Former Fugee Sued for Unpaid Jewelry Bills

Jacob the Jeweler is taking no prisoners and ironically, well, will soon be one. While the namesake of the famous celebrity jeweler, Jacob Arabov, will be reporting to prison in January for lying to investigators of a multi-state drug ring, the company itself is apparently in the mood to settle old scores. The first high-profile culprit? Former Fugee and political activist, Wyclef Jean.

In court papers filed Tuesday in Manhattan, Jacob and Company Incorporated alleges that the international hip-hop star owes $319,680 for jewelry and watch purchases made between March 2002 and January 2006. Apparently, repeated attempts were made to collect the outstanding debt to no avail.

Now, of course, a debt is a debt is a debt. No matter who you are. But I wonder how much you can trust the book keeping of a company whose founder was allegedly laundering money to the tune of $270 million for the formidable Black Mafia family? That’s a lot of bling. It’s also interesting that a debt incurred almost 6 years ago by Wyclef is only now being pursued in court by the jeweler? Hmmmmm.

Color me Pollyanna, but I like to think a stand up guy like Wyclef, who has devoted much of his adult life to helping the people of his native Haiti, will have a lot to say on the matter. As of now, his representatives have not commented.

In the meantime, The Jewelry Insider will be interested to see who just might be next on the “King of Bling”’s hit list. Madonna? Elton? Puffy? Stay tuned…

Off to Nice

I'll be back on Tuesday! Have a good time!

A Day at the Beach

I went to Ocean Beach in San Francisco today.

Make the ten minute walk from home to Rockridge BART. Only four minutes until the San Francisco train arrives (BART always makes me yearn for European rapid transit systems). Get off at Embarcadero and catch the N Judah to the end of the line. By the time we hit the avenues the sunny day is enveloped in gorgeous San Francisco fog. The temperature drop and I'm in heaven.

Quick dash across the great highway to the beach.

The ocean.

Waves pounding. Call the wife, she could hear the waves and wind clearly in the background. Ocean always makes me feel minuscule yet powerful. Why don't I live by the ocean?

Not many people about. Some joggers. Some surfers. Some fisherman. See a tiny Asian fellow reel in a tiny fish. People walking by each other always exchange hellos, nods, smiles or all three. I guess people are friendlier at the beach in deference to the ocean.

Lots of birds. Skittish gulls and menacing crows. I'm always worried they'll suddenly develop a taste for fresh human eyeball. I'm not positive but I believe I'd have these thoughts even if I'd never seen Hitchcock's Birds (1963).

The surf does not provide an ideal locale for skipping rocks. Lakes or slow moving rivers are best. After a few tries I get a stone to five or six skips.

I find the perfect shell. It's coming home with me.

Something bobbing in the waves a few hundred yards out. Seal or person? If it's a person I reckon he or she's in trouble. But what could I do? Turns out to be human, but this surfer is in no peril.

Stop to eat. Brought a lunch. The walking and sea air make me hungry. Or is it just that's lunch time?

See a crow picking at a fallen comrade. Cannibal.

Legs getting weary. Shouldn't have come for a walk on the beach the day after a heavy work out. Cross the highway again and stop at a place called Java Beach. Someone of another generation might call it charming. I have a coffee and muffin and read my book. A French au pair who's with her young charge is being hit on by a guy five-ten years too old for her. She's devastatingly beautiful and combined with the accent I can see why the young man would waive the age difference.

I head back home the same way I came. Plop down at the computer. i surf the web. Only surfing I do all day.

Nobody told me explicitly too, but I "had a nice day."

Reinterpreting the Shirt Dress

Shirt dresses are the best. They are smart, sophisticated but still very feminine and daytime perfect. Tailored, clean cut, prim and pretty, they are the sisters to classic DVF wrap dresses (and can even be worn by girls less well endowed in the chest area!). These kind of shirt dresses, like the ones shown from Ralph Lauren, will never go out of style. But in a more casual atmosphere, as I almost always find myself in, sometimes these shirt dresses make me feel slightly too dressed up, even if they are designed to be perfect for the daytime- like a sore thumb who somehow landed on the streets from the country club.
Luckily for me, the newly updated shirt dress this season neatly solves my dilemma. They are less structured, more casual, with fun, youthful details. And yet they still manage to maintain the very proper and put together effect of a classic shirt dress! These two are from DVF (left) and Sass & Bide (right). I especially love how they made it into a high collar instead on the Sass & Bide dress.
Over at Paul and Joe Sister (left) and Derek Lam 3.1 (right), they turned in the buttons and switched it for laces . Usually I'm not a fan of this type of lacing up (too Pocahontas!), but I think it works here. It gives it a more casual, outdoor-sy feeling to the whole look.
Here are two of my favourite reinterpretations of the shirt dress from Top Shop (left) and Corey Lynn Calter from Nordstrom (right). The Top Shop dress barely looks like a shirt dress with its wide round collar, bubbly sleeves and scrunching. But all the crucial elements are still there. With the right accessories i.e. big colorful necklace, this dress would look so cool and now. Going in the opposite direction, the dress from Nordstrom is loose but still structured in a futuristic kind of way. The addition of the bright yellow belt is absolutely genius. It completes the look. I DEFINITELY wouldn't mind owning this dress!

