When Celebrities Design - Padma Lakshmi Going For The Gold

Every year when I go to the jewelry trade show in Las Vegas I'm overwhelmed by the amount of jewelry there is for sale.

The Antique and Estate Jewelry show has everything from vintage parures and tiaras to the latest signed jewelry from Buccellati to Verdura. The Couture and Italian shows have the latest in high end jewelry designs. Then there's JCK and Watches and Gemstones...you can't possibly see it all in a week.

With so much inventory already available for sale I tend to be surprised when some celebrity launches a new jewelry line.

Today, design maven Jill at Stella's Roar posted about the launch of a new jewelry line by model, celebrity chef and reality show host of Top Chef, Padma Lakshmi.

Well Padma is beautiful and brilliant and certainly knows how to capitalize on her celebrity. Like Cindy Crawford or Elle McPhearson, she is now her own brand.

I like the exotic boho Southeast Asian vibe of Padma's designs. And...while most Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry is 18K or higher karat, by manufacturing in low karat 10K and 14K she has kept the cost down...and that is important with gold hovering around $900.

Padma Lakshmi Jewelry

Ivanka Trump Jewelry


Heidi Klum Jewelry

On one hand there is something that bothers me about all the professionally trained jewelry designers, who truly understand gemology and how to actually create pieces as bench jewelers, but who never get the financial backing, publicity and retail opportunities as celebrity designers.

How many GIA trained designers who are not celebrities could launch a line and get picked up by Bergdorf Goodman?

What do you think about this?

Would you be more likely to purchase jewelry, clothing or accessories because they were "designed" by a celebrity?

Around Town - Stopping Traffic On Rodeo Drive

Two days ago Heidi Klum was up and down Rodeo Drive modeling for Vogue. In addition to her crew, there were countless paparazzis and tourists surrounding her. She strutted her stuff and then jumped into a van with her crew and for an outfit change and then showed up somewhere else on the street for more pictures. This went on all day long.

Well yesterday, Heidi was at it again and so were the crowds and paparazzis. She was extremely professional and focused...seemingly unaware of the ruckus she was causing. (Kim Kardashian was modeling on Rodeo also, but that was like, whatever.)

So yesterday evening as I was leaving my office at 6:30 and driving down the alley I spotted Heidi still at it, but this time no paparazzi...no gawking fans. It was just the hardworking glamazon and her crew in the dingy alley parking lot with a look on her face that said "auf wiedersehen already...I just want to take off the frigging 5 inch heels and go home and put my feet up".

Around Town - Heidi Klum Fashion Shoot On Rodeo Drive

Just another typical day on Rodeo Drive.
Here's Heidi Klum modeling outside of my office.

Vintage Value Venture - Lilac and Green for Spring

This Spring
The clothes and accessories that I won't be wearing...as modeled by Heidi Klum on Rodeo Drive

(although this is totally Daphne Guinness isn't it?)


The clothes and accessories that I will be wearing...

Woodlawn Vintage Floral Silk Dress $125

Woodlawn Vintage Silk Dress Bow Back Detail

Amethyst Ring in 14K on Sale at Beladora2.com $396

Amethyst Earrings in 14K at Beladora2.com on Sale for $396

Le Silla satin shoe at Yoox $295

Rocking The Red Carpet In The Big Rocks

In addition to Angelina Jolie's extreme emeralds, here are five more opulent but not over the top jewelry looks that rocked the red carpet.

Heidi Klum - Earrings by ???

Alicia Keys - Earrings by ???

Amy Adams - Fred Leighton Estate Jewelry

(OK, the consensus around the office was that this necklace wore Amy Adams...not the other way around. Still I like that fact that she went so bold with scale of the piece.)

Taraji Henson - Fred Leighton Estate Jewelry

Amanda Seyfried - Fred Leighton Estate Jewelry

Heidi Klum - Cover Girl Clover

Let's face it, few of us are blessed with the superlative attributes of Heidi Klum. But now that she has her eponymous jewelry line, we can wear a little bit of Heidi bling. Beladora.com has a one of kind diamond clover pendant from the Heidi Klum Collection. This piece is unique because it is the only one made with diamonds on both sides. If you are looking for 16 plus carats on a sexy black silk cord with supermodel provenance, here's just the piece.

Mrs. Seal used some familiar motifs in her designs for Mouawad including the famous Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Clover. Unfortunately for the glamazon, she was sued for copyright infringement. I don't know whether or not VCA has much of a case especially since the the clover has been a common motif in jewelry ever since the Victorian Age. We'll see.