERS. LOOK HERE:

• Men’s felt fedora – a classic! – with felt body and grosgrain band.

• Men’s wool felt bowler hat.  Check out the sophisticated styling and quality construction!

                               Sexy Shades – Dark and Mysterious

Even though use of hats shades the eyes naturally, dark sunglasses add to the mystique and look oh, so! trendy and smart.  Aviators are the choice of Dolce & Gabbana—they led a phalanx of hip looking models down the runway, all outfitted with the same aviators.  Michael Bastian paired large-lens dark glasses with a white-banded black fedora.  Lacoste matched happy, yellow-rimmed big sunglasses with a smart yellow T-shirt.

REMEMBER, AVIATORS ARE TIMELESS, ALWAYS IN.  THEY CONTINUE AS NO.1 BEST SELLER SUNGLASS DESIGN FOR MEN.  CONSIDER THESE:

• Oversized unisex aviators – a cool look in sunglasses seen on more and more celebrities.

• Sports sunglasses with colored mirrors.  Suave and affordable!

Another retrouve design element is the bow tie, repeated on a moving row of models by Dolce & Gabbana; setting off a denim shirt atop short-shorts by Trussardi 1911; and a black and white mini-patterned bow tie/matching suit pocket handkerchief combined with a sharply tilted light fedora, all by Dunhill.  Individual style, very NOW.

                                                 Hey, Red…

Lighter weight fabric is the ultimate design element, and accessory as well:  Neckerchiefs abound, some patterned, some monochrome.  Fire-engine red, long Scarves match red suit jackets, red (yes!) coats, red trenches, red leather jackets.  Etro draped a wide, fringed silken scarf over a patterned jacket. And Hermes knotted a midnight blue silk neckerchief at the open collar of a subtly striped blue shirt.

Men’s jewelry took the form of multiple necklaces at open necklines, with manly pendants, often hanging from cords or leather strips. Versace decorated a handsome young model with sleeveless grey patterned T, sleeveless grey vest overshirt, grey rimmed outsize sunglasses, staggered corded pendant necklaces.  Impeccable, gorgeous guy glam.

Little handbags swinging from chain; shoes that often reach up to the calf, with straps and embellishment gone crazy; handbags of almost every type; bracelets galore; and statement necklaces that are often shocking and elaborate: these were just some of the accessory fantasia visited again and again on Paris runways. 

Shine is also a major design feature in many of the accessory pieces this year. From VBH, for example, a classy medium sized grey blue handbag gave an updated Grace Kelly look to everything it was shown with. 

Big silver bracelets were likewise brash and demanded attention. Several cuffs together on one arm was not unusual.  Stripes and geometrics in strong colors graced many shoes, like bright blue and vivid pink on black. Or brown, blue, yellow and tan stripes on a super-high heeled shoe and matching clutch handbag.  

                                               Vibrant Season

PARIS IS HOT ON ENERGY THIS SEASON, expressing it most obviously in the color orange, which was splashed all over accessories.  In some instances, orange was pure and stood alone, as in a pair of modernistic swirly circle earrings in bright coral orange.  In other cases, orange was tempered by incorporation into prints used on handbags and shoes. 

Orange is also important in bracelets and necklaces, very often as coral beads or enameling.  Longchamp is offering a paint-splashed print handbag with spicy patches of orange which is a good example of the direction.  Eddie Borgo has designed a very Egyptian-looking wide choker with orange gemstones.

HIGH ENERGY IMAGES UNDERWRITE A MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDE COMING IN FOR SPRING.  ADD SOME TO YOUR COLLECTIONS!

• Howlite earrings in dyed coral.

• Contemporary glass crystal fashion pendant.  Exquisite!

Crystals embellish almost everything in design collections this season, but in a delicate way. Look at all the charming little gossamer fashions with crystals sprinkled here and there across the bodice.  Or pay attention to a particularly feminine necklace of delicate beading and crystals by Swarovski. The gentle designs we’re talking about are in direct contrast to the often huge, chunky statement necklaces also making waves in the City of Light.