Image Source: Ralph Lauren, Paul and Joe Sister, Top Shop, Nordstrom and Net a Porter

The Engagement Ring Debate Takes A Celebrity Turn - Calling It Quits? Who Gets The Rock?

Brace yourselves readers for a real shocker. The Bachelor’s Matt Grant and Shayne Lamas have called off their engagement! Mere month’s ago, the 27-year-old British financier told Reality TV World, "When I proposed, I said the only reason there's been any question really is because it just seemed too good to be true." Apparently my dear Matt, it was.

While an official statement reports the split was a mutual decision, the rumor mills put the young bride-to-be as the dump-er. A ‘devastated’ Shayne tells People.com she plans to keep the 2.85-carat Tacori platinum-and-diamond eternity ring,”...in a glass box, like a slipper.” Yeah. Right. Diana’s rock from Dodi might be worthy of a shrine, but my guess is this bauble will find its way on eBay in no time.

Call me clairvoyant, but a few days ago this “keep it or chuck it” engagement ring dilemma was on my mind, and I encouraged jilted women to keep the rock and make it their own. But what happens when it’s us gals who do the jilting? Bachelor Matt wants his ex to donate the bauble to charity. Seems a fair solution to me. Legally, though, I discovered that the ring is the property of the ‘giver’ until a wedding takes place. Gasp! In other words, until you say those “I Do’s” the bling on your finger isn’t really yours in a court of law. Kind of takes the romance out of it, no?

So to those newly betrothed like CSI Miami’s Eva LaRue (who was presented with a - wait for it - 4 carat(!) diamond from her businessman boyfriend), proceed with caution. If you or your guy has a change of heart, better hope the bloke doesn’t want to take it to the judge – or the local pawnshop.

Vintage Queen = Shutting Down

I started this blog hoping I could keep it running, but honestly, it's hard work!

That makes me sound extremely lazy, but I'm a full time blogger on my personal blog, Sydney Speaks.

I'll continue to post fashion photography on my personal blog, just to mesh everything in one.

Sorry to my fashion loving friends, hit me back on my other blog, Sydney Speaks.

Thank you for all of your encouraging comments and I hope you'll visit my blog!

Outfit: Little Red Riding Hood

going downtown with the boyfriend on saturday

skirt: made by the lovely Alma H., shoes: DinSko, socks: H&M Kids, tank top: Gap body, blazer: H&M

Introducing Chaos to the Ordered World of Crime

"The Godfather was about careers. Mean Streets was about jobs," wrote film critic Roger Ebert.

Mean Streets (1973) was the film that launched Martin Scorsese's directorial career. While such highly acclaimed films as Taxi Driver (1975), Raging Bull (1980) Goodfellas (1989) and many more would follow, Mean Streets was not just some early effort that hinted at greatness. It was great.

As noted in Ebert's quote, Mean Streets is about the daily grind of gangsters, those who profit handsomely from criminal activities, the struggling worker bees and those on the periphery with "legitimate" incomes.

It is also about sin. The lead character, Charlie, played by Harvey Keitel, struggles with the fact of his sins. He is a good catholic unable or unwilling to ignore his moral offenses, including adultery. There is a wonderful self awareness to Charlie. It does not necessarily lead to his making better moral choices but it suggests someone who eventually might. Charlie is the link between the varied archetypes of the story. While his way of life requires the bending of society's rules he works tirelessly to maintain order and propriety in his vast circle. Charlie works for his uncle, a Mafia kingpin who's also his mentor. The old world Uncle warns Charlie to stay away from his epileptic girlfriend because "she sick in the head" and his good friend Johnny Boy.

To me the real heart of Mean Streets is anarchy, symbolized by Johnny Boy as played by Robert DeNiro. He drops a bomb into a mailbox, insults virtual strangers, punches a passer by for bumping into him, stands on a roof firing a .38, with no intent to hit anything save perhaps the Empire State Building or a laundry line.

There is order in the world of Mean Streets. It is hard scrabble section of New York rife with Mafioso, loan sharks, revenge murders and spontaneous violence. But it is all contained within a structure and closely regulated. Debts are paid, disputes settled and cops paid off. Everything balances at the end of the day. Similarly the church provides very clear rules to live by and means by which to atone or be punished for violations. But with Johnny Boy the rules are tossed out. He asks bar owner and friend Tony to run him both a big tab and a little tab which will balance each other. Of course this is nonsensical which is precisely what Johnny Boy is all about. He owes everyone money, particularly Michael a friend who happens to be a loan shark. Johnny Boy not only fails to pay up, he lies to and laughs at his remarkably patient lender. Johnny Boy doesn't just flout the rules, he spits at them. Thus chaos is introduced to the ordered life of the streets (ravaged as it is by crime and violence). One can easily guess how this element will ultimately be dealt with.

