On The Red Carpet - Vanity Fair's Krista Smith's Style

I don't know what you will be doing tonight, but I will be watching Vanity Fair's Krista Smith and Tim Gunn in their Oscar's Pre Show on ABC. 
(since I don't have TV at home this is going to take some maneuvering, but I will see this show)

From the Vanity Fair website
Oscars Fashion: Krista Smith Opts for Armani

Vanity Fair’s West Coast editor Krista Smith, who’ll co-host ABC’s Oscars pre-show on Sunday alongside Robin Roberts, Tim Gunn, and Maria Menounos, will wear Armani, complemented with Beladora jewels. The long navy gown and Art Deco–style jewelry were picked for their Old Hollywood feel, Smith says: “I will be doing my best to channel Rita Hayworth—although, considering she was one of the great beauties, it might be a stretch,” she laughs. “At least it will be my mindset!”

Channeling Rita Hayworth - not a bad idea except for the smoking

she was Hollywood glamour personified

so Krista will be wearing Armani and Art Deco Estate Jewelry (from you know where)
that's a whole lot of awesomeness.

unlike Wendy B and her fancy backless Zang Toi dress, the closest I'm ever going to get to Graydon and his Vanity Fair Oscar bash is loaning out a little Beladora bling.

Going Gucci

The beautiful Tabitha at Bourbon & Pearls posted today about the 90th birthday of Gucci and shopping there in her wayward youth.  I shopped there too, way back in the day.

Even with all that happened during the 90 years of the brand

including family scandal and murder

for me what stands out the most was Tom Ford's fabulous 1995 collection for Gucci which revitalized the brand, taking it from Horsey to full on Hollywood

specifically because of this outfit

which we all remember being worn by Madonna

As much as I like vintage clothes

I actually think that wearing this specific blue today would come off as dated 

I prefer to stick with jewelry,

it has, in my opinion, a longer wearable life

such as this vintage Gucci Diamond Bracelet in 18K with black onyx and banded agate

I love the rich colors with just a bit of bling

 and the iconic snaffle bit style

Given that the House of Gucci is coming out with outfits like this black shorts-y thing

which I find to be both un-chic an unflattering

I hope that the firm finds their next Tom Ford

In the meantime, I'll skip the clothes and stick with the jewelry.

A Week of Wardrobe Challenges and Beladora In Black And White

We've had so many great posts from blogs such as Passage de Perles, Make Do Style and  A Femme d'un Certain Age challenging us to dress with style with a limited wardrobe and now ELLE has featured the Fabiola Beracasa 30 Day wardrobe challenge on ELLE.com
Have the babes at ELLE have been checking out the blogosphere?
I wonder.

Meanwhile I have a wardrobe challenge of my own coming up this weekend as I have a wedding to attend in Dallas on Saturday then Sunday and Monday will be spent in Telluride. So travel clothes, dress-up clothes and ski clothes will all be needed for a 3 day trip.   
It would be easy to pack if I had closet full of clothes from Goresuch, which is one of my favorite online stores. But I don't, so I have no idea at this point what I'm going to wear.

Meanwhile, while perusing the site I found this ELLE TV video


Beladora looks good in black and white!

Oh No...Orange!

Orange is the color for this year's spring-summer fashions
according to the WSJ's article Orange Crush.
I don't know about you, but I rarely pay attention to the "color of the season"
and I probably won't be wearing it
because it is my least favorite color
and it reminds me more of this

and this



than this

Shades of soft peach and coral I do adore

Tiffany & Co. Paloma Picasso Coral and Diamond Flower Earrings

but straight on in your face orange is my least favorite color.
On the other hand
things that come in orange boxes are always welcome.
Last week a few things arrived at the office
such as this

Is anyone interested in an Hermes Clic Clac black enamel bracelet?
Pre-owned but in very good condition and the price is right!

Not Going Gaga - Julia Roberts Jewelry Style

The red carpet looks for last weekend's Grammy Awards have been all over the web
complete with a lot of nonsense about Lady Gaga's ridiculous entrance
Why is it that the only word that comes to my mind
when it comes to Lady Gaga is ennui

Beyonce and Gwynneth looked great without going full Gaga

But do they have the same hair stylist?

On a much more down to earth level
we had the always understated Julia Roberts
at the the annual awards dinner of the American Society of Cinematographers
where she won the Board of Governor's Award along with Tom Hanks

The Daily Mail nailed her for looking matronly,
But, as far as I'm concerned Julia Roberts has moved into Grande Dame territory
and like Meryl Streep, she can wear what she wants
and of course we are always happy when she chooses to wear Beladora jewelry.