                                         Who You Calling A Sissy?

Tough is a look, a design, and attitude, and it is all the rage in Paris now.  Incorporating bits and pieces of Biker, Gothic, even Bondage, Tough nevertheless stands alone in its final presentation.  Think Dark colors. Studs.  Rough-rider lines. Chunky statements.  Imagine very big silver chain necklaces that look like heavy pieces of hardware. Or, leather cuffs that appear unfinished, with strips and slithers of leather hanging off. 

Heavy construction images run rampant this year. Keys are also a hot theme, often in strong abundance dangling down from a jeans fob, like lesbians in Greenwich Village might wear. Tiffany has a great collection of key pendants you can choose from, if your budget is super-generous.

And don’t forget the spiky stuff!  Necklaces with spikes hanging off make all of this jewelry good for Halloween!  Bracelets caught up with spikes. Spiky earrings, very hard,    gruesome and dangerous. Looking for a murder weapon, anyone?

                                     Cascading Look

LONG DROP EARRINGS made a forceful fashion statement in several top fashion cities this season, especially when made up of dark in-line two-dimensional graduated discs touching down below the shoulder.  Very swingy, attention-getting.  Crystals were big here, too, as elsewhere in the fashion and accessory wardrobe.  Vintage rhinestones also made their way onto the runways, adding additional sparkle and shine, even to denim outfits. 

. 

Long skinny scarves are the rage, everywhere, with everything!  For winter, they tend to be wool, solid color, dark.  For spring, they pick up on designer Karl Lagerfeld’s Country Girl look, with pretty posie prints splashed all over long, very thin scarves that wrap around the neck several times before cascading down to the waist, hips, or even knees.  Colors are bright.  Happy. 

For cooler climes, the look is cozier, with scarves wrapped high around the neck, numerous times. Little square scarves are also getting a lot of attention.  These are both solid and printed, and are not unlike the American West cowboy neckerchiefs that come in and out of fashion periodically.  In both scarf scenarios, pay attention to graphic prints that are very artsy and sophisticated.

SCARVES ARE MAKING POTENT FASHION STATEMENTS NOW…AND THROUGH SPRING.  HERE ARE SOME TO CONSIDER:

• Pashmina scarves in vibrant colors.  Spectacular!

• Fashion scarves with floral pattern.  Trendy and stunning!

                                           ENTER PARIS

…where fashion is as insane as it is brilliant.  News is rampant.  Styles you may never have imagined much less seen are here in super-size. Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton has outfitted his models with huge Afro-style wigs, so big they extend beyond the shoulder width.  The clothing is equally off-the-wall:  Little girl outfits.  Stripes going every which way.  Hair bows.  Rabbit tails the size of fox tails hanging down from waist bands.  Shiny little handbags worn on straps around the neck.  Big bracelets.  Across the chest big bags with more of those fuzzy fox-like tails hanging down to the floor. 

Pinks and greens and baby blues were important colors, along with neutrals of all sorts. White-washed yellows and blues and tans.  Layered looks: blouses over slacks with jackets tied around the waist.  Wide leg shorty-shorts.  Flouncy hemmed mini-minis.               

        –But nothing quite compared with the shoes. Big green fabric boots with white hairy base.   Shoes that looked like funny-looking children’s bedroom slippers.  If you ever saw anyone in any of this actually walking on the street, well…!

                                           LITTLE GIRLS

At Mui Mui, more children’s dresses for adults…and a certain Cinderella look in smocking, sheer nude panels, spangles and glitz.  There was a lot of emphasis on the bust line, plenty of mini skirts, plenty of long skirts.  Several models wore long pinned-on braids, German-style. 

But fear not.  A more grown-up look came from designers like Elie Saab and Kenzo, who put out long dresses in silky fabrics and colors that ran from neutral tans to soft hues and deep purples.  Draping was very important.  Embellishment, in the form of heavy, clustered sequins and crystals were set into small spaces (like a corner of the shoulder) for a very big impact.  Jewelry was wild.  Bracelets that looked like fuzzy circles of hair, some heavy, some thin.  Big bib necklaces in amber, very asymmetrical. 