Mean Streets has a lot going on in it (if you really want or need a full plot synopsis see IMDb or better yet watch the damn thing), yet it clocks in at just under two hours and positively flies by. There is an energy to it in part fueled by a wonderful score that mixes vintage rock and traditional Italian music. I'm sure its been said countless times that Mean Streets in style and set presaged much of what was to come from Scorsese. That's a disservice to a film that stands alone as an outstanding directorial achievement.

The Pendant Necklace - A Summer Jewelry Trend for Everyone!

Diamonds, gold, tassles, shells, beads – the fashion forward are using anything and everything to adorn the long chains flowing around their necks this season. Yes, it’s true. The pendant necklace is making a comeback. But The Jewelry Insider is happy to report it’s a far cry from Flavor Flav’s signature clock and the blinged out styles of Hip Hop’s fashion past. Whew!

And there’s more good news. This look isn’t just for the LC and Miley set. We spotted a fab gold snake pendant on Michelle Yeoh at this week’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emporer premiere and absolutely love how actress, Mamie Gummer (daughter of Meryl), layers her look at mum's Mama Mia debut.

Hey. If you want to go big like Flav, I support you. But there are so many ways to skin this cat. Dig into your grandmother’s jewelry box for a vintage locket. Replace the standard gold chain with a ribbon or a long, leather cord. Splurge on an unforgettable diamond piece or scout for a unique gold medallion. Wear not one but two - or even three - pendants in a mix and matched look. Any way you slice it, this trend will have your signature style written all over it. And that, my dear friend, is the best part about it.

Summer won’t last forever, so get out there and show off your unique interpretation!

Carpe Diem!

Urban Renewal

I usually walk past the Urban Renewal section of Urban Outfitters, thinking it is vintage stuff, which is not really my thing (not unless they come from a member of my family anyway). At the back of my head, I'd always wondered exactly how they got so many vintage items of the same style in different sizes together in one place. I mean, aren't vintage items supposed to be unique? But I'd never really been interested enough to read the fine print on their website and find out how. It wasn't until my friend mentioned it the other day that I realized what it was. Apparently what they do is collect vintage clothes/fabric and put them together to form new, more updated clothes. That is how they come up with so many pieces of the same style in different sizes. You can buy it at the store or online, where they claim you can even choose colors and they'd make you a completely unique piece using different materials in the same cutting as shown. The whole idea is to re-use materials and it has been around for over 20 years (before the whole go green craze!)- I didn't even know that Urban Outfitters have been around for over 20 years, let alone this division.
One of the reasons I don't like vintage clothes is that whenever I see them they almost always look very dated, hippie and bohemian like, which is so over - thank god! And indeed they do have such stereotypical vintage clothing in this collection here (above: ugh). In fact, most of the collection is like this and I was not impressed. However, there were a few pieces that are intriguing- like this denim vest (right). The extra trimming is quite sharp and refreshing! I'm not really sure how this black blazer (left) is vintage, but I like the cutting.
The ruffled tunic shirt (left) is feminine and romantic looking. Perfect paired with that crisp cropped blazer above! And the floral skirt is cute, reminds me of the floral skirts in the Prada ads this season. Though one should be careful when wearing that in case you look like you're wearing your curtains. Paired with something smart, tailored and modern, it would look stunning.

The thing is though, I'm still not really sure how I feel about this concept of "Urban Renewal." Besides the fact that you still do not know who the previous (many!) owners are, I heard that the renewed material is very scratchy and not very comfortable. On the other hand, we do use recycled paper and bags......so why not clothes? Thoughts?

Image Source: Urban Outfitters

Mad About Mad Men Jewelry Fashions

Break out your pencil skirts and matching sweater sets, AMC’s acclaimed series Mad Men is back! Last night’s highly anticipated premiere brought us die-hard Don Draper junkies back to the era of three-martini lunches, well-dressed ad men and the women who love (or are forced to tolerate) them. The surprise hit and critical darling earned 16 Emmy nods, and the show’s authentic early 60s fashions have inspired trendsetters and designers around the globe to find their inner Tippy Hedren.

This season begins on Valentine’s Day 1962. Jackie Kennedy is winning over America with her White House tour, and women are falling in love with her distinct brand of sophistication and grace. Rumor has it the show’s female characters will take center stage this season, which means more yummy period fashions for us to drool over.

Look out for more Grace Kelly-inspired evening wear, swing skirts and neck scarves. Button pearl earrings, signature pendants, costume jewelry and the classic office brooch will all be on display. And of course every Mad Men must-have is the ubiquitous pearl strand. Not to worry, though, ladies, the dashing Don Draper and his exploits are still the series’ main focus. And those suits! Growl.

