This is the bling section of any bridezilla blog!

No bridal trousseau is complete without the addition of bling of some kind. (Unless of course, you’re Amish. In which case you have no business reading this blog; go back to milking that cow!)

Now there’s wedding bling, and then there’s Wedding BLING…all caps if you happen to be an Asian bride. And that includes, East Asian, Southeast Asian or South Asian.  We single-handedly invented and popularised the “wear a condo on your person” concept, and bling in this case gets enmeshed with the whole Asian “face” thang and the “hedge your bets on gold” thang, and the “have your worldly goods compressed in one handy jewelry-box in case of war/revolution/anarchy” thang.

If you’re Asian, and have traditional forebears, then there’s no such thing as too much bling. Subtlety is lost on the Asian elders. My Mom once exclaimed over a petite diamond ring given by a cheating ex-bf, “AIYAH!! It’s the size of a ‘ngan si’! Get me my bifocals!” (‘Ngan Si’ means eye-sand/dirt in Cantonese.) Of course, that might’ve been her way of expressing maternal solidarity over the diamond-challenged cheating rat.

But this in no way changes the fact, that for most Asian women above 45, size matters. (Well, for diamonds at least.)

And then there’s the Heirloom thang…generations of brides receive all manner of mythical creatures carved in pure gold only to wear it for that one day when wearing golden dragons and phoenixes can be forgiven by the fashion police. After that, the pieces get stored away, only to emerge a generation later when they get passed down to another bride.

Now this bridezilla has had a peek at the family safe and I’m very relieved to note that good taste, like one’s eye colour, appears to be genetically coded. Thank God, my lot is to be a very subtle dainty Mikimoto pearl set for the ceremony, and the more dazzling ice for the evening reception. The gold is subtle, beautiful and understated. The diamonds are wearable and of excellent quality. Really, if there’s anything I can probably save on in this budget-challenged wedding, is wedding jewelry! (A good thing too. Since we’re just about tapped out now. Sigh.)

Well, the diameter of my heirloom pearls is probably smaller than what’s shown in the picture, but that would be perfect since I don’t want to overwhelm my neckline or my antique lace gown.

But if you happen to be a budget bride (like me) without the benefit of subtle heirloom jewelry, never fear! There are so many stunning options out there. Just remember to go easy on the rhinestone if you’re having a morning ceremony. Too many brides think that a wedding is licence to bling, bedazzle and blind without allowing for good taste and subtlety. Yes, I’m talking about ladies with the Miss Chinatown tiara on top of wildly teased hair, pouf tulle veil, and a multi-tiered rhinestone necklace encircling your neck like a gaudy Christmas streamer.

Rule No. 1 with wedding day jewelry: The usual rules of good taste apply. More is definitely not more.

Remember that you are the bride and your jewelry’s meant to enhance your natural loveliness and accent the delicate shell of your ear lobes, the smooth concave hollow at the base of your throat, the graceful curve of your neck, etc. You get the idea. You are NOT there to display your family’s manifold riches in gold beyond the boundaries of good taste(although some may argue on this point); your jewelry’s meant to be the icing dotting your bridal radiance. Get that right, and the rest should fall into place.

Having said that, one should never knock gorgeous, unique, statement-making jewelry. The danger would be to make too many statements at one time!

And speaking of gorgeous unique jewelry, let me just RAVE about Andria W’s custom handmade jewelry!

I’ve known this young lady since she was 13 (yes, we were in the same class for four years at boarding school!) and from the time she was literally a kid, she’s been a style-maven.

I’ve recently met up with her for the first time in 15 years and here’s this glamourous yummy mummy of three bouncing boys, toting a silken portfolio full of the most gorgeous handmade jewelry EVER. Those of you who know this bridezilla in real life will know that I don’t fool around when it comes to accessories. If you ain’t got it, you ain’t got it, and I won’t be saying otherwise. Well, this girl, she’s got it.

Shall we go through the Bridezilla checklist for beautiful wedding jewelry? Exclusive & unique: check. Beautiful & delicate: check. Elegant & made of precious or semi-precious material: check. Reasonably priced & great value for money: check. High on the taste factor & Princess Panda-approved: CHECK!

