Tony Curtis: From Pants Suits to Pearl Strands

Diamonds may have been Marilyn Monroe's best friend, but pearls were the pretty companion of Tony Curtis in their iconic film "Some Like It Hot" - a movie masterpiece that I'm sure many will revisit now that the last living member of the film's trio has passed away.

For the uninitiated: "Some Like It Hot," is a1959 film in which Curtis and Jack Lemmon played small-time jazz musicians who witnessed the St. Valentine's Day massacre in Chicago and, pursued by gangsters, posed as women to escape with an all-female jazz band bound for Miami (Marilyn Monroe, included).

Hi-jinks ensue.

Oscar-winning costume designer, Orry Kelly, turned Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis into 'Josephine' and 'Daphne' using all the well-known fashion secrets drag queens the world over still use today: lots of neck scarves, long gloves, fun hats  - and yes - that ubiquitous symbol of understated femininity: pearls.

Pearl jewelry is generally thought of as the go-to gem when women want that 'conservative yet classic' look. Politicians and first wives love pearls for their sartorial safety, and they're always a Mother's Day crowd pleaser.

But Tony Curtis and his partner in crime brought the category to a, shall we say, 'new' audience - making everything from pearl-drop earrings to long strands work in ways the jewelry world never thought possible.

In other words: Clothes may make the man - but classic pearls create the crossdresser.

Tony Curtis, R.I.P.  Here's to you. Who's like you? Damn few.

Eat, Pray, Love...Shop

Jewelry and Hollywood. From Twilight's "Team Edward" pendants to Alice In Wonderland's Mad Hatter charm bracelets, consumers aren't just experiencing movies at the multi-plex. They're taking them home to their jewelry boxes.

The latest film to join the big studio licensing bonanza is Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling-memoir-turned-movie, Eat, Pray, Love. For those of you living under a rock, the movie stars none other than Julia Roberts and will be out in theaters next Friday.

Los Angeles jewelry brand Dogeared signed a licensing deal with Sony to produce a collection of jewelry, books and travel-related items associated with the film, with Fred Segal and ABC Home on board to distribute, according to WWD.

The "Eat Pray Love by Sue Wong" collection hit stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstorm, Bloomingdales, and Dillard's.

And on August 6th, 7th, and 8th, HSN will dedicate 72 hours of programming to featuring items themed around "Eat Pray Love" and its locales, including days dedicated to Italy, India, and Bali.

Somehow, I don't think Elizabeth Gilbert had branded T-shirts, caftans and bead necklaces in mind when she penned her story of personal awakening...but that's showbiz!