So those of us who miss gathering every Sunday for Sex and the City fashion fixes can now look forward to planning viewing parties filled with fondue, cocktail dresses and clip ons. Move over Cosmos, there’s a new kid in town! She prefers her drinks shaken…not stirred.

Outfit: out for dinner

On Firday night a friend of mine took me out for dinner to a very nice restaurant by the lake side. I used this opportunity to dress up a bit and finally wear my satin pumps that I got a while ago. I also wore this wonderful lace top which I got at H&M trend last week. It's gorgeous and extremly versatile. I will post more on my shopping trip from last week and that top later ^o^

The UV Rays Up There

So remember how I've been travelling a bit last month? Most of the flights I took were daytime flights and one thing that really irritates me about daytime flights is the amount of sunlight in the plane. This might sound weird to most people, and even my parents think I'm a total freak for applying sunscreen before a flight but here's the logic: up there in the sky, there are no shades or clouds or anything so the UV rays are naturally stronger and more direct. And it doesn't help that almost all passengers love keeping their window covers up and let the sunlight get through. I usually try to get a windows seat just to keep the blinds down!

So maybe I'm a bit overly paranoid. But while going through my magazines from this year (before throwing them away,) I noticed Elle (UK) had a "Top Tips For A Healthy Flight" editorial from a few months ago. Most of these tips are pretty much what you always read about, like make sure you hydrate by drinking lots of water and applying good moisturiser *Insert product recommendations, naturally*. So most of the time I ignore these editorials since let's face it, they basically just tell you common sense and sell you a bunch of unnecessary beauty products. But there was a 'tip' that I just have to share here since not most people seem to not know or care about:

"Wear a lotion containing sunscreens. 'Recent Studies show that UV rays can penetrate an airplane's windows. Because you're higher, the sun's rays are stronger as there's less proection from the atmosphere,' warns Dr Tom Monroe, director of research and development at Clinique."

See! It's not just me. OK, so a doctor from a major beauty company saying this obviously has commercial reasons, but it sounds logical doesn't it? I'm no dermatologist so I have no idea which sunscreen is the best, but BG and I do love Bioderma's SPF products.

Anyhow, I actually wanted to write this post to rant about people who keep their window blinds up during the flight -just because you like the sun and don't mind the UV rays damaging your skin cells doesn't mean the passenger next to you wants that! OK, rant over.

Image Credit: www.bioderma.com

His First Name was Actually William

I was going to post about the great film actor Claude Rains. Rains appeared in some of my favorite films of all time. He was the corrupt but guilt ridden senator in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). In Hitchcock's Notorious (1946) Rains was the German businessman and secret Nazi beguiled by Ingrid Bergman. His Prince John in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) was the archetypical nobleman villain.

Rains is perhaps best remembered as Bogie’s pal Captain Renault in Casablanca (1942) and he was opposite Bette Davis in two notable films, Mr. Skeffington (1944) and Now, Voyager (1942). One of Rains’ best performances was his first film role (excepting a solitary silent screen experience 13 years prior) when he went unseen as the title character of James Whale’s highly underrated horror classic, The invisible Man (1933). His brilliant scientist turned murderous maniac today comes off just this side of camp. Whether scary or silly its an acting tour de force.

Rains also appeared in notable films like Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and many from the early ’40’s such as The Wolf Man (1941, Kings Row (1942), Passage to Marseille (1944), Here Come Mr. Jordan (1941) and The Sea Hawk (1940).
Rains could be French, Spanish, German, American or even, as he was born, English. He played cops, ship captains, senators, Napoleon Bonaparte and Julius Caesar. Rains was rarely the star in any movie but was never a bit player either. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in some of his signature roles such as the opportunistic Renault, or the villainous Do Jose Alvarez De Corboda in The Sea Hawk.

Besides Bogart, Bergman and Davis he played opposite Cary Grant, Robert Montgomery, Errol Flynn, James Stewart, Ann Sheridan (lucky!), Oliva de Havilland and Bela Lugosi -- to name a few.

Okay I started out saying “I was going to post” about Rains and it would seem I did but there’s so much more that could be said. Consider this to have been a preamble to your enjoyment of this my space site that I came across. http://www.myspace.com/clauderainsfan
Films starring Claude Rains will be featured on TCM Tuesday August 5 as part of their annual Summer Under The Stars.

Was The Earth Once One Great Big Diamond?

The saying 'Diamonds are Forever' may be more relevant than the admen first thought. According to a survey by German scientists, diamonds maybe the 'first' forever. In a study about to be published by the American Chemical Society, the European brianiacs have concluded that diamonds must have jump-started life on this little planet of ours.