   –Kenzo worked with deep-crotch trousers, very Arabic, wrapped headdresses, Moorish-style prints, white lace suits, and no small amount of Sahara-inspired images.

WHAT COULD BE BETTER FOR SPRING THAN A BOUQUET OF GAULIC-INSPIRED JEWELRY?  LOOK HERE:

• Fabulous crystal and black bead necklace set featuring artistically arranged faceted beads with crystals.

• High fashion black bracelet with glass overlay and Continental French sophistication.

                                       LAGERFELD’S PROVINCE

My oh My!  Karl Lagerfeld’s collection for Chanel was strictly based on country living albeit a wild and wooly kind of country.  Skirt lengths were eeeeks! Short! And, to make matters worse, full! Or, they were terribly, properly long.with an Asian sensibility.  Pattern was everywhere, especially florals, in the form of country-girl orange-red poppies, very 1950s retro.  That orange-red color kept poking its head up throughout the show, on shoes, on belts, on hair accessories. 

Some of the Chanel outfits were very airy, gossamer.  Others were heavier, sturdier, country-practical.  Hair accessories were smaller than usual, more wearable. Gone was the wildness of this accessory category. What we did see were silk hair flowers.  Little tiaras.  A feather or two.  Little head wraps.  Woven fabrics (especially for handbags) were hot.  So were crystals and lace. Handbags were of the clutch variety.  Or, handle envelope bags.  Or, summery bags with floral appendages that looked like someone carrying a basket full of posies in from the garden. 

For Chanel right now: Think rustic.   Think pretty.  Think down home farm life. 

                                               SPLISH-SPLASH

Running from Chanel to Alexander McQueen this season is like going from cute little girl to alien invasions.  The presentation made you wonder just what the McQueen Paris shows were trying to accomplish, anyway.  One outfit featured a model with hair tightly braided into satanic horns, and worn with a black and green surreal printed short skirted dress with one short sleeve and one long.  Another dress, again with horned model, featured a skirt in crass Halloween orange and black that swooped out just below the waist to create a wide, very short bottomless bubble.  Move a tiny bit in that dress and it would become decadent.

And then there was the shimmery fabric outfit, shoes, leggings, little dress, all of a single sculpture, flashing and shining, looking like miniature bubble wrap.  The shoes, which just flowed out of the skin-tight leggings, were “scary armadillo shoes,” as one publication said.

   –This from the one-time boy wonder of the Parisian fashion world?  Please…

                                                 FABRIC FRENZY

Paris wasn’t without fabric interest.  Some was fluffy and flowing. A lot featured see through pieces of transparent fabric.  A big, pale yellow-green dress from Valentino looked like strips of big lightweight fabric wrapped around the model’s body several times, ending in a short hemline.  Another Valentino special was done in very pale brown-tan encrusted with lacy embellishment down the front and over the short sleeves.  See-through was scary. 

Perhaps paying up for the see-through whimsy, Valentino also paraded a model in diaphanous grey tan long dress with a perimeter (that’s what we said!) of ruffles all around, pushing up to the chin, around the sides, and down across the bottom. Covered up, top-to-bottom!

You could probably come up with several trend stories at Valentino, if you tried hard enough.  Ruffles.  No-waist.  Neutrals. Lace. Whatever.  You really can’t go wrong with Valentino, no matter what the season.

NEUTRALS HIT A HIGH NOTE IN PARIS THIS YEAR, ALONG WITH PLENTY OF EARTH-GREEN SHADES FOR ECO-FAB COLOR ZING.  GET WITH IT WITH THESE WELL-PRICED FRENCH DELIGHTS:

• Fashion jewelry in country tones.  Bold necklace and earrings set in shades of green and amber with large-bronze plated disc pendant.

• Beautiful multicolored beading brings the essence of flower power to any outfit!