All pictures are credited to Andria W. There were more goodies when I met up with her, but I could only find a few pictures on her website. Still, here’s some eye-candy for the discerning among us!

Aren’t these to-die-for? She uses real gold and semi-precious stones, and she can customise it in any colour just for the lucky-ducky bride!

This can be some lucky bride’s “Something blue”. The picture does not do it justice! I’m getting mine in maybe amethyst or rose!

These are SO stunning in real life I could barely tear my eyes (and hands!) away!

Mine! I’ve ordered these gorgeous subtle pearls & 14k gold earrings! They’re gonna be great for work as well!

So pretty! Great for those parties leading up to the wedding.

I’ve got my beady little panda eye on at least 3 different pairs of earrings. Alas, I’ve gotta be wearing the heirloom stuff most of the time (it’s a tough job but I guess I’m up for it ) but if I weren’t she’d be the only choice for me.

I’m dreaming of a necklace and earring set called “La Princess” (after me of course), that is art deco in style but made smaller and more subtle so as not to overwhelm the rest of my ensemble. Think Andria might go for it? We shall see!

More on bling on later posts. Gotta go!

White South Sea Cultured Pearls, Diamonds and Purple Sapphires, necklace, $185,000, earrings, $95,000.

Available @ Mikimoto

All my life, I’ve heard people say that a dull knife will cut you worse than a sharp knife. I know that isn’t true because I’ve always had dull knives and none of them has ever cut me. My favorite dull knife has been with me since my first marriage. At that time, knife sharpeners came around every few months in trucks that played jingling tunes to alert women to bring out their dull knives. Too bad there weren’t marriage-sharpeners — but I digress. The point is that my trusty old knife has been professionally sharpened only once or twice in its lifetime, and that was a long time ago.

It’s a good knife, with a one-piece length of steel that runs all the way through a wooden handle with brass studs. About ten inches long, I’ve used it for almost everything. It has cut through chicken bones, whacked garlic cloves, chopped onions, sliced carrots, you name it. In the last year, the handle has gotten a little loose, so I quit putting it in the dishwasher. I also started looking for a replacement, and found that I had a knife that chefs consider a treasure. I guess that’s why it has lasted so long and why no other knife has ever felt right in my hand.

Last week I plunked down an obscene amount of money for a knife that was as close to my old one as I could find. I have to admit it’s a lot sharper. Tomatoes take one look at it and practically fall into neat slices before they’re touched. Celery has never sounded so crisp when the blade goes through it. It is one sharp dude.

The old knife is still my first love, but I don’t want to completely destroy its wooden handle so it stays most of the time in its slot in the knife rack on the kitchen counter. So far, I have band-aids on three fingers. They keep slipping off and the cuts start bleeding again so now I’m carrying spare band-aids in my pockets. I suppose in time I’ll remember that the new knife blade is really, really sharp and stop cutting myself, but I may be wearing band-aids on every finger before I do. I’ll be glad when it loses a little of its sharp edge.

I read somewhere that Mikimoto, the cultured pearl king, once held a requiem for the needles that had been broken stringing his pearls. I understand that. I feel the same affection and gratitude for my old dull knife.

Photo: W magazine

I gave W a standing ovation for their ‘Sanctuary’ editorial, but their newest spread styled by Alex White and photographed by Craig McDean for their September issue, ‘Paper Bag Princess,’ culls high fashion and (for lack of a better term) homelessness. Wouldn’t you agree that W’s deck, “Street style meets high fashion,” is tactless and beneath W? The real homeless of New York City lying on cardboard-box-cum-sleeping-mats desperate for sleep in 40 degree Fahrenheit, can not even afford a pair of jeans from Walmart.

Giorgio Armani’s rabbit fur coat, at Giorgio Armani, New York, and silk and nylon dress, at select Giorgio Armani boutiques. Viktor & Rolf necklaces; Chanel shoes.

