>Item of the Month: Capes! Be a Caped Crusader This Winter

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TEXT, VIVIAN KELLY

About a year ago, I was digging around on yet another HUnt, this one at the Cromlix Antiques Barn, on Barrack Hill in Ridgefield, with the intent of maybe leaving with a print of a King Charles Spaniel or a Greek Key Cachepot. That time, I never made it upstairs as I stopped in my tracks when I spotted a red cape. Prior to this encounter, I’d dismissed capes as something that only worked if your name was SuperMan, Sherlock Holmes or Little Red Riding Hood.
All that went out the window after my Dutch Mother-in-Law surprised me and bought said cape, presenting it to me as a wedding gift later on that weekend. As soon as I tore the gift wrap off, I started wearing it during the relatively balmy November month, and it’s a permanent fixture in the backseat of my car.

This simple item was a novel addition to my trusty but tired Michael Kors car and pea coats that were as the Stones sang, “A Little Worse for the Wear and Tear”.
Rather than being given odd looks, to my surprise, I got complimented. It seems that the erstwhile theatrical cape is now a fashion item. Just recently, I lapsed and succumbed to my form of junk food – a copy of STAR Magazine – I wanted to read about Angelina Jolie’s “Heroin Shocker! WASTER! REHAB FOR ANGIE”. While flipping through, I found my way to p.60-61, a spread titled “Crazy for CAPES“. STAR showed some cute styles by TopShop, Esprit and Guess by Marciano Linley, all under $240, less than you’d pay for a decent coat.
Best of all, my red vintage [$75] find resembles the best of the four shown on the chosen stylish starlets: Kate Hudson, Kim Kardashian, Kristen Bell, and Sienna Miller.
The winner: Sienna Miller. The STAR doesn’t say who hers is by but the Topshop cape at $170 makes for a nice substitution.
Other places to look for some well-priced options are Lord & Taylor [near the hats and gloves] and on www.qvc.com

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>ACCESSORY TREND: Bracelet Bonanza, Armed and Fabulous. Bring on the Arm Candy!

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TEXT, VIVIAN KELLY

Since last summer, I’ve been noticing THE RETURN OF THE BRACELET. I’m not talking about a discreet gold bangle or one or two CARTIER LOVE BRACELETS. WHAT’S ON FOR FALL AND MOST LIKELY SPRING 2011 IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE BRACELET BONANZA. IN SHORT – THE MORE, THE BETTER, AND THEY DON’T ALL HAVE TO BE MATCHY-MATCHY.
Rather, IT’S ABOUT INDIVIDUALITY, MUCH AS A CHERISHED CHARM BRACELET IS. THINK OF IT AS YOUR SLEEVE [not the tattoo ink kind] MAKING A STATEMENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE.
AN ARMFUL OF BRACELETS IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL SPORT ON A DAILY BASIS. IT WORKS FOR JUST ABOUT ANY SITUATION – WHETHER IT’S TO ATTEND AN ART OPENING, FASHION SHOW, GO TO WORK IN OR TO JUST WEAR WHEN ON THE RUN DURING THE WEEK.

Here’s an opportunity to mix it up: you can combine rubber bracelets such as the black/red rubber “CURE SMA” [Spinal Muscular Atrophy"] I bought at my Aveda-Shine Salon, or my vintage MONET CHARM bracelet, or the diamond and platinum pave ones by Leslie Greene.
TAKE A PAGE FROM THE FABULOUS SHARON STONE. TRY SOME HIGH-LOW ACCESSORIZING. IT’S RELEVANT BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THE MOST STYLISH WOMEN AROUND HAVE BEEN DRESSING FOR THE PAST DECADE. SHARON made a “bold” statement by daring to wear a generic BLACK TEE with an ARMANI COLLECTION COAT and VERA WANG SKIRT to the 1996 Oscars, when she was up for an award for her role in “Casino”. Fashion folk couldn’t stop talking about it, and before you knew it, everyone was out in the open, proudly going “high-low”.

Fast-forward to the recent 62nd ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS. Some of the season’s most beautiful gowns were on display but what hit me were THE MOUNTAINS OF BRACELETS. Some of the best on the Red Carpet were wildly different. Below, a few of my favorites.

EMMY LOOK #1: BREEZY, EASY, + MODERN

KYRA SEDGEWICK’S stack of monochromatic beaded bracelets by SYDNEY EVAN, which complimented her cranberry pleated gown to perfection.

EMMY LOOK#2: HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR
Nail this always-right look with stacks of DIAMOND BRACELETS. LESLIE GREENE makes some great ones, as worn by KIM KARDASHIAN and ELISABETH MOSS.
For some less pricey options, you’ll only have to wait until September 12, when TARGET UNVEILS THEIR “TUCKER FOR TARGET” collection. I’m looking forward to picking up their GLAM STUDDED CUFFS. Another good piece to add-on is Jewelry designer CYNTHIA GALE’s bronze and recycled silver ECO SECRET SECRET GARDEN CUFF, Inspired by the famous novel, The Secret Garden.

STYLE TIP: HAVE FUN – THE LOOK YOU’RE GOING FOR HERE IS “MODERN AND EFFORTLESS” IE: IF THE PIECE SPEAKS TO YOU, PUT IT ON. The possibilities are endless.