                                     THINGS TO NOTE OVERALL: 

Strips of leather and cording hanging down from shorts and skirts, like the fabric and/or paper strips worn by Orthdox Jewish Hasidim.  Handbags with shoulder straps like luggage straps.  Totally insane shoes, both high and low, all very big, very peculiar-looking.  Hair bows. Little handbags on wrist-strap chains.  Dark bracelets. Shiny silver jewelry.  Wide head bands, great for tennis.  Straps everywhere.  On shoes.  On bags.  Running up the leg and over boots. Leather strap bracelets.  Sort of Gothic!  Sort of tiresome, too!

Where to start?  Well, how about a Ghost Butler?  Let somebody man the door, all he needs is a white sheet over his head and cut outs for eyes.  Easy!  Add a recording of horrible sounds to give character to the entrance and you’re ready to go. 

All the people in your house or store should have on a costume.  And, of course, a mask!  See to it that the kids are dressed up, too.  You can make up a great party game by having each person explain his or her costume and why it should win first prize.  Just be sure you have follow-up prizes in large enough supply so each youngster can win for something.  “Ghoulish Best.”  “First in the Cemetery.”  “Vampire’s Choice.” 

You might also want to theme your Halloween costume party to something like “Vampires and their Damsels.”  Or, “Little Devils.” Or, “Witches and Warlocks.”

Food?  Well, it just has to be pizza.  Find out about Halloween specials at your local store.  Treats can be homemade, or bought.  My mom used to make devil’s food cupcakes and frost them with orange icing on one side, black on the other.  Quick and easy!  Or stop at your local candy store and get some Halloween goodies like spider webs, skulls, and other delicious fare.  Sprinkle them on cakes and ice cream.  Be generous with some green or blood red soda. And then, decorate the table with some fun plastic spiders from the party supply store.

Horror films from Blockbusters will make your party a hottie.  Just jazz it all up a bit by having the lights go out from time to time, or some screams and groans echo across the party room.  Keep it all light, and fun.  Who has the most horrible scream?  Who can cast the best spell?  Ohhhhh, this can get wild!

Before ending for the day or evening, give each party-goer a bag of Halloween treats to bring home.  And with that in hand, who cares about Trick or Treat-ing anyway? 

Happy Halloween!

BE SURE TO GET THE BEST MASKS YOU CAN THIS YEAR.  THEY MAKE THE CELEBRATION A REAL TREAT!  HERE ARE SOME TERRIFIC CHOICES:

• Vibrant red marabou feathered mask with hints of gold for added sparkle!

• Black cat masquerade mask with sparkly crystals above the eyes.

                                                                    #   #   #   #  

RING-RING:  Georgio Armani has just unveiled his third phone for the giant electronics firm, Samsung, with Microsoft Windows 6.5 software, and is it ever Smart.  Wow!  Ringing in at a modest $1,029 or 700 euros, the Armani Samsung Smart phone features a 3.5-inch Ultra Brilliant AMOLED touch screen and Qwerty keyboard as well as always-on connectivity tools, GPS, a 5-megapixel camera, radio, music, and video player, 8 gigabyte internal memory and an extendable microSD slot up to 32 GB. “Elegant dressing is part of daily business life,” Armani says. Elegant accessories are also becoming more and more a part of the daily fashion world, as well.

VUITTON FOR CHARITY: “People say we don’t do anything, but we do a lot,” declared Naomi Campbell, in launching a new handbag from Louis Vuitton for her latest charity, the White Ribbon Alliance.  The organization is dedicated to reducing the amount of maternal mortality in the world. The bag has yet to be given a proper name, but its current price tag is 1,900 euros or $2,789American.

   –Campbell has been modeling for Marc Jacobs since she was 16.   She is presently a global ambassador for the Alliance, which lobbies world leaders to provide safe motherhood practices.  The new Vuitton bag is quiet and versatile, with a soft square style and a coveted Marc Jacobs label. 