According to the report, diamonds are crystallized forms of carbon that predate the oldest known life on the planet. Also, the tests found electrical conductivity that could have been key to forcing chemical reactions needed to generate the first birth.

The three German scientists, Andrei Sommer, Dan Zhu, and Hans-Joerg Fecht discovered that when diamonds are treated with hydrogen, crystalline layers of water form on the surface of the rocks. (And to think you probably do nothing more than wear your diamonds).

"Hydrogenated diamond advances to the best of all possible origin-of-life platforms," the researchers was quoted as saying in a report by Live Science website.

The study though doesn't conclusively say how life began on Earth. They'll save that for another installment.

White Flip Flops

For the longest time, my summer staple have been simple white flip flops. Not the rubber beach kind, but the more sophisticated and dressy type, with actual soles, made of non-rubber material. They are just awesome, because they are summery, comfortable and matches with absolutely everything- perfect for a casual summer day. Ever since my pair of Nine West white flip flops with chunky heels (just the right height!) expired a few years back however, I haven't been able to find a pair to properly replace them.
That is until I laid eyes on my friend's pair of Tory Burch white flip flops (over at their website, they call it thongs.... I have no idea what the difference is). They are just EXACTLY what I've been looking for. While the design is simple and casual, the little gold emblem and the wooden sole gives it just the right amount of sophistication that makes it elegant and classy. I LOVE it. Unfortunately, I've walked through the shop and all the usual department stores, and couldn't find them. They're also sold out online of my size! But while I was browsing, I noticed that they had this design in many different sharp colors, like this yellow one, which I think works great to match/clash with this season's bold color theme.
Another white flip flop I've looked at are these ones from Banana Republic. The patent leather strip and sole transforms this simple, classic design from the beach to the streets. This design also comes in a rainbow of sharp colors and are relatively cheaper than the Tory Burch's (more available too!). The only question now is which color? Other simple flip flops I'that also fits the bill are these ones from Nordstrom. They're basically the same as the ones from Banana Republic, except the straps are a bit wider and have a bit more elevation in the heels. These little details actually help to make these more sophisticated. But the gold shiny stuff on the soles kind of put me off even though I know it won't show when I'm wearing it.... should definitely go check them out!

Image Source: Tory Burch, Banana Republic and Nordstrom

A Guy Named Adolf

I'm reading a recent book by British economist Niall Ferguson called The War of the World: Twentieth Century Conflict and the Descent of the West. The title quite nicely summarizes the book. I'll merely add that if you've any inclination at all to read it, do so. Ferguson does an amazing job of covering the breadth of world conflict in the 1900's theorizing as to why it was so terribly violent a century.

I'm about half way through the tome. Yesterday I was reading a section on Adolf Hitler, who of course must figure prominently in such a book. Not for the first time I found myself wanting to go back in time and trying to reason with him (which always seems easier than in reality it would be). I also recalled Bruno Ganz's brilliant portrayal of Hitler in the German film,  The Downfall (2004).  The movie came under some criticism, particularly in Germany, at the time of its release for humanizing Hitler.

I couldn't disagree with those criticisms more.  I think its a terrible mistake NOT to remember that Hitler, and other tyrannical leaders like Stalin were (or as the case may be, are) indeed living breathing human beings.  To make monsters out of them is to play a children's game of pretend.  If they are simply the bogeyman, ogres, Frankensteins we need not deal with a) how they sprung from among more reasoned humans or;  b) how other people endorsed and abetted their efforts. It's not like Hitler could have done it all alone.  Hitler had henchmen.  Not just a small cadre in his inner circle either.  There were a lot of people running concentration camps, there were a lot of people in the Gestapo and there were a lot of people who let the horrors of Nazi Germany take place.  If Hitler is merely a monster, what of all those other horrid Nazis?  Did Hitler cast a spell? We do ourselves no favor by mythologizing our real life villains.

The Downfall was a brilliant interpretation of not only Hitler the man, but some of those close to him.  We see the likes of Goebbels who was culpable in Nazi atrocities and Hitler's secretary, Traudl Junge, a relative innocent whose recollections were the basis for the story.  Neither is a monster, but to varying degrees both are guilty parties.

Ganz played Hitler like a flesh and blood person, not like a cartoon character. Today I saw Heath Ledger's amazing performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight which should earn him a posthumous Oscar for best supporting actor. Ledger was playing a character.  Whatever else he did with the role (and trust me it was amazing) there was the make up and there was the context and we all know that no one like the Joker has ever walked our streets. But a Hitler has and likely will again appear.  The real monsters in our world are the serial killers, mass murderers and tyrants.  Serious films need to show them as people.  In comic  book movies you can do what you will as the villain.