I’m sure that they would agree (if they’re able to afford a copy of September’s W) that the cliché, ‘rubbing salt into open wounds,’ best explicates their resentment — I’ve yet to see the homeless in Giorgio Armani’s rabbit fur and Chanel shoes. These made up W princesses dawdle in duct taped high fashion shopping bags appear to embrace the penniless subculture. But I’m not convinced, having seen more and more 20 somethings begging on the streets. Maybe I’m taking this message too literally — although I can’t seem to figure out an alternative. I’m sure someone will make the case that W is going green, but I’m 110% sure that’s just not their intention.

Lanvin’s wool coat, silk velour gown and fur and wool scarf, at Barneys New York, New York. Lanvin hair comb, headpiece, pin, necklace (worn as belt) and bracelet.

– Francis Bea

Mikimoto in Ginza often has season flower displays that attract crowds of camera phone fans. This month it is lotus. I am always amazed at how Tokyoites are  so enraptured at flower displays, displaying a hunger and appreciation for natural beauty in the city.

I have to admit, I never in a million years imagined I would wear the oh-so-trendy romper — at least not in public. Several weeks ago, I picked up two — a gray one and one in black at Target. Why not? They were cheap, at $12 each. I thought, at first, I would just wear them around the house. But after realizing their incredible comfort and very good coverage (no worse than a mini skirt really), I decided to romp out into the world. I wore the gray one last week (you can read about it here: Rompin’ around) and tonight I decided it might be fun to go for a more elegant, evening look with the black one.

I wear the romper with a tuxedo jacket from Piazza Sempione, shoes from Laurence Dacade, and black pearls from Mikimoto that Mr. Sasy gave me for one of my birthdays.

Here’s a better shot of the shoes …

That’s all for now. More soon. — Carole

So, a couple of months ago (actually almost a year ago), I blogged my strong opinions on how ugly I thought the new design of the Miss Universe crown was in comparison to the one originally designed by Mikimoto.

For a refresher of the blog, here is the link for your convenience: http://stefanysingh.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/the-new-and-ugly-miss-universe-crown/

It would seem that the Miss Universe Organization must think so too because Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008 started out with this crown:

 Wait, let’s get a little closer view – as this is the official photo that was on their site and taken by the famous Fadil Berisha:

However, the new company that is designing this year’s crown – Nexus Lexus Diamond Lab – shows their website home shot of Diana wearing this crown (You can click on the photo if you want to see the actual website to see the image more clearly):

And then we see numerous photos of Dayana at many events as of late with the original Miss Univsere crown as sported by the last winner, such as the Miss Bolivia Universe event which was held in May(2 months ago):

And then again we see her wearing the old crown at the Miss Universe Dominican Republic pageant which was also in May (2 months ag0):

Thank goodness!  No wonder they are letting the public choose the new design!  (I honestly think they had to have gotten hate mail about that crown, becuase truly it was the farthest thing from being aesthetically pleasing).  God help the designer of it – his business just crashed at burned.  Lesson to be learned: don’t hire that guy to design your crowns!

Eeek – the truth is rough.

Mikimoto Pearls At The Malibu Lumber Yard. Photo by JB Brookman © HW Design Inc.

 Mikimoto of Beverly Hills teamed up with renowned designer Kevan Hall to hold a unique and stunning event at the Malibu Lumber Yard this weekend.  A “pop-up” is a “here today, somewhere else tomorrow” event and had not been done before by a major jeweler. 

There was a powerful theme running through the room as the decadent pearls were in cases filled with wood, nails, tape and other construction materials.  Shoppers could come and enter the luxurious world of Mikimoto in a once in a lifetime setting.  This was Mikimoto’s second event in Malibu in the past two months and they were both a huge success.

Read about Mikimoto’s last Malibu event here.

Designer Kevan Hall was on hand on Saturday and Sunday, showcasing his elegant dresses.  He has designed gowns for an extensive number of Hollywood’s A-list.  Here is a video on some of his work.  We hope to be featuring him in an article in the next few weeks.  Stay tuned…

The Malibu Lumber Yard is a brand new retail center on the corner of Cross Creek Road and PCH.  It opened it’s doors on April 18.  Dark wood and giant, 11-foot, circular fish tanks (housing bright orange Garibaldi fish) are intertwined with open air and lounge furniture.  J Crew, James Perse, Kitson Men and Crumbs Cupcakes are just a few of the high-end shops.  The two-story open air complex includes 30,000 feet of retail space and was built with a pricetag of $25 million.  

www.mikimotoamerica.com

www.kevanhalldesigns.com

Designer Kevan Hall At The Malibu Lumber Yard Event. Photo by JB Brookman © HW Design Inc.