SNL AT BARNEYS NY: The theme of the 2009 Christmas holiday windows at Barney’s New York is Have a Witty Holiday. The fabulous collection of windows depicts memorable Saturday Night Live moments covering more than 3 decades of laughs and talented, hilarious people.  “We are deemphasizing flagrant luxury and reemphasizing fun,” declared creative director Simon Doonan.  The same holds true for the firm’s holiday catalog, where prices start at “highly approachable” and go up to “typical Barneys.”  For example, a Timex watch sells for $85, while gemstone recycled earrings carry a price tag of $29,000.

YOU CAN GET PLENTY OF GORGEOUS BARNEY’S STYLE JEWELRY, BUT NONE OF IT HAS TO CARRY A BARNEYS PRICE TAG:

• Ball ceramic necklace set in rose with glazed textured finish speckled in black.

• Emerald cut drop CZ earrings.  Handsome!

PRICED TO SELL: Can you believe it?  Even Neiman Marcus has caught the economic flu this year, with a catalog featuring 40 percent of over 400 items priced at less than $250.  Even the firm’s annual fantasy special (this year it is a two-seater plane) goes for a mere $250,000, considerably below the fantasy gift price tags of yesterday. 

   –Also in the famous Christmas book: an electric motorcycle, a fabulous dinner for two at Manhattan’s famed Algonquin Hotel, and a Cupcake Car, a 4-foot wide electric automobile that looks like a cupcake with thick frosting and sells for just $25,000.

Here are the remaining five top color contenders for spring fashion and accessories:

1. TUSCANY.   This is a lovely light brown, with definite gray undertones. Eiseman calls it a strong color for consumers’ wardrobes, and refers to the brown tones that have become so much more popular in the last few seasons.  Be careful not to think of this as a full brown, however.  It is more a variant of brown, a light soft version for spring.

1. AMPARO BLUE.  It is rare to get this far along in a fashion color chart before we reach a real blue!  But here it is, a gorgeous blue with rich purple undertones.  It is a warm blue, with a great deal of appeal, and will probably move up the chart rapidly in the next few seasons. Designer Adrienne Vittadini chose this as one of her colors, saying her inspiration was “the crystal blue waters of Capri.”  Designer Tommy Hilfiger is also working with Amparo Blue, and says his inspiration was the “California coastline.”

THE MOST POPULAR COLOR THERE IS, YEAR AFTER YEAR, BLUE SHOWS UP ON OUR SPECIALIZED FASHION CHART WITH REAL VIBRANCY AND CHARM.  HERE, IT SHARES ITS MAGIC WITH SOME TERRIFIC PIECES:

• Superb shell inlay earrings in blue, green, and red.

• Multicolor crystal earrings in deep blues and reds.

1. PINK CHAMPAGNE:  Just as its name suggests, this is very delicate, airy, light-as-a feather color.  It relates well to textures, Eiseman says, and can work especially well in the new, filmy, romantic spring dresses, skirts, and scarves.  It has little undertones of pink that spark up its appearance, giving it more body.  This is a color that is unusually versatile.  It has a lot of personality despite its intense gossamer impression.

1. DRIED HERB:  A very sophisticated neutral version of green, Eiseman thinks this color will be accepted even by “people who hesitate to purchase the color green, itself.” Combining it with Violet or Aurora “would urge consumers to buy it even more,” she says. Designer Carmen Marc Valvo uses a version of Dried Herb which he calls “Warm Khaki” as his signature color.  He juxtaposes it with metallic gold for a really dynamic look.

1. EUCALYPTUS: A practical, neutral gray, this color combines beautifully with   

      any of the colors in the rest of the chart.  It goes especially well with the more     

      vibrant colors in the chart, and works wonders as a balancing color.  Eiseman  

      predicts that many consumers will look for accessories in this color.

FINDING A NEUTRAL COLOR THAT WILL STILL EXCITE ISN’T EASY, BUT THIS SEASON’S CHART HAS SEVERAL.  HERE ARE SOME NEUTRAL JEWELRY PIECES THAT ARE EQUALLY EASY TO COORDINATE WITH A WARDROBE:

• Beige ceramic bracelet.

