Superbowl Jewelry?

No, I'm not talking about those blinged-out rings that the winners take home--I'm actually referring to the baubles worn by the pre-show entertainment. Both Jennifer Hudson (who looked and sounded gorgeous) and Faith Hill embraced the beauty of yellow gold and made bold statements with their jewelry. JHud (above) particularly shined in oversized twisted hoops and a selection of mix-and-match bangles. (I also loved her hair and makeup: Perfectly polished but not at all overdone.)

To mimic her look, pick up these Stephen Webster 19.8 grams 18k Yellow Gold Top Kat Hoop Earrings and start a collection of bangles with this Temple St. Clair 18k Yellow Gold Granulated Cylinder Bangle Bracelet.


Faith Hill, who sang America the Beautiful, also looked great. I liked her bold earring choice that featured gold fringe and a large cabochon gemstone. Having a drop earring with a lot of movement is a must--it really flatters the face and twinkles when you move. These Talisman Unlimited 18k Yellow Gold Champagne Quartz Canopy Drop Earrings are just one option. If you're looking for an earring with a lovely cabochon, I recommend these Cathy Carmendy 14k Yellow Gold Diamond Moonstone Drop Earrings.

If you still haven't warmed up to yellow gold, now is really the time. The metal looks amazing with colored gemstones, and the rich tones of 18- and 22-karat gold has the ability to look both very modern and antique at the same time. If you want to explore more about gold jewelry, click over to the World Gold Council's site.

Images via Just Jared

SALE: Surprise your Valentine

Good news on this cold winter day: Portero is offering a 4-day-only 10% off promotion in honor of Valentine's Day.

Here are all the details:
Enter Promo Code VDAYTEN at checkout
10% OFF PROMOTION - Offer applies on all auctions and "Buy Now" purchases closed and paid for by Saturday, January 31, 2009, 11:59PM ET. Must use promo code: VDAYTEN at checkout. All Hermes Birkin handbags are excluded from this offer. Cannot be combined with any other promo code.

If you're a guy looking to scoop up a perfect gift for your lady, I really suggest a pair of stud earrings. These are can't-miss pieces of jewelry that never go out of style. Here are some of my favorites:

Kwiat 18k White Gold 1.59 ctw Diamond Baby's Breath Earrings. These uber-sparkly studs have a lot of personality. Perfect for the woman who likes diamonds but doesn't necessarily need a pair of standard solitaires.

Stephen Webster 18k Rose Gold Pink Opal Faceted Quartz Fringe Stud Earrings. Rose gold looks great on every skin tone, and these earrings have the perfect mix of edgy glamour and classic silhouette.

Chris Correia Brushed Platinum Diamond Tanzanite Shrimp Earrings. Modern and traditional at once, I love the bluish-purple color of Tanzanite mixed with a simple white pearl.

Image via Etsy and sycamorestreetpress

Kielselstein-Cord: Rare, Vintage and Collectible

It's always exciting when Portero acquires a grouping of designer merchandise that doesn't usually see the light of day. Such is the case with our just-launched selection of collectible Kieselstein-Cord jewelry, accessories and handbags. While we usually have a few pieces from the lauded designer floating around on the site, this particular set contains many hard-to-find and vintage pieces that can't usually be found for sale.

If you don't know too much about Barry Kieselstein-Cord, a good place to start may be right here. If you're one of his many admirers, then you probably already know that BK-C is a New York City born-and-bred artist who started his career in advertising in the 1960s. In the '70s, he, along with a few other bold-faced names such as Robert Lee Morris and Elsa Peretti, created an entirely new category of jewelry that found its basis in sculpture and armor.

He has always maintained that he doesn't follow fashion or use it as a guide for creation; in fact, BK-C nearly always finds his inspiration in ancient cultures. In an interview many years ago with Vogue's André Leon Talley, he said, "I also like things which are sophisticated in an innately primitive way. Things that are transformed into a past and present that you can't identify. I like some of Miró's giant sculptures, some by Lipchitz, Noguchi, and Brancusi. The last thing I look at for inspiration is jewelry of any kind or period."

If you're looking to get into the collector's market, this designer auction may well be the place to start. Portero is thrilled to offer some of the very first works in silver by the artist as well as one-of-a-kind accessories. To start shopping, click below to visit our Kieselstein-Cord event:

Jewelry
Accessories
Handbags

More Red Carpet: SAG 2009

Actors themselves say they really enjoy the Screen Actors Guild awards because they themselves are voting on the winners, not a group of critics. While I would agree it looks like everyone had fun, it was another play-it-safe red carpet that didn't get me too excited about new trends or amazing accessories. Don't get me wrong--most everyone looked lovely, it just doesn't make for exciting commentary when you see yet another actress in a bold cuff bracelet and oversized bell-shaped diamond drop earrings.

I did want to point out a few of my favorites, though, and talk about what went right (and wrong). Let's start with Kate Winslet, above, a Best Supporting Actress winner for The Reader. I think she looks fabulous in blue Narcisco Rodriguez and Chopard jewels. No, she's not making any major style news here, but the dress fit her PERFECTLY (never underestimate the power of tailoring), her jewelry isn't overdone and the unusual neckline manages to feel modern and old-school glamorous at the same time.


I particularly liked Christina Applegate in emerald green Emanuel Ungaro accented with a Daniel Swarovski clutch and Lorraine Schwartz diamonds. She usually dresses a bit too old for my taste, opting for all-over beading and mermaid styles that just feel outdated. But this gown is confident, sexy and perfectly hits on the one-shoulder trend in a fashion-forward way.