Mikimoto Beverly Hills Featured Their Pearls In a Unique Pop-Up In Malibu. Photo by JB Brookman © HW Design Inc.

Another obsession of mine, pearls. Pearl me up or pearl me down… I’ll be happy as can be.

There is something to be said about the elegance and timeless beauty of pearls. A woman could throw on with a plain V-neck t-shirt and she would be glammed up in seconds. Rock some pearl studs to the gym, and lady you’ll be stylin in your sweats. Point being, that only pearls have the class to beautify almost any outfit–of course some moderation in size is advised. Those fist sized pearls are just a mockery…

Timeless beauty Audrey Hepburn in a stunning pearl necklace.
*image from beyondthewall.com

If you try adding ‘bling’ to any outfit, too much of that could get tacky… but pearls–never tacky.

*image from stylefrizz.com

There are so many ways to wear pearls and not over do it. If you have on a simple black dress, you can add multiple strands of pearls to add some fun class to your outfit. If you do many strands though, refrain from adding a bracelet as well. But if you want to do one pearl necklace, you can still accessorize by adding a pearl bracelet and ring. Pearl studs are welcome in any case.

Sarah Jessica Parker accelerated the trend of pearls when her character, Carrie, on Sex and the City adorned a Mikimoto pearl strand throughout much of the show. But Parker seemed to keep up with this trend even when she wasn’t filming. Although in reality, Parker says it’s Carolee’s 72″ endless faux pearl rope that she sports. For the most part, SJP is a pretty great fashion icon, so on this one, let’s follow her.

*image from celebritybeautybuzz.com

-ds

Courtesy of AGTA

What is it about this gem that appeals to so many? Could it be because it’s pulled out of the sea rather than pulled out of the ground? Could it be because of its luster – a shine which seems to come from within the soul of the pearl rather than just from a surface reflection? Could it be because when you put on a strand of pearls, it makes you feel regal? Classy? Special?

Akoya are usually white or a cream color, so if someone shows you a black pearl that’s smaller than 9mm, it’s likely to be dyed. For a single strand of matching akoya cultured pearls, over 10,000 pearls may be considered.  WOW!   Wish pearls were your birthstone? We’ve only just begun. More tomorrow… Dii

Are you in the market for an iconic set of pearls? I know the financial climate is unstable, but the recession means great deals from companies who never offer their products at a discount. So imagine my surprise when Madison Avenue Spy posted the information about a Mikimoto sample sale. The selection of offerings is said to be large, but I wouldn’t expect to walk away from pearls for a dollar. These are the creme de la creme and pearls of the highest quality so even though the prices will still be high, they will be much lower than retail. Also, Mikimoto carries a lower-end line and manufactures a collection of pearls for jewelry stores like Kay so if you are looking for inexpensive pearls, you could get some good deals here. 

Mikimoto Sale
Dates: Sunday, June 7th through Wednesday, June 10th.
Hours: Sun-Tues 9:00-6:30 pm, Wed 9:00-5:00 pm.
Location: Soiffer Haskin 317 W 33rd. Street, NYC (West of 8th. Ave).
Etc: Credit cards only
All Sales Final. No Exchanges. No Returns.
Strollers not allowed. No children under 12 admitted.

Dates and Times have been confirmed for the Malibu Pop-Up Event by Mikimoto Beverly Hills and designer Kevan Hall.

Designer Kevan Hall and Mikimoto Beverly Hills: Malibu Pop-Up Event. Photo by JB Brookman © HW Design Inc.

Mikimoto Confirms Pop-Up Event June 18-21 In Malibu. Photo by JB Brookman © HW Design Inc.

