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CELEBRITY NEWS: NON-PARTISAN FASHION HITS WASHINGTON, DC; MORE RED CARPET NEWS FROM AWARD SEASON January 24, 2013 (0 comments)
Jill Biden Crosses The Aisle!
Washington, DC—While First Lady Michelle Obama made headlines by choosing the same designer (Jason Wu) for her second inaugural ball gown as her first, Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden (left) also caused a minor stir by going bipartisan with her jewelry.
For the inaugural balls, Biden wore a shimmering blue Vera Wang gown and very simple diamond jewelry (“elegant and age-appropriate” said reviews of the 61-year-old Biden’s choice), but for the inaugural ceremony itself, Biden crossed the aisle.
She wore an off-the-rack Lela Rose dress and the designer custom-made silvery gray bow-topped silk coat to coordinate with, rather than match, the white and silver dress. But the real irony came when Biden chose mother-of-pearl “Maze” drop earrings by designer Kara Ross—a staunch Republican—to accessorize her outfit. Ross and her real estate mogul husband, Steve (who also owns the Miami Dolphins), were co-hosts of a huge Mitt Romney fundraising bash at their Palm Beach house. Nevertheless, Ross’s earrings, which also featured white sapphires set in sterling silver, were a perfect match for Biden’s dress. And, at least according to one report, despite their relatively modest price tag of $1,250, she only borrowed them!
Let’s hope we see the same kind of cooperation on the Congressional floor.
Kara Ross earrings worn by Jill Biden.
Meanwhile, getting back to the First Lady, you can’t say she isn’t loyal to her favorites. In addition to Wu, whose clothes she clearly feels most comfortable and glamorous in, she chose a coat and dress ensemble by designer Thom Browne for the actual swearing-in ceremony. Browne, better known for his menswear, also designed the lace dress Obama wore in the third and final pre-election presidential debate last October, so perhaps that’s a sign that more womens’ wear is to come from him.
But let’s talk jewelry. Here again, Obama is a loyalist. For the swearing-in ceremony, she topped Browne’s ensemble with a Cathy Waterman necklace—Waterman is a fave of the FLOTUS—and for the balls she donned jewelry by Kimberly McDonald, whose pieces she’s also worn before. She chose a whopper of a diamond ring for her hand and sported another on the front of Wu’s dress itself—used to gather together the halter neckline—and the Most Famous Arms in the Western World bore a huge stack of diamond bangles by McDonald for Forevermark. If those arms are sporting stacked bangles, you can bet on that look all the way to the bank (or at least the gym.)
Above, the First Couple wave as they leave the stage after their first inaugural ball dance. Among the stack of diamond bracelets on Michelle Obama's arm were these two by Kimberly McDonald for Forevermark, below.
Finally, who can ignore the whopping Lorraine Schwartz sparklers that singer Beyoncé wore while performing the Star Spangled Banner during the inauguration ceremonies? Kermit the Frog may say it’s not easy being green, but with those earrings (reportedly $1.8 million) you could even say it glows.
Bellarri At The Golden Globes
Los Angeles, CA--During a pre-event styling session, Katrina Parker (The Voice) selected multiple pieces from Scottsdale, AZ-based designer Bellarri for the NBC Golden Globes Party, including a necklace with diamonds, mother of pearl and rhodolite. She also chose a bracelet with diamonds, light amethyst, and white onyx, and a complementing pair of earrings.
Katrina Parker, left, with celebrity stylist and commentator Michael O'Connor. Right, Nikki Deloach smiles in her Bellarri earrings.
Kate Flannery (The Office), Kathleen Robertson (Boss) and Nikki Deloach (Awkward) all gravitated towards the same pair of diamond and champagne quartz earrings, while Sara Rue (Malibu Country) and Ashley Finke (Glee) both coveted the brand's diamond and rhodolite earrings. Kate Linder (soap opera The Young & the Restless) and Olympic gold medalist Jeneba Tarmoh loved Bellarri’s rose gold flower cuff with rhodolite and mother of pearl.
Michael O'Connor tests out the same pair of earrings for Ashley FInke, left, and Sarah Rue, right. Below, some of the Bellarri pieces the stars chose.
Erica Courtney, Le Vian Dominate Red Carpet
Los Angeles, CA—Perennial celebrity favorites Erica Courtney and Le Vian have been well represented in this year’s awards season and in print.
Pop sensation singer Taylor Swift wore Le Vian’s trademarked 18k Honey Gold ring with Chocolate and Vanilla Diamonds to the 34th Annual People's Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on January 9. Meanwhile, The Big Bang Theory’s actress Mayim Bialik was seen at the People's Choice Awards wearing platinum and diamond wide flower earrings by Erica Courtney. The Big Bang Theory took home the award for favorite network TV comedy.
Mayim Bialik in Erica Courtney.
Actress Amber Heard wore Le Vian’s 14k white gold blackberry and vanilla diamond knot ring to the Art of Elysium's 6th Annual Black-tie Gala, “Heaven,” on January 12 in Los Angeles.
R&B singer and actress Brandy Norwood wore Erica Courtney platinum and diamond snake earrings to the 2013 BET Honors which aired February 11.
Le Vian also went to Washington and Canada: Gabrielle Union attended the Inaugural Ball hosted by BET Networks at the Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery on January 21 in Washington, DC. She wore Le Vian’s 18k white gold earrings with Vanilla Diamonds.
Actress Julianne Hough, below, wore Le Vian’s 18k Strawberry Gold ring with Vanilla and Chocolate Diamonds to the Canadian premiere of Safe Haven at Scotiabank theatre on January 21 in Toronto.
"Dancing with the Stars" dancer Cheryl Burke, below, was seen wearing various jewelry pieces from the Erica Courtney collection while judging the Miss America Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Actress Patricia Heaton is featured on the cover of Canada’s Viva magazine wearing Courtney’s 18k gold hoop earrings, while India’s first luxury jewelry magazine, Adorn, featured a fabulous story on Courtney and her “Indomitable Spirit,” while showcasing an array of pieces from her collection. Finally, Erica got a huge shout-out from InStyle magazine’s renowned jewelry editor, Marion Fasel.
Kathy Griffin Wears Palladium Jewelry by Elizabeth Garvin and Alexandra Hart for the Season Two Premiere of Kathy
Los Angeles, CA—Kathy Griffin completed her vibrant look with palladium jewelry as she hosted the premiere episode of the second season of Kathy with guests Liza Minnelli, Jane Lynch, and Lisa Kudrow. She chose palladium “Cyclone” earrings with diamonds by Elizabeth Garvin and the hammer-formed palladium “Feather” cuff by Alexandra Hart.