A Little Gift Suggestion For Ex-Congressman Chris Lee

Sometimes, a man needs to buy an important gift for his wife on Valentine's Day
Especially, if the man has been caught texting photos of himself to a chick he met on craig's list

Like Congressman Chris Lee
who sent this shirtless photo of himself
and claimed to be a lobbyist yet used his actual name!!!
So instead of doing the work that he was elected to do
he's been busy trolling the interwebs for women.

Your wife not only deserves the biggest apology ever
She deserved a little something special
like these

Diamond Dangle Earrings with Tanzanite Briolettes in Platinum $58,000

Mr. Lee, feel free to call me if you need some other gift suggestions
I'm here to help

BHB Recommends - Valentine's Day Estate Jewelry Gifts Under $1000

Check out my pretty red roses...gorgeous aren't they?

I wanted to start posting about Valentine's Day jewelry gifts two weeks ago
and travel and other diversions kept me from getting around to it.

Thankfully, LPC blogged about this unique Amore Ring
and Mary chose our Multi-Gemstone Heart Earrings as her Vintage Pick of the Day
I'm so grateful for their posts.

In BHB tradition I was going to do a high/low gift suggestion post
but given the crazy rise in commodities affecting food prices worldwide, the international unrest from Algeria to Iran and the stratospheric unemployment numbers right here at home
I think I'll just stick to the low.

So here are my suggestions
Beladora.com Estate Jewelry Valentine's Day Gifts for under $1000

Retro Heart Brooch in 14K Rose and Yellow Gold $395

Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Heart Ring in 18K $495

Pink Tourmaline and Blue Topaz Heart Ring in 18K $495

Diamond Heart Earrings in 14K $595

Diamond Heart Ring in 18K $795

Diamond Pave Heart Pendant in 14K $495

Diamond Heart Brooch in 18K $995

Tiffany& Co. Heart Pendants in 18K $695

Tiffany & Co Paloma Picasso Diamond Heart Brooch in 18K $895

Don't forget, there's lots of adorable vintage estate jewelry on Beladora2.com too!

Not Such Sensational Shopping

The Miami Antique and Estate Jewelry Show,
It is better in theory than in reality.
Worse than standing on your feet nonstop from 11:00am to 8:00pm
Prices are high, really high
As if the financial meltdown had never happened
As if there hasn't been revolution in the streets of Cairo
As if we are all living in the pre 2009 go-go days
As if everyone has a Chinese billionaire client in their back pocket.

Not that I haven't seen some beautiful things, I have
Exquisitely beautiful things
But I'm thrifty so that I can bring the best prices to my Beladora.com clients
I will buy a little here and a little there but that's all.

Miami is lovely and warm...I wish that I could sit on the beach!

Getting Geared Up For Miami

While most of the country gets blasted with blizzards

some 2000 continuous miles from the Rocky Mountains to the tip of Maine

I will be off to Miami Beach where the weather forecast shows a balmy 84 degrees.

But I won't be lolling about by the pool soaking up the sun

because I will be busy working at the Antiques and Estate Jewelry Show

shopping for baubles for Beladora.

Yeah, I know tough work...but someone has to do it.

And then I will be off to Palm Beach / Wellington

To visit some friends who play polo for a living...

yeah, I know, another tough job!

I haven't seen them in years and I'm really looking forward to it.

So blogging will be light... if at all for the next week or so.

Off My High Horse

It's Friday, the sky is blue and the sun is shining and I'm off my high horse.
Hopefully, this weekend I will have time to check in on everyone's blogs and see what I've missed during my hiatus.
Inspired by the posts about India at Amid Privilege, I've delved into a stack of books about Moghul jewelry. It's a big subject but a beautiful one because bright color and rich ornamentation was so important in the Moghul culture. 

Amazing isn't it?
Hopefully the weather will stay nice and I can continue my reading poolside this weekend.

On the opposite end of the artistic spectrum we've got the exhibition of paintings by Salvatore Rosa at the Kimbell Art Museum in Forth Worth.

A contemporary of Lorraine and Poussin, Rosa created works in the mid 17th Century that melded elements of Classicism with Romanticism.

