Jewelry Fashion Trends

According to the editors of leading fashion magazines like Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, Vogue or Elle the big jewelry trend for this fall season is oxidized silver and yellow gold. Large metallic cuffs matched with silver or gold chokers and close-to-the-collar necklaces should be the choice for every woman this fall.

The editors of Harper's Bazaar are saying: "In a season of urban armor, the easiest pieces are the toughest looking. Fall's must-have hardware, however, is the cuff--like those Nicolas Ghesquiere did in gold and silver for Balenciaga. Wearing one of them puts all the elements at hand to complete a look. Slip on two and consider yourself both adorned and armed."

Each magazine features ads of designers presenting latest fashion accessorized with trendy jewelry. In David Yurman's ad, a model wears the designer's cable-chain necklace and braided gold bracelet. A model for Donna Karan presents a statement necklace crafted of multiple silver spheres from designer Robert Lee Morris.

The fashion experts also bring our attention to classic 40s-style pieces including necklaces, elegant brooches and earrings. They also advise to choose pieces with genuine stones and pearls : "There is a wealth of great costume jewelry out there, which means you don't have to splurge on the real thing. That said, skip the faux pearls. They tend to peel and show their age."

Yes, you can do it…be fashionable and trendy this summer without going shopping. The answer is: shop your closet. These are a few tips from Lisa Armstrong on how to get a new fresh look for coming season without spending extra money.

Stage one: What to ditch ?

-Winkle pickers. You might be a classic dresser but these set your look in aspic
-Bootcuts. If you don’t look your best in drainpipes or straight trousers, miss out the bootcut and go straight to a flare or a peg-leg
-Massive bags. They’re ridiculous. If yours was a designer one, sell it while there’s still a market for them
-Long skirts. Any length that’s lower than just below the knee, apart from the maxi. It looks great on the catwalk but unless you’re very willowy, in real life it looks frumpy
-Floaty dresses and skirts. Save wafty chiffon for tops, anchored with a tailored or biker jackets.
-Fascinators. Even if weddings loom, try a wide, satin, jeweled hair band instead. Or let your hair go naked

Stage two: What to hold on to ?

-Kitten heels. Any moment now they’ll stage a comeback. Just don’t wear them for the moment
-Classic florals. Right now a tiny sprig print or a digital floral pattern looks more modern
-Last year’s sunglasses. Anything goes at the moment, from classic Ray-Bans to the Jackie O bug-eyed look, although teeny-tiny John Lennon shades have yet to be revived
-Kaftans. In theory there should be something to replace this old favourite on the beach. But nothing better has come along so far. So dust them down and wear them with pride
-Ethnic. Amazing how many ways this can be reworked. This year wear it with pinstripe jackets, leather or stripes

Stage three: What to revamp ?