One of the best film villains of all time was Anton Chigurh in No Country For Old Men (2007) played by Javier Bardem.  Chigurh was the personification of evil and somehow was at once all too human and seemingly super natural.  This is part of what made Chigurh so terrifying, he could be interpreted as in many different was.  As originally realized by author Cormac McCarthy in his novel upon which the film is faithfully based, Chigurh's origins (as with The Dark Knight's Joker) were unknown.  With no back story offered and a name and appearance that could evoke various interpretations, audiences were left to ponder whence this embodiment of evil came and what he might represent. Chigurh only seemed super human although his actions and talents bordered on other worldly, he was clearly from among us.  Hitler is a non fiction character with a documented back story and in a serious film needs to be seen as being from among the rest of us. That is precisely what makes him more chilling than the creature in Alien (1979).

On a not unrelated note, last night's Bill Moyers Journal on PBS, spent its first half hour focusing on the issue of U.S. condoned torture conducted these past few years.  Talk about monstrous behavior! As we have learned from congressional testimony and investigative reporters like Moyers' guest Jane Mayer author of the just-released, The Dark Side: The Inside story of the US War on Terror and How it Turned into a War on American Ideals. The fact of torture having been green lighted at the highest levels of our government, along with extraordinary rendition, is undeniable.  That people within our government can find justification for it is mind boggling.  The US has stooped to the level of the type of countries that were once its sworn enemies. Much of this disgrace allegedly stems from Vice President Dick Cheney.  It is often difficult to remember that he is human (I'll never forget his chilling response to an interviewer who pointed out that the vast majority of Americans opposed the continued US  involvement in Iraq:  "so," he replied contemptuously.  Yeah, what do you think this is a democracy or something?).  But Cheney came with Bush as dually elected leaders of the United States.  They need to be remembered as people no matter how little regard they've shown for our constitution or ordinary (i.e. non rich) Americans.  In our lampooning and demonizing of Bush, Cheney and company we on the left have found succor.  But just as with the more extreme cases like Hitler, it is incumbent to remember that these odious characters come, if not from the hoi polloi, by them. Their dark shapes are molded from the same genetic structures as ours.

Do I really have the audacity to suggest that Bush/Cheney can be compared to Hitler? Yes and I'm going further and saying we all bear a resemblance to the worst of us, just as we all are part of and resemble the very best we have to offer.

Jilted - Take The Diamond Ring and Make It Yours

Once an engagement is called off, should the women return her engagement ring? Some say absolutely, others say absolutely no. If she keeps it, what should she do with it? Some say put it in a box, stuff it under the underwear and let it be a reminder of a 'narrow escape'. Others say sell it, auction it, give it away or even have the diamond reset into a solitaire pendant.

A friend of mine, whose boyfriend bought her diamond engagement ring from Wal-mart (a good deal it was too) actually returned it for store credit and for at least a year, didn't pay a dime for her toilet-paper, bleach and mega-sized bags of potato chips.

But, the return of the ring is going to be the least of a jilter's troubles if a recent ruling is anything to go by. A woman in Florida was awarded $150,000 when her fiancee called off their wedding.

Apparently leaving a note in the bathroom expressing doubts isn't the best way to let your intended know you're having second thoughts. This intended obviously wasn't going to go with the 'we'll still be friends line'. Instead, the jilted bride to be, Rose-Marie Shell took her once-betrothed to court claiming she suffered significantly, both and emotionally and financially, from his decision to call off the nuptials.

The 2-carat diamond engagement ring remains hers, although she said she plans to sell it. Instead of selling your rings - take the pain and make it yours. Have the diamond re-set in a cocktail setting - after all if this doesn't call for some self-indulgence - what does?

Nice Style - women

Bare On The Bling - Jewelry Exhibition

Once upon a time in a land far far away there lived a people, a strange and peculiar people with a taste verging on the unbelievable. Ok, so I exaggerate, the land wasn't far away, in fact it was here, but they did have peculiar taste - apparently these 'art nouveau' folk didn't care much for bling.....



Boston's Museum of Fine Arts' new exhibition, "Imperishable Beauty: Art Nouveau Jewelry" is taking a look at the jewelry of these strange, minimalistic folk. Most of the pieces veer to the organic side - instead of diamonds it's enamel, elephant ivory, manipulated horn and molded glass. Lovely, who wouldn't want a piece of elephant or a slice of a rhino hanging around their neck?



"Art Nouveau jewelry is regarded by many as the most beautiful and technically sophisticated jewelry ever created. It was flamboyant, fantastical, sensual and poetic," says Curator of Jewelry Yvonne Markowitz.



The collection includes a selection of privately-owned pieces, some of which have never been on display before. Included are a circular gold box made by Lalique and a gold necklace the designer created for the mistress of French writer Emile Zola.