Another one-shoulder wearer that wowed me was Evan Rachel Wood, above in a teal Monique Lhuillier with purple Sergio Rossi shoes and clutch. The color--divine, and I like the outside-the-box addition of a bird brooch and unusual bracelet. Plus, this shows you that matchy-matchy is a thing of the past: by pairing her gown with pops of purple, she really makes the ensemble her own.


But my favorite of the night just may have been January Jones (above), a winner for Best Ensemble for Mad Men. Her Luxotica Andrew Gn gown is, well, drool. She wisely opted to stay away from retro glamour (which would have been so Betty Draper) and instead chose an Egyptian-inspired gown that felt so right now. From her soft hair to her makeup to her Ofira yellow gold and diamond hoop earrings, I loved it from head to toe.

Tomorrow I'll be back to discuss some of the biggest color trends: Red and White.

Images via Just Jared.

First Lady Fashion

Today could not be a more perfect day to unveil our "First Lady Fashion" homepage. Everyone was eagerly anticipating Michelle Obama's clothing choices for both the swearing-in and the Inaugural balls, and she certainly delivered with a high style quotient. I was personally wowed by her daytime choice of Isabel Toledo, a Cuban-born American fashion designer. I loved the lemongrass color (so fresh and optimistic!), the subtle sparkle and the gorgeous shift and matching coat.


Her nighttime choice of Jason Wu, a 26-year-old up-and-comer, was certainly a surprise. Obama usually opts for vivid jewel tones or bright hues, so her decision to wear a winter white was unexpected. Also, the embellishments on the dress step outside of her usual comfort zone: Obama so often picks sleek silhouettes with clean lines, so the gathered skirt and appliques were something a bit different.


But, she did go with one of the most popular necklines around -- the asymmetrical. I thought this was very on point for what's hot today, and I liked how it broke the line of her broad shoulders. (If you were curious, she chose jewelry by California-based Loree Rodkin including Diamond Linear Earrings, a diamond Ring and diamond bangle bracelets.) I thought the ensemble was a lovely choice. There was something light and ethereal about it, and she and her husband looked as if they were floating on air during their first dance. It is definitely wonderful to see a First Lady embracing young, American talent in such a profound way.

I have been consistently impressed with Obama's smart, chic sense of style throughout the entire campaign process. That's why we're celebrating a group of Portero accessories that would fit right into Obama's wardrobe. From a huge selection of pearl jewelry (some classic and some very fashion-forward) to a bevvy of brooches (an Obama staple) to a stunning selection of Birkins (you can never go wrong with Hermes), the auctions are up and ready for action. Click below to start shopping:

Pretty in Pearls
Bold Brooches
Hermes Birkins

More from Vicenza

My favorite thing about trade shows is running into a booth that just unexpectedly wows me. Such was the case at Gorgoglione, an exhibitor from Milan. Now these are red carpet-worthy pieces: Just the type of stunning gemstone jewelry I'd love to see at the upcoming Oscars. Remember how we've been talking statement necklaces? Just check out the pieces above crafted from black and white diamonds. (I took these images myself, so my apologies for the less-than-stellar quality.)


I also fell in love with their multi-strand baroque pearl and gemstone necklaces (above). Displayed asymmetrically (just like the hot neckline trend seen at the Golden Globes), I was smitten with the exquisite gem-set clasps that are certainly meant to be worn front-and-center, not at the nape of the neck. (And check out that orchid brooch! By using larger sapphires rather than all-over pave, the effect is modern and not too bling-y.)


Black stones (both high-end diamonds and less expensive onyx) were everywhere, and I particularly liked Gorgoglione's faceted black diamond necklace and earring set. The length of the necklace is very current, and the understated sparkle from the beads feels totally now.


Last but certainly not least was this to-die-for necklace and bracelet set with multi-colored diamond and gemstone slices. I loved the mix of natural colors, and I especially loved how all of the imperfections and inclusions in the stones were highlighted and not hidden.

Golden Globes part 2

Although statement necklaces were bigger and better than ever this year, there's also no way I could ignore the amazing number of asymmetrical necklines at the Golden Globes. I'm a sucker for this silhouette--I think it's really flattering and is much more comfortable to wear than strapless. Three of the looks are here, and I'm happy to say that they accessorized with interesting jewelry (rather than just your run-of-the-mill diamond looks).

My absolute favorite, Sandra Bullock (above), looked fabulous in a pale Christian Dior ruffled flamenco-style gown. I was possibly even more enamored with her yellow gold Bochic snake bracelets and Amrapali earrings. The pops of turquoise (in both the jewels and the handbag) were the perfect compliment to the ensemble.


Isla Fisher (above) shimmered in a light bronze/gold Carlos Miele gown that was just the right shade for her auburn hair. She chose jewels in the same shades, including pearl and champagne diamond earrings by Yvel and a chocolate diamond ring and bracelet by Le Vian.


Lastly, Maria Menounos wore a frilly Ina Soltani in a gorgeous shade of purple. I thought the ruffles on the bodice were a bit oversized, but the color was wonderful on her. I was really pleased with her choice of an Amrapali elephant cuff--thankfully, actresses are going for unusual pieces these days.

So what's the point? If you're going asymmetrical, definitely invest in some beautiful statement bracelets. Here are a few of my favorites now up for auction on Portero:

Vintage 81.9 Grams 18k Yellow Gold Bamboo Link Chain Bracelet
Andy Gotz 18k White Gold Diamond Floral Botanical Hinged Bangle Bracelet
Ewa Solarska 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Pillow Bracelet

Images courtesy D'Orazio and Associates.