From the WSJ review
Whatever he was like in real life (apparently he was a combative, rebellious prototype of the bohemian artist), Rosa is not a painter you fall in love with. The first things you notice are what he does not have. There is little playfulness or joie de vivre. He was a contemporary, and knew the work, of Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin, but he lacks the gentle softness of the former and the impeccable coloring of the latter, although his mythological scenes often replicate Poussin's neoclassical geometry. His unsettling landscapes move beyond Claude's pastoral harmonies, replacing them with dangerous, wind-swept, "sublime" ravines and crags, gloom and doom.

The Kimbell's silvery light allows us to see the somberness up close. The pictures here are, by and large, dark: They have little bright color. Some come close to Goya's horrifying late black paintings. Shades of brown and other earth tones predominate even in the landscapes. The sun seldom shines. Rosa brings the underworld up to the surface. He is both classical and (pre-) Romantic.

Unfortunately, there won't be time to see the Rosa exhibit on my trip to Texas next month.
I wonder, why isn't this exhibit coming to the Getty, LACMA or the Norton Simon Museum?
That is just wrong.

Sent goods off yesterday for a Mert and Marcus cover shoot with Gisele for Vogue Turkey.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that the bad weather conditions in Louisville and New York didn't keep the goods from getting to the shoot...because you never know with snow.
We shall see.

Happy Friday everyone!

Taking A Break

Blogging has been curtained recently because life has been busy. 
I was hoping to action a little hiking today or a trip to the gym but I've got 6 auction catalogs and 2 books to peruse today for a lecture on Indian Mughal jewelry that I'm giving next week.
Besides that, I've got the upcoming antique and estate jewelry show in Miami Beach to prepare for, some technical and graphic spiffing up to do on both websites, and you know, a life.

I started this blog for the purpose of SEO and branding because I didn't have the funds to hire a big NY firm to do those things for me.  And, I admired Wendy B's hands on approach to blogging for her business. (btw, congrats Wendy on the new site and the FGI rising star nomination) Originally I planned to post only about estate jewelry and vintage fashion.  Later BHB morphed into something else entirely, because I have trouble staying on topic and keeping my opinions to myself. Today BHB is all over the place, sort of everywhere and nowhere at the same time. 

So, I'm going to take a break from blogging for a while to concentrate on my "tacky online jewelry business" as a fellow blogger described Beladora in a personal email to me.  I'm aware of the fact that I'm not curing cancer but my little business provides gainful employment, brings value to the customer and is green....and yes, I'm proud of it.

I will of course keep up with the many blogs that I read and stay in touch.
à bientôt

Red Carpet Days On Rodeo Drive

There's a lot going on out there in the world.
The US is losing its AAA credit rating.
Eastern Australia is under water.
Oil is nearing $100.
The government in Lebanon is failing.
Brazil is having landslides.


But let's talk about something really important...awards season has started in Beverly Hills!
Stylists are rushing up and down Rodeo Drive collecting gowns and goods.
We've got the Golden Globe awards this weekend and the crush for red carpet looks will be ongoing until the Oscars in March. 

The beautiful stylist, Anya Sarre, stopped by our office this week to get goods for the gorgeous women at Entertainment tonight who will be working the red carpet. 
Anya is a busy babe.  Not only is she a professional stylist with her own website, she produces "Look for Less" segments for ET and she styles weddings and other events. 
Now her wedding picks are featured in Inside Weddings magazine.
She even twittered about Beladora.
Seriously, does this woman ever take a break?

and...

We are anxiously waiting for the mail man to show up with the February issue of ELLE Magazine because we want to get a good look at the cover shot with Katie Holmes. 

We love the fact that Mrs. Cruise is wearing this Beladora bangle in the cover shot.

Carlo Weingrill Diamond Bangle Bracelet in 18K $3250

and...

A new blog that I've been reading Collecting Fine Jewelry has some of the most beautiful jewelry from auctions, museum exhibits and the regular gang of estate jewelers.  There are lots of pretty pieces to admire on this blog including this one of a kind piece from Beladora.com. 

Jean Mahie Cuff Bracelet in 22K

Finally, spring has arrived in Los Angeles.  It is sunny and hot today.

But we haven't forgotten our friends in the frosty east.

Designer/blogger Tartanscott has posted beautiful photos of Central Park in the snow.

I'll leave you with this pretty picture. 

Be sure to check out his blog to see the rest of his images.

Beladora on Youtube...Who Knew?

I just saw this nice little video on youtube made by the Platinum Guild in 2009.
Beladora.com get's a mention at about the 5th minute.
This makes me so happy...
Obviously, I should have been watching more jewlery videos and fewer music videos.

We love the Platinum Guild people and Niki Ostin at Prlab.