• Fossil bead high fashion necklace.  A wonderful neutral that can accessorize almost anything!

The top colors on the seasonal chart chosen by New York designers in the Pantone Fashion Color Report break into two main divisions:  The first seven, which are vibrant and energetic, and the last three, which are more neutral.  Overall, it is an exciting chart!  

While the colors represent a definite optimism, it is still somewhat tempered by what Eiseman says is “the elephant still in the room – the recession.”  Consumers are still relatively cautious about their purchases.  They are mainly looking to spice up their wardrobes with a few carefully selected pieces, such as accessories, which are fresh and new and which will enliven their overall wardrobes.  

The top colors for spring are nevertheless very exciting…and start off with a real surprise.  In Number One spot is:

                                               VIOLET

Can you believe it?  Well, purple has been making its way through the color charts for a number of seasons, and it has now culminated in first place positioning with VIOLET.  Still, it is an unexpected color choice — not a more conventional color like pale blue or dusty green or even softened red.  No, none of them!  It is VIOLET.  Off-beat, but no less lovely. 

Here, then, is the chart:

1. 1.      VIOLET:  The violet that is making big news in fashion circles now has a touch of red in it and “provides a bit more excitement to what we’d typically think of as a cooler color,” says Eiseman.  “A little bit of warmth to a cool color intrigues the consumer’s eye.”

2.  AURORA:  This is a bright yellow with a hint of green.  According to Eiseman, its popularity has been spurred on by designers using the color in accessories and evening gowns.  It has also been used in numerous variations in red carpet events. Designers like Adam Lippes have worked in an exciting way with pop colors, including Aurora.

YELLOW IS HAPPY, AND BRINGS A SMILE TO ALMOST EVERYONE’S FACE.  CHOOSE IT JUST BECAUSE IT IS SO POSITIVE!  HERE ARE SOME GREAT PIECES IN YELLOW:

• Amber crystal drop earrings.

• Wholesale Murano style jewelry in amber.

1. 3.      TURQUOISE:  This is a color that has been bobbing up and down on the color charts for quite a while now, especially for accessories!  Designer Peter Som sees      

it as expressing “the need for a happy mood – a lifting color that offers a bit of escapism.”  Eiseman thinks this color is strong because it is a version of blue that is associated with tropical, ocean-filled vacations,   “It makes people think of someplace exotic,” she says.

1. FUSION CORAL: A soft, pastel orange, this gentle color is an interesting

combination of a strong, energized orange and a pale, almost pink-y neutral.  It can simultaneously give a bolt of excitement to a palette, while blending inconspicuously with a wide range of other colors. “It is a very popular color with cosmetic people,” Eiseman says. “It is flattering to most skin tones.”

1. TOMATO PUREE:  This is a real red with blue undertones.  Senior vice

president and fashion director Ken Downing of Neiman Marcus says, “Red is the

message from the runway.”  He sees “bright lipstick to deep Bordeaux as filling the

consumer’s passion for a super-saturated season.”  Many designers are also

showing this red in their collections!

YOU CAN ADD SOME EXCITING – IF NOT THRILLING – RED TO YOUR COLOR CHOICES WITH THESE TERRIFIC JEWELRY PIECES:

• Sculptured magnolia and crystal necklace in red and rose and silver plate.

• 3-strand crystal and glass layered necklace set in vibrant red.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Ohhhh, the horrors of the vampire class.  But none – NONE – could compare with that dreadful old meanie, Count Dracula, Romanian Prince of Wallachia, who impaled thousands just for his own satanic pleasure.

NOW…Halloween is on its way and with it, the dark Count Dracula threatens to rise up from his dusty grave to spread horror and dismay, just as he does each year.  You can join in the fun of scary stuff this year with some spooky jewelry all your own.  How about:

• Dangling bat Halloween earrings.  (Who’s afraid of vampires, anyway?)

• Boo! Halloween pendant.  (You can be scary, too!)   