Dates:  June 18-21, 2009 (Thursday thru Sunday)

Times:  Noon to 6:00 Thursday & Friday, 11:00 to 6:00 Saturday & Sunday

Note:  Kevan Hall will be making a personal appearance Sat & Sun Afternoon from 2 – 5

More information on Mikimoto and this event, here and here.

www.kevanhalldesigns.com
www.mikimotoamerica.com

Mikimoto, Beverly Hills is partnering with Kevan Hall Designs for an exclusive pop-up event.

Mikimoto Announces Pop-Up Event In Malibu- June 2009. Photo by JB Brookman © HW Design Inc.

 
The event will take place in Malibu at the Malibu Lumber Yard from June 25-28 (Thursday through Sunday).  UPDATE:  DATES AND TIMES- CLICK HERE. 

Mikimoto

 
Mikimoto is breaking new ground as no luxury jeweler has ever done a pop-up. 
 
More information to be released later, so, keep your ears to the ground and keep checking the HW Design Inc. Blog for more information…
 
 
www.kevanhalldesigns.com
www.mikimotoamerica.com

HW Design Inc. Visited An Exclusive Malibu Trunk Showing By Mikimoto

Megan Fox On The Cover of ELLE Magazine, June 2009, Wearing Mikimoto Pearls

Any jewelry designer who has their pearls hanging off the amazing body of it girl, Megan Fox, has got to be at the cutting edge of luxury.  The June 2009 cover of ELLE Magazine features Fox in a zip-trim cotton dress from Versace.  Her pearls are MIKIMOTO.

Just as Fox, the upcoming star of Transformers:  Revenge of the Fallen, was recently named “Earth’s Hottest Girl,” by Maxim Magazine, Mikimoto is- and has always been- the standard in pearls around the world. 

Kokichi Mikimoto (1858-1954) was a legend.  He was the first to successfully market cultured pearls.  He is known as the founder of the modern cultured pearl industry.  It was Kokichi’s dream “to adorn the necks of all the women of the world with pearls.” 

HW Design Inc. has recently been given quite an education on Mikimoto and the fascinating and elegant cultured pearl industry.  Our eyes have been opened to one of the most amazing men in history and the magnificent creations that his company continues to fashion. 

It began last Friday, when the HW Design Inc. team was invited to Malibu to witness an exclusive trunk showing of Milano Collection South Sea Cultured Pearl and Diamond Jewels.  The designer was Lisa Broggian, making her premiere Malibu appearance.  The Malibu Beach Inn was a perfect home to the showing, with the waves of the Pacific Ocean splashing peacefully outside the windows.

The Malibu Inn Hosted Designer Lisa Broggian and Mikimoto Pearls. Photo by JB Brookman © HW Design Inc.

The designer has joined with Mikimoto to design a state of the art pressure system that provides tension inside the pearl and allows the luminosity of the pearl’s surface to be enjoyed.  The result, as you can see, is jewelry that is unrivalled in design and originality and is loved by men and women all over the world.  The variety of colors and sizes of pearls were also stunning.   HW Design Inc. was truly impressed by the breathtaking beauty of these jewels from the sea.  Dawn Moore and Anne Devlin from Mikimoto, Beverly Hills, were also on hand to help give us an exclusive and thorough education.  Go see them at the Beverly Wilshire, next time you are in town, to experience these wonderful gems.

Italian Designer Lisa Broggian Wearing Mikimoto Pearls. Photo by JB Brookman © HW Design Inc.

Note:  Megan Fox is wearing:  Akoya and South Sea pearl double-strand necklace with diamonds, South Sea pearl and diamond necklace.

Dawn Moore, Lisa Broggian and Anne Devlin Educated The HW Design Inc. Team About Cultured Pearls. Photo by JB Brookman © HW Design Inc.

THE ORIGINATOR OF CULTURED PEARLS. SINCE 1893.

MIKIMOTO pearls are referred to as hanadama, or ‘flower pearls’, which denotes the highest quality pearls. MIKIMOTO has developed the highest standards of quality and consistency by devoting more than a century to understanding the sea and researching the oyster. Only the top 5% of the pearl harvest meets the strict quality standards of MIKIMOTO.  Please, visit their Beverly Hills location at:

The Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel

9500 Wilshire Boulevard at Rodeo Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

310.205.8787

Monday – Saturday: 10:00AM – 5:30PM

www.mikimotoamerica.com