Gemstones Jolt the Paris Runways

It's been a lackluster year for runway jewelry so far - with the less-is-more trend influencing practically all of the Spring/Summer Ready-To-Wear collections.

So I was holding out hope that the Spring/Summer Paris Couture Shows for 2011 - known for their Alice In Wonderland-esque bauble displays - would deliver some jewelry looks worth squaking about. Chanel was characteristically bauble barren. As was Dior (a surprise). But...

Enter Giorgio Armani, who didn't just litter his looks with gorgeous gems - he used colored gemstones as the inspiration for his entire line, according to Style.com.

Huzzah!

"Inspired, he said, by the gleam of gemstones, Armani produced clothes that came from another planet, the same one that Pierre Cardin and Thierry Mugler might have touched down on once. (It's already been suggested its name could be Gaga.)"

From ruby reds to gorgeous greens, the luminous fabrics looked like they came straight from the Tron wardrobe department.

Chandelier earring silhouettes, chunky bangles (they're baaaack - or did they ever leave?) and a bib necklace made out of gemstone shapes lit up the line like a Christmas tree on crack.

And while the wearability of the collection left some scratching their heads (Gaga excluded, of course), there was no denying the fun Mr. Armani must have had in his futuristic fantasy land.

The dude has no one left to impress, right? Whatever floats your gemstone-encrusted boat, sir, as far as I'm concerned. And even though I am a reluctant fan of toning things down when it comes to jewelry fashion this year - it's kinda nice to see the bigger bolder look from season's past on display again.

Right? Wrong? Thoughts, jewelry hounds?

Jewelry Shines at Chanel

Jewelry at Paris Fashion Week always play second fiddle to funny hats. I don't know what it is about those french fashionistas, but they just love themselves a crazy chapeau - especially that John Galliano.

But my jewelry prayers were finally answered with Karl Lagerfeld's surreal 20-minute catwalk creation for Chanel that brought back the statement jewel in refreshing new ways.

Fashion reviewers from the New York Times and Style.com raved about the jagged-edges and feathery silhouettes for Chanel's Spring 2011 ready-to-wear line. But I'm loving the emergence of a jewelry category we haven't seen much of lately - shoulder-duster earrings.

Sure, there are blingy bib necklaces akimbo from Mr. Lagerfeld, but the earring choice is fashion-forward at its finest.  I have been trying to find out more about the history of this style (jewelry buffs, weigh in!), but with statement earrings surging on the awards show circuit, I'm sure we'll get our fill of daring dusters in the months to come. Stay tuned.

What do you all think of the swinging shoulder style? Designers? Do you have some in your coffers you'd like to share? Weigh in!

Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter - A Jewelry Recap

As promised, jewelry hounds, here is a recap of all the jewelry worth drooling over from the 2010 Fall/Winter Paris Haute Couture shows.

Today, Haute Joaillierie lit up the Place Vendome - including Chanel's feathery diamond collection (remember Diane Kruger rocking this look at Cannes?):

Dior's Bollywood-inspired jewels:


and Van Cleef & Arpels' Les Voyages Extraordinaires collection:

Catwalk carats included these crazy cuffs from Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel show:



Armani's sculptural styles made from metal and wood:


And these mirrored fairy tale creations from Jean Paul Gaultier's collection:


But this is just a small sampling of the sparkle. You can find a complete gallery of Paris Fashion Week finds on the Jewelry.com Facebook Page. In the meantime, how amazing is that Dior serpent ring? I gotta say it again: ' J'adore Dior!

Weigh in with your favs!

Red Carpet Jewelry at the CFDAs

Jewelry and fashion design were honored last night in New York at the hottest ticket in town - The CFDA awards (aka The Fashion Oscars). While fashionistas like Jessica Biel, The Olsen Twins and Anna Wintour came out in couture classics, it was Gwenyth Paltrow who stole the show in my book.




Appearing arm and arm with Michael Kors, who was given the Lifetime Achievement Award, Gwynnie channeled Grace Kelly glam in a long, black paillette one shoulder Kors gown and simple diamond Fred Leighton drops. Now THIS is the way to wear black (see my earlier boring black rant for more)!




Coming in a close second was Sarah Jessica Parker, who was there to pay tribute to the late Alexander McQueen (one of my all-time favorite designers). McQueen, who committed suicide earlier this year, had one last line in the works, including this dress SJP wore to the event. And her Stephen Russell jewelry was pitch perfect - stunning diamond cluster earrings and a series of statement bangles (one of her favorite looks of late).



Check out Jewelry.com today for a roundup of the night's big winners, including the fab Alexis Bittar who took home the Accessories Designer of the Year award.