THE BIG DAY IS ALMOST HERE!

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IN PRINT:  Who would expect a new, high class fashion magazine to be launched during this economic recession, when couture isn’t exactly running on a high road to profit?  And, moreover, who would expect that\ magazine to be put out by a financial publication?  Well, that’s exactly what the Wall Street Journal’s classy quarterly mag is doing, as it tries to wrestle some big advertising bucks out of the World of finance as well as the World of fashion.  The latest issue, just out, examines the changed state of luxury and its effect on diamonds, accessories, real estate and champagne.

PAINTED LADIES;  Women might be cutting back on wardrobe expenses, but they aren’t reducing their makeup expenses one bit, according to a Beauty Barometer by L’Oreal conducted in U.S., France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The women, aged 15 to 65, say they are wearing more natural-looking makeup and more neutral colors.  72 percent of them contend that makeup makes them feel better about life.  Nearly half said that wearing makeup gives them an advantage at work, and makes them feel more in control.  86 percent say it also improves their self image.  What are the most popular cosmetic products?  No competition!  They’re mascara, foundation, and lipstick.

COTERIE ROCKS:  A new and larger collection of accessories showed up at the recent Coterie Show at the Javits Center in New York City this year, as manufacturers of contemporary jewelry, handbags, belts, and the like discovered they could get good exposure to a somewhat different crowd of buyers at this exposition.  As one jewelry maker noted, “There’s a different dynamic here.” 

   Color was the major trend in handbags, along with studded designs that gave the bags a   pretty/tough look, a kind of rock-and roll aesthete, only with a softer feeling. Mini bags with long straps were also very hot, as were almost any handbags with skinny leather strips hanging down. The trend away from heavy, huge bags toward lighter, highly functional bags continued.  Buffed python was a major material, especially in soft, washed colors such as mint green, or light blue. Other movers at the exposition were bucket bags, hobos, wristlets and clutches. 

    In jewelry, feminine, floral designs predominated, although there were still plenty of edgy pieces on display. Studded wrap bracelets and bright bangles were hot. Vintage was big.  Florals of all sorts were popular, such as necklaces made up of gold-plated flowers.  A major designer name at the show was Kenneth Jay Lane, whose snake bracelet with gem-studded head was a real winner. Also part of the Lane collection:  A stunning open pink enameled flower with center pearl. 

NOTHING IS AS CHARMING AS FLORALS, AND YOU CAN FIND BOUQUETS OF THEM RIGHT HERE, ALL AT REMARKABLY REASONABLE PRICES.  TRY THESE:

• Wholesale fashion bracelet in floral motif.

• Large tropical flower brooch.

HIGH HATTED:  Hats are walking away with honors this season as designers finish off their wardrobe offerings with more and more elegant and creative chapeaux.  Perhaps the most charming and the most popular right now, is the classic beret.  This French beauty is slightly bigger than we’re used to, and is showing in many varieties, including a few with small little brims.  Color is important, too, although black is the real winner, bringing up visions of Paris in the 1920s, with all its intellectual and Bohemian wonders.

PAVE JEWELRY: Updated with a definite modern touch, this classic style is shaking up the jewelry field with brand new ideas and inspirations.  Pave balls are particularly hot, as earrings, rings, and jewelry pendants.  Look for clear pave for very dress up occasions, but for everyday and evening wear…WOW! … the look is color all the way.  Ruby-luscious colored pave big ball rings set in gold plate is an eye stopper.  So are ball rings and earrings in turquoise pave, real or faux. Colored pave bangle bracelets also ring in high on popularity charts, especially in mixed colors.

LEATHER COVERED JEWELRY:  This is really exciting!  We’ve been talking about darker jewelry in our most recent blogs, and now the idea comes through with real pizzazz when the dark color is helped along, or established, by leather. Yves St.Laurent has terrific looking long drop earrings made up of four black leather-covered cabochons.  A necklace of very large chain covered in ebony black lambskin from Natalia Brill is very NOW.  And try some more of this hot look:  A very Egyptian-looking pendant made up of leather covered metal with gold plate outer rim; a leather covered woven bangle bracelet striped with gold plate.