Chasing Harry Winston

Even without the fabulous pair of Louboutins and the three gorgeously fantabulous diamond rings on the cover, the name Lauren Weisberger is enough to make me pick up the book. Not that I think she's a particularly great writer, but because I know that it will be light and fun summer read- just what I am looking for. The whole fabulous, gorgeous people living extravagant and successful, perfect lives looking for love is a bit overdone these days, but I've always felt a connection with Weisberger's books. Even though it wasn't very memorable to some (HG barely remembers it), I felt a strong connection with the character in Everyone Worth Knowing. Bette's story might as well have been the fictionalized version of my future (she went from finance to the fabulous life of party planning to realizing that her true calling was writing)!
Back to the book at hand (at this point, you should realize that there are potential spoilers here). This one is about three best friends making a pact to change their way of lives. One tries monogamy after a life of polygamy. The other goes in the opposite direction and goes on a tour de whore. And the last attempts to convince herself that her perfect life really is perfect. Over all, I thought it was pretty badly written and that Weisberger is now just publishing by reputation rather than by content (this situation sounds oddly similar to the dilemma of yet another bestseller author mentioned in the book!). A lot of times the writing was long-winded and unnecessary. She spent the majority of the first chapter, where the author is supposed to captivate the readers, talking about Leigh's need for personal space and control freak quirks with a detailed description of her apartment. It just made me want to pick up a pen and edit everything out! Only her name on the cover kept me going.

The plot was predictable and mellow. I felt like I was just cruising along the story. Nothing exciting ever happens, because she tries this technique where she just ends the chapter when something does happen and then picks up again after the event. Leigh breaks up with her fiance and we get to read about how nervous she was before the event and her reflections after the event. Adriana meets her "future husband" and we hear about them dating from talks by the other two girls. It was like a whole book of reflection, where the readers were put in the peripheral of the story instead of INSIDE the story. And the other thing is that nothing bad ever happens to the characters. They all lead a charmed, perfect life and everything just magically comes to them, with no obstacles to overcome or anything. One decides she wants to travel the world and a fabulous job miraculously appears. One wasn't even trying and simply finds her true calling in writing. And the other just decides to leave everything she's worked for behind and everything works out. I know that being realistic is not exactly the primary goal of chick lits, but this is just a bit overboard. To give her credit, the characters do each experience life changing revelations (there really wouldn't BE a story otherwise), but everything just came together a little too perfectly.

The relationship between this story and Harry Winston is not a giant rock on a ring as I'd first imagined (and the cover alluded to). The only reference to Harry Winston is a pair of diamond earrings that Salma Hayek wore to the Oscars from there, that a suitor gave to one of them. I guess they were just looking for a catchy title.

One thing Weisberger does do well however, are her characters. She paints them all in a very distinctive but relatable light. My favourite character is Leigh, who has the perfect job and the perfect boyfriend. The thing I love about her most is her control freak tendencies and need to be alone. I can totally relate to that. I LOVED it when she applied sunscreen on her body, then sprayed herself with more sunscreen in case she missed any spot and THEN applied a more expensive sunscreen on her face- rationing that the rest of them will regret it later when they need botox and laser treatment to get rid of their wrinkles and dark spots. That is MY rational as well (although I don't apply quite so thoroughly as she does). Next is Emmy, who just got dumped by her ex of five years, and her dearest dream is to get married and have lots of kids. Having never "played around," she is still very shy around guys and we get to see her get out of her shell in that respect. I feel for every step she took. Then there is Adriana, the fabulously gorgeous and wealthy Brazilian girl who leads the perfectly charmed life. However, even she feels a bit empty, lost and worried about her future. Sounds familiar?

Honestly, not a very original, engaging nor well-written book. But if you are looking for something light and brainless to past time on the beach (or just time in general).........then by all means. It's good and cheery enough to bring a smile to my lips in the end (happy endings always warms me up!).

Image Source: Amazon

To Kill For

"If we only had $2,000 our troubles would be over," says the killer in Alfred Hitchcock’s I Confess (1953). It can be–or it can at least seem to be–just that simple. One lump sum of money can wipe away debt, or buy all the things we need or allow us to flee to a new life. It doesn’t even have to be an impossibly large sum. It can be a mere pittance to a wealthy person, maybe just the equivalent of an average worker’s monthly salary. 

The trouble is how to get it? Expecting to win the lottery is not realistic. Better to imagine an unexpected windfall from a will, the discovery of a rare artifact, or the sale of novel. So many of us are $2,000, or $50,00 or $500,000 away from freedom. Or so we think. Meanwhile the yearning for that magical lump sum can imprison us. We lose track of what we do have and how we can build on that towards better days. Sometimes all it takes is hard work and sticking it out. Quick fixes are so often a false idol we wrongly worship.

This is actually a helluva digression from the story of I Confess, which is hardly about the actual murderer at all. It instead focuses on the wrongly accused (there’s that Hitchcock theme again) a Catholic priest who is in fact the killer’s confessor. Not only did he not do it, he knows who did and because he was told in confession, can't reveal what he knows. Talk about a triple whammy!   Montgomery Clift gave a typically strong performance in the lead role. He managed to express so very much while playing perhaps one of the most stoic characters in the history of film.