Shopping
LESLIE GREENE jewelry is available on www.lesliegreene.com and on www.QVC.com
GEO ART is available at www.store.geoartnyc.com

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>Kenneth Jay Lane’s Iconic Jewelry for QVC = KJL

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TEXT, VIVIAN GALTIER KELLY-VAN ZUTPHEN
Images, from www.QVC.com

“Don’t be afraid of costume. Six strands of real pearls is showing off, but simulated jewelry — it’s fashion.”*
-KENNETH JAY LANE -
One of my prized possessions is my KENNETH J LANE Serpent Bracelet. Its rich bronze scales are accented with topaz and amber rhinestones in a coiled gold head. The larger topazes are clearly the eyes and the snake – although only made of stones and metal, manages to look chicly arrogant. It invariably gets remarked-on whenever I wear it.
The piece is distinctly a Kenneth Jane Lane. While it’s not made of 18K gold or precious stones, it’s achieved collectible status. I flipped when I received the KLJ “Neptune Ring” from QVC, and so did the women and teens I showed it to. While it’s less of a “collectible” than my snake bracelet, I love it just as much.

Famous women have loved and collected Kenny’s pieces. Just a few icons include: Jackie Onassis, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Diana Vreeland. Kenny had a handle on the fashion business as he’d previously been the art director at Vogue. He also had some retail know-how after collaborating on shoe collections for Delman and Dior. He also designed jeweled shoes for Arnold Scaasi, and jeweled buttons, earrings and bracelets to match the shoes. Creating his own jewelry line was the next logical step to take.
Many of his most famous pieces are available at the PLAZA SHOPS, located on the ground floor of NYC’s legendary Plaza Hotel.
You will be surprised that many of the very collectible brooches, rings, and bracelets ring in at the register for under $300. If you’re in the under $150 price range, my Neptune Ring is all of $53.50!
For you coffee table book lovers, Shamelessly, Jewelry from Kenneth Jay Lane and Kenneth J Lane: Faking It, are both must-haves to add to the collection. Both are available on www.amazon.com

So whether you want some Kenneth J. Lane, also available at www.net-a-porter.com or some KJL from QVC, you can be assured that there’s plenty of his designs to choose from.

ENDNOTES
The KJL quote is from an interview that appeared in www.accessorysource.blogspot.com

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>Jewels for Spring – The Bigger the Better, the Girls Like it Better!

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TEXT, VIVIAN G. KELLY-VAN ZUTPHEN

We’re thrilled about the nude trend for spring, which gives the boot to all of that BLACK and snow, boots and endless layers we’ve dealt with for the past 4 months in what’s been one of the coldest Winters in the Northeast in years.
Wearing nudes and beiges serves as the perfect backdrop for some major jewelry – real and faux. Don’t be afraid to mix it up like the legendary Babe Paley and Coco Chanel did.

HIGH: THE CARMEN LUCIA BUCK RUBY

Some of our favorite high- low pieces come from the most random sources. While going in to size our Tiffany star band at a family jeweler in Danbury, CT, we spotted a picture of CARMEN LUCIA BUCK wearing the most gorgeous ruby we’ve ever seen, right next to the vault. Turns out, Frank Cappiello, has designed some honking big rings [still does] in his thirty-plus year career as a fine jeweler. He’s most proud of the Carmen Lucia Ruby ring he designed for the late Mrs. Carmen Lucia Buck. According to Frank and a write-up in The Washington Post, the acquisition process began with Carmen’s longtime jeweler, Frank Cappiello, who suggested to her husband that he make a giant ruby ring for Mrs. Buck. Dr. Peter Buck is a founder of the Subway sandwich chain and a nuclear-physicist, with a net worth Forbes estimates is $1.6 billion, which explains how he could take up Cappiello’s suggestion. The Carmen Lúcia Ruby weights in at 23.10cts, is set in platinum along with two colorless triangular diamonds. It’s the one of the finest large, faceted Burmese rubies known and the largest faceted ruby in the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection. Neither Mr. Cappiello nor the museum would disclose the price of the gem, We do know though, that the ruby was mined in the 1930′s from the fabled Mogok region of Burma.

In Frank’s shop is a portrait of Carmen Lucia in gala attire wearing the ruby, which she wore as an everyday accessory until her death.
In October, 2004, , Dr. Buck donated this magnificent ruby to the National Gem Collection and the people of the United States as a tribute to his late wife.
To see the Carmen Lucia Ruby, go to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and have a look at the Hope Diamond, which is in the same room. Now’s a good time, when the cherry blossoms are out!

LOW: RZ by Rachel Zoe Jewelry for QVC
At the other end of the spectrum is our modern day version of “fun, cheap dime story jewelry”. Babe Paley might have combined this huge filigreed cuff with some her huge yellow canary diamond Verdura ring. Rachel even makes the perfect spring weather wrap, a cream double faced cape that fits everyone from a size 0 – 14. It makes the ideal backdrop for any jewelry you might want to pile on.

The RZ line is available on www.qvc.com
Below, pricing information.
Rachel Zoe Double Faced Belted Cape
QVC Item #A199719 Approximately $95.00
Available in Black, Camel, Ivory (shown), Red and Yellow

Rachel Zoe V-neck Vest with Faux Fur Front
QVC Item #A199722 Approximately $62.00
Available in Silver (shown), Ivory and Coyote

Rachel Zoe Impressive Filigree Cuff Bracelet
QVC Item #J147752 Approximately $104.00

Image Credits
Images of the Buck ruby, Chip Clark
Images of the RZ line, courtesy of QVC
Nude trends piece, from www.banquetevent.com

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