Diamond Diva Dish

Forbes has ranked beautiful Brazilian Giselle Bundchen among the top 15 richest Supermodels. With earnings of $33 million a year, Giselle can afford plenty of glitz and glam, but as you see here, she accessorizes minimally while still maintaining the maximum in class and fashion sense.

Appearing at Saks to launch the new Dolce & Gabbana fragrance The One, Giselle is clad in a D&G satin dress accessorized with:

Super Large Thin Gold Hoop Earrings and elegant in it’s simplicity, a Bezel Diamond Solitaire Pendant.

I own both super large-sized hoops and a diamond solitaire pendant. Individually and collectively they are the two most versatile jewelry items — lending themselves to all manner of clothing pieces regardless of season, you can count on extended mileage!

On a recent visit to a friend’s house I was invited to choose from among her many books, those of which I’d like to take with me. She’s making a move overseas so can’t accommodate them. Not surprisingly, one of my choices was “Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair With Jewelry”. What is surprising is the fact that I had yet to acquire this previously!

As we all know, Taylor is the Quintessential Diamond Diva. The pieces she owns are more numerous and her love for them, more enduring by far, than her collection of husbands and lovers. The latter, of course, bestowed her with these lavish adornments and (i.e. a diamond ring for winning a game of ping pong, or rubies because she swam laps!)by describing not only the context in which she received them, but also presenting a beyond stunning photo documentation of the nice ice and other gemstones, you can’t help but share in her intoxication while perusing these precious gems.

Included in this feast for the eyes are the peregrine pearl previously owned by Anne Boleyn, diamond tiara, matching bracelet, earring and ring sets, a jewel-encrusted evening bag, the Cartier-Burton diamond (69.42 carat pear-shaped!), and the piece d’resistance, the famed Krupp diamond (rumor has it that Princess Margaret, upon seeing the 39-carat Krupp diamond on Elizabeth Taylor’s finger was heard to say, “That’s the most vulgar thing I’ve ever seen!”. Taylor then allowed Princess M. to try it on for size, and, when she noted the effect that getting up close and personal with this piece had on the royal, she exclaimed “See? It’s not so vulgar now, is it?” What a hoot!).

So much to oogle, though one has to wonder why Mickey Jackson’s gift of a garish monkey necklace was included in the book. No baubles featured from the opportunistic husband #8, Larry Fortensky, but that’s to be expected!

Check this book out! It’s the stuff of adult fairytales! View Taylor’s White Diamonds fragrance video here.

In Italy to attend the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the death of fashion designer, Gianni Versace, Jessica Alba looks stunning, as always. To a classically elegant and embellished full length dress in dove grey, Jessica adds further sparkle with a stunning diamond necklace.

One can only imagine how many carats grace her swan-like neck, rendering this piece out of the range of most of our budgets. As usual, luxe for less can be acquired from my favorite jewelry e-tailer!

My picks impart a similar look as Jessica’s, in that they have the timeless appeal of estate or heirloom pieces. Check out the Two Tone Diamond Chandelier Necklace, an exceptional White Gold Y Shaped Diamond Necklace and this White Gold Diamond Leaf Necklace. Did you experience a sense of “deja view” when you looked at the latter? I did! Why? It’s reminiscent of the jewelry designed by Cathy Waterman which was often featured on Sex And The City.

Hillary Duff hits the beach in Malibu with her bling – the large bold gold hoop earrings that she favors dangling, and plenty of layered bangles jangling (her other arm candy, Brody Jenner, nothwithstanding). Unlike many of her contemporaries who do not meet the criterion for Divas In Training, Hillary is looking fit and fills out her bikini nicely without opting to skip meals or go with a fake glow!

Layering of jewelry pieces continues to be a strong trend. Don’t confuse this with indiscriminately adorning yourself with every item in your jewelry box! Mix and match stackable bangle bracelets in a variety of precious metals, widths and textures, but stop short of bracelets that extend from wrist to elbow!

A recent survey I conducted among my friends and acquaintances proved what I already suspected. Earrings are the single most popular accessory that women gravitate toward. There is simply no such thing as having too many earrings.

The trend continues toward large hoops, chandelier earrings, and long dangles with a deco influence. Current fashion no longer dictates that the latter should be worn exclusively for evening wear. This means you can do glitz and glam by day, making it all the easier to transition to that much anticipated evening out on the town after sundown.

Check out Delightful Diva Jessica Alba above. Shown attending the Christian Dior Haute Couture (autumn/winter) show at the Palace of Versailles. From head to toe Jessica is a statement of timeless elegance. Of course my eye was drawn to her earrings, the style of which I’ve much admired lately.

I like to emulate current looks for less, but without sacrificing quality. So I’ve hunted and gathered some, those which would not look out of place should I have occasion to cross the threshold of the Palace of Versailles myself!

Peruse these intoxicating Diamond Chandelier Earrings gorgeous diamond pave milgrain Deco Inspired Chandelier Earrings and these Diamond Pave White Gold Chandelier earrings.

Stunning, aren’t they? You’ll be as shocked as I was to note that the prices won’t render you bankrupt!

The above image is of the Baby Shiloh Pacifier Crafted of 17K white gold and encrusted with in excess of 3 carats of diamonds, it was created by Designer Mathis Riiber and generated so much interest, globally, that it is now available for custom order in a variety of configurations. The price tag of $17,000 renders it an heirloom future additions to the Jolie-Pitt clan are sure to treasure.

As Freud said “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar” and to most, this pacifier would be…well, just a pacifier! But it’s not! When you think of it, it’s symbolic of the pacification effect that diamonds represent from the cradle and onward!

Were you not pacified when you received your first heart shaped diamond promise ring, ever unmindful to the fact that puppy love passes, but that borderline bling served to legitimate the “seriousness” of your relationship in yours, and the eyes of others. Of course in time, and perhaps a few promise rings later (from those who by now were but a sweet and distant memory), you progressed to the next phase, with the expectation of permanence requiring even greater pacification – an engaging symbol representing an investment in your future -the diamond engagement ring. This of course is followed by the marking of many more milestones including anniversaries and diamond anniversary bands, a beautiful diamond circle of love pendant on the occasion of a birthday, perhaps even a a diamond tennis bracelet by way of a reconciliation. Then there’s that symbol of eternal love, the diamond eternity ring. All occasions for which Diamond Divas are pacified by the presentation of a little ice, wouldn’t you agree?

Hi All! I’m back in L.A. now! I was a Lady of Leisure in the Hamptons during my summer vacation. Had an amazing time lazing on the beach, catching up on some reading, flashing my Ankle Bracelet, and because I received so many compliments on it, I thought I’d share!

Before I left I treated myself to some diamond decadence for the epidermis, a Diamond Sparkle Spa Set! These products, one to exfoliate, the other to moisturize, actually contain real ground diamonds! Just the ticket to soothe the skin and sustain the glow of summer!

We went to galleries and shops and did a lot of fine dining. Had an amazing evening as the dinner guest of a really interesting and well-traveled couple we met. I discovered there’s something that outweighs being “born with a silver spoon in your mouth”, and that is Malmaison Classique Flatware… knives, forks, AND spoons trimmed with diamonds! The food was outstanding but the paroxysms of joy I experienced from these made me think I could get a little domesticated and throw a dinner party or two myself if only…!