ETHNIC SILVER:  It’s exotic. It’s wild.  And it really defies description as it covers a broad range of ethnic expressions. You can call it tribal, but tribal what?  India-Indian?  American Indian?  Mexican? African? Think of tooled silver mixed with silver chain for the basic piece of jewelry.   Then hang off a whole bunch of mostly silver coins.  Or rings.  Or little silver squares.  Clump all of that together and let it hang down from little silver circles for earrings, or drop down to form a necklace.  It’s the kind of thing you might see on a Turkish belly dancer.  Or an Indian Maharini.  Very dramatic!

TRIBAL ETHNICITY ALWAYS MAKES FOR INTRIGUING JEWELRY, PARTLY FAMILIAR, PARTLY EXOTIC.  THESE PIECES ARE NO EXCEPTION:

• Fashion necklace set in tribal design patchwork with tiger striping.

• Murano style glass hearts and beads in necklace that takes design inspiration from tribal jewelry.

ANIMAL PRINTS: Grrrrrr!  Elephants printed on dress material.  Paw prints on a blouse.  Doggies on a T-Shirt. Kittens on a scarf. Or, endangered wildlife emblazoned on tote bags (as those from World Wildlife).  You just can’t get any more IN.  This is a decidedly preppy look, the kind you see in and around New York’s ritzy South Hampton.  You might want to take the animal look beyond prints, and see it made up into some serious or fun jewelry, like the Scotty dogs on Tiffany’s hot silver charm bracelet, or big cat images in gorgeous pins like the Duchess of Windsor made famous.

INFINITY SCARVES:  These charming little no-tie scarves fit around the neck almost like a choker, giving an elegant look while keeping you cozy at the same time.  They come in an endless array of prints and materials, running from silky smooth circlets of silk to thick woven cashmeres or even furry warm collars.  You can find them in sexy black onyx or trendy purple, in black and white herringbone or Scottish plaids.  Whatever your choice, these scarves are a thorough delight and a whole new direction in accessory trends.

SUEDE BOOTS:  Sure, you love shiny black leather, but this is the year for suede!  These newest of the new boots stretch up to the knee and beyond, are almost always a very dark color, and were born to be worn with leggings or skin-tight pants.  Their main appeal (besides looking great) is that they make your legs look long, long, long!  Oh, yes.  The heel.  Well, of course they aren’t flat. In fact they are high, very high. And the toe?  Super-pointy.

   –Add long-suffering to your list of personal characteristics! 

HAND (CLUTCH) BAG:  If you’re still in love with valise-sized bags, that’s OK, but you must get a smaller, daintier, more feminine little bag for Autumn this year.  The new bags are small to very small (slightly larger than a wallet), rectangular in shape, and really do go anywhere, anytime, morning until night.  Colors here are often quite bright, like brilliant emerald green or fire engine red, or slippery black.  Some are tooled leather.  Many are patent leather.  A few are rich materials, often with embellishments, like crystals or studs.  They are dramatically easier to carry than those over-load handbags designers have been feeding us, and they even look better, too!

LITTLE CHARMS:  These fun-loving pieces run in direct opposition to the large statement pieces we’ve lived with for many months now.  They come in a wide variety of shapes, are sometimes just an etched metal, and other times, richly embellished designs.  Think about a small little bow.  Or a tiny posy.  Or a happy face.  Work with pave. Jazz it up with a few streaks of gold plate. Dangle the charms from a chain bracelet or let them drop down from a gold-braid necklace. Latch onto retro, here, too.  Like slithery snakes. Or the eternally romantic heart.  Get one, or get a dozen. 

IN JEWELRY, OR STANDING ALONE, CHARMS ARE WINNERS.  TRY THESE:

• Anklet with dangling flower charms.  Bright colors, silver plate chain.

• Key chains with red enameled hat charms.  Wonderful!