Beladora Bling for the Brainiac Beauty

In spite of her life of exotic travel and erotic exploration...purely for the sake of her craft....of course...the brainiac beauty, Kristopher Dukes, still has time for a little Beladora bling!

Savvy Shopping - End of Summer Blues

Beladora Einar Modhal Blue Enamel Bracelet in Sterling for $495

Diane Von Furstenberg Dress on Sale at Nordstrom.com for $206.90

So it's August 15th already and I've already got the end of summer blues.
Is it just me or has the summer just flown by?

Do Rules Really Matter In The Olympics?

China's Child He Kexin

Do rules really matter in the Olympics?

In Olympic gymnastics, the rule is that athletes need to be 16 years old.

But....

Just nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government's news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week.

The Olympics used to be so simple when all we had to worry about was the doping of the East German female athletes.

Now our athletes have to compete against 13 year olds!

Not to take anything away from the Chinese team. They are the best. But why does every other team need to comply to the age rule when the Chinese don't?

On the topic of Olympic gymnasts, this story about Nadia Comeneci is incredible. Just think about the fact that we live in an almost completely borderless existence where freedom of travel is a given and Nadia Comeneci had to escape from Romania in 1989 where she was basically a prisoner of the State.

Does anyone today even remember what East Germany or Romania were like in the 1980's?

Fashion Trends For Fall

According to the Times Online

The fashion trends for Fall and Autumn are:



Cocoon
Military
Trousers
Color with Color
Moderate Minimalism
Mellow Drama

Checklist: Autumn/Winter 2008
1. High-waisted, 7/8th-length trousers. Try: Whistles.
High waisted and 7/8ths length...horrendous unless you look like Kate Moss
2. Cropped jacket or blazer. Before buying, try it on with a pair of the above. You'll find that what complemented hipsters may not work with the new geometry. Try: Jigsaw.
Haven't we seen enough of these already?
3. Military or wrap coat or one with slit short sleeves for layering. Try: French Connection.
Wrap coat - chic, military coat - too much costume
4. Concealed platform shoes or ankle boots - we're over bondage - and a pair of flats. Try: Office and Kurt Geiger.
I love platforms, concealed or not...anything that can make me taller
5. Polo necks and other fine knits for layering and tucking into high waists. Try: Pure Cashmere and Hoss Intropia.
Cashmere polo necks...perfect with a scarf tied ascot style
6. A leather jacket - biker style. Wear it with classic, simple pieces for extra edge. Try:Topshop.
Been there done that, I'm over the look
7. A rococo-style necklace. Try: Mikey.
OK, but not with the a polo neck sweater...
8. A narrow belt to thread through the loops of those high-waisted trousers. Try: Gap.
Better yet, a narrow belt over a slim cashmere cardigan
9. Longer-length skirts - either pencil-shaped or slightly gathered at the waist are the newest. If you can't bear calf or ankle-length, don't worry, knee-length refuses to die and there are even some minis. Try: Zara.
A knee length pencil skirt...perfect, especially with that belted cashmere cardigan
10. A fitted or semi-fitted sleeveless dress: this winter's sophisticated antidote to the put-it-away or give-it-away smock dress. Try: M&S Limited and Jigsaw.
Finally...back to a slim silhouette. Enough already with the floaty frocks

Obsequious Accessories Editors

Marnie Floral Necklace

Tom Binn's Black Fringe Necklace

Etername Enamel Link Bracelet

Check out The Fall 2008 Accessories Report on Style.com where Candy Pratts Price picks the season's most revolutionary extras.

Some great shoes...some great handbags....some so-so costume jewelry.

But what was she thinking when she picked this monstrosity by Delfina Delettrez!

Disgusting.

So you ask yourself what's up with this Delefina Delettrez, a designer that you've never before heard of.

Apparently, Delefina Delettrez, age 20, is a 4th generation Fendi who just launched a jewelry line. Also featured in Vanity Fair where her jewelry designs were described as dazzling Goth romantic, Delettrez is getting plenty of press.

So, to all those jewelry designers who really know their craft and have invested years in GIA education and bench work, let me make a suggestion.

If you really want your work to be recognized by the main stream fashion media, just be a 20 year old scion of a famous fashion family with mediocre talent and editors will go out of their way to promote you and your designs.