1. Update your classic shirtdress with some leggings. It doesn’t matter how old you are ,this is a chic look that is becoming classic, but modern. Dark colors bring a harder edge that looks right at the moment, but they don’t have to be black. Navy or grey are good alternatives to have on standby; leggings are the ideal leg-wear for a British spring. If you’re wedded to flat ballet pumps, leggings will update them.
2. Update your tea dress. Tea dresses never die; just ask Kate Moss. But they do get restyled. Come winter, you’ll be wearing it with biker boots (chunky socks peeking over the top) and a shaggy sheepskin gilet. In the meantime, the effect you should be striving for is the opposite of twee or sedate. Twist a stripy scarf round the. Add some utilitarian brown leather sandals (nothing too pretty) and keep a long cardigan to hand — no ballet wraps!
3. Update up your smock dresses. These require a bit more drastic action, smock dresses being more passé than a George Dubya-themed hoe-down. Cut them at thigh or hip level so that they become smock tops or tunics, belt them using a clashing scarf and layer over silky harem pants for the 2009 take on boho.
4. Update your trench coat: provided it’s a good cut and the right color for your skin, this is a keeper. However this season a little tweaking will work small miracles. Consider changing the buttons for shiny black ones. Take the hem up if it’s below your knees — it will instantly look more youthful — and push the sleeves up towards your elbows.
5. Update old calf-length skirts. There is nothing for it but to take these up to the knee — or as high as your legs can take. Anything else looks old-fashioned. If you are so disaffected with your legs that even the sight of your shins offends, go maxi.
6. Update your skinny jeans: in theory we’re all meant to be in harem pants, carrot-top trousers and pajamas. Dream on. Harems, carrot tops and pajamas have their plusses but the drainpipe is just too simple an option to give up. But shorten it so that it grazes above your ankle and wear it with heels and a tuxedo-style jacket or a long, drapy cardigan to give it a different feel from last summer’s “drainpipe and smock top” formula.
7. Update your favorite nautical pieces with some fabulous jewelry. Don’t be afraid to mix different gems and colors. This is about creating a look that has elements of the unexpected so effortlessly thrown together (or at least giving that impression) that it would work as well at a summer evening party as in the office. You could even mix in a sequinned waistcoat or scarf.
8. Update your T-shirts with lashings of baroque necklaces, à la Coco Chanel. Get the jewelry right and you could wear the simplest clothes to just about any occasion. Choose jewelry that is big, eclectic and brazenly fake. Or layer bold brights to create your own color blocking. If you’ve got the legs, wear your tees with a thigh-length jacket, worn like a tuxedo dress.
9. Update last year’s gladiator . . . by doing absolutely nothing. Provided you’ve looked after them, they should survive to see another summer. Save the money that you would have spent on a new pair on having regular pedicures.
10. Update old jumpers by giving them an overhaul. Take them to a good dry-cleaners and get it to put some contrasting leather elbow patches on (even if the elbows aren’t worn through). If you’re a trusting type who believes in the longevity of trends (and this one has been around a long time), get the sleeves shortened to above the wrist. Invest in some statement cuffs and, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, stitch on some small shoulder pads.

Stage four: What to buy?

If you still can't resist hitting the shops, any or all of the following will lift your wardrobe for several seasons to come:

-A fitted, hip-length sleeveless waistcoat
-A sequined jacket
-A patterned cardigan — wrap a skinny belt round it
-A medium-sized slouchy bag that you can wear across the body
-A one-shouldered top

During my last trip to Paris I came across a jewelry collection designed by Delfina Delettrez. She is a young artist who creates jewelry inspired by human anatomy.

Probably not many women would decide to wear this kind of jewelry but I find it interesting and worth writing a few words. In her jewelry collection you will find shapes resembling various body parts like eyes, hands or lips. She is inspired by books of famous anatomist of the XVIth century Andreas van Vessel and her jewelry collections resume the humor of Tim Burton’s movies like “Nightmare before Christmas” or “Corpse Bride”.

Many tabloid magazines face difficult time as people tend to spend less money at newsstand nowadays. For the newsstand-dependent celebrity weeklies, compelling covers are absolutely crucial, making editors' choices of cover stars more important than ever.

Forbes has  prepared a ranking of most valuable / top selling celebrity faces on magazine covers. They analyzed the newsstand sales for the six biggest celebrity weeklies-- People, Star, US Weekly, In Touch Weekly, Life & Style and OK!--over a year-long period ending June 30, eliminating non-celebrity and "collage" covers as well as one-off cover subjects and special issues with exceptionally large rate bases.

Angelina Jolie earned the top spot defeating Jennifer Aniston who landed on a second place (she was No. 1 last year). Rounding out the top three is Heath Ledger, whose life was cut tragically short earlier this year. Traditionally, male covers sell far fewer copies than female ones with the typically female reader base (both Brad Pitt and Matthew McConaughey failed to make the top 10, though another tragic cover subject, Owen Wilson, did). But the idea of a talent like Ledger dying so young left readers grasping for clues--and buying magazines in search of them.

For full ranking of top selling celebrity faces click here.