This is arguably Hitchock's’ most underrated movie, deserving as it does, a place alongside his more celebrated works. The theme, as I’ve suggested, is quite familiar to the legions of Hitchcock’s fans and the denouement is pure Hollywood, deviating 180 degrees from the original stage play. What sets I Confess apart, aside from Clift, is where Hitchcock put the camera.

The opening shots are masterful. Quebec in black and white–specifically,  it’s architecture, its streets and so many signs with the word “Direction” within an arrow. Then night time, pan into a room where there’s a body on the floor, apparently in a pool of blood. Now follow a man walking hurriedly down cobblestone streets, looking for all the world like a priest. The tone, the mood, and the atmosphere are set. The camera follows the rest from always the right perspective and angle.  The faces are always shot so as to tell more than words possibly can. Vintage Hitch.

While there are standard dramatic elements in I Confess, there are also surprises to this story.  More important than the revelations of the story is the manner in which it is told.

The cast includes Anne Baxter who does little as the blackmailed ex-love of Clift. Indeed, next to Clift, the rest of the cast is comparatively pedestrian except for German actor O.E. Hasse as the killer. Hasse’s Keller is a man just $2,000 away from a better life, and he’s willing to kill for it, and he’s happy to let Clift take the fall for it.  Another German, Dolly Haas is heart breaking as the killer's wife.

These were rare English language appearance by Hasse and Haas.  Hasse was magnificent because he managed to simultaneously garner both are sympathy and antipathy.

I Confess.  A dark film with dark themes that is one of Hitch's best.

boat trip

Last weekend I spent the day with my family in the country side on a beautiful lake which is surrounded by mountains. My sister's boyfriend invited us because his parents own a small boat there which we used. The landscape was so beautiful and the weather was just perfect - a bit chilly but in the sun it was pretty hot. We also went swimming in the lake but it was too cold to stay in the water for too long.





We made a stop at a small stone beach where we made a fire and barbecued sausages.

Rappers' Ice and Hip Hop's Jewels On The Block

Hip Hop isn't going mainstream - it's gone mainstream. And now, it's going upstream. No longer the domain of urban angst, Hip Hop has entered the echelons of high-society parlours. In this case, some of the most blinged out bling from the genre's stars is going under the hammer at tony auctioneers, Phillips de Pury.

Among the lots of diamonds, gems, rings and pimped out pendants is a jeweled Rolex watch worn by Notorious B.I.G., Lil’ Wayne’s jeweled Money Bag pendant and Biz Markie’s Headphone Necklace. The sale isn't though only about weighing down the jewelry boxes of well-heeled doyennes, proceeds from the sale of select items will benefit the National Museum of American History’s new "Hip-Hop Won’t Stop" collection.

The auction's going down on October 1st but you can get a sneak preview of the rappers' jewels between September 23-30 at the auction house's Chelsea headquarters.

flowers in the rain

I've fallen in love with a dress ♥

Carin Wester


I think inspiration is slowly coming back to me. Maybe it really was just the weather the last couple of days. Today the sun is out and I'm happy.
Last night I worked realla late and didn't get much sleep but yet I feel very fresh and energetic.
I came across this lovely dress as I was browsing through countless online shops and fashion blogs in search for some nice pieces for my 'Nice Style' collages. I just had to post the dress, it's so gorgeous. It's also a bit pricey and sold out but I don't want to own in anyway. I just want to keep on looking at it, it makes me happy somehow. ♥
I'm gonna go for lunch now, I wish you lovelies a great day. And tonight I'm going to watch The X-Files Movie, yay!

Bras with Different Straps at the Back

At the end of last summer I evaluated my wardrobe (-something everyone should do at the end of a season or the beginning of a season,) and decided that I really didn't have enough young, casual clothes. Most things I owned seemed so stuffy and old -imagine really boring, plain clothes with boring, unhip cutting. So when I onlined shopped a few months ago, I made sure to reject clothes that were too plain and looked for some colour.

I really liked this tank top (by Kate Moss Top Shop) because it had a hint of colour and interesting pattern on it but it was still my style. But when I bought it, I didn't realise how low the hole at the back was and I liked the top so much I didn't return it. So then I started to look for a bra that was backless or had a ok-to-be-seen-strap.

Why not just show the back of a normal bra? Because I've seen a few people wearing tops and dresses with showy backs like these Top Shop tea dresses with their normal bras showing and believe me, they were not attractive!

Since the UK doesn't have Victoria's Secret, the first place I looked was Marks & Spencer. This bra was kind of what I was looking for. The straps at the back were thin and interesting enough to not remind me of the traditional thick back strap. Unfortunately, it only comes in black, and since the material of the tank top was pretty thin, I didn't want a black bra to be seen obviously underneath.

Then there was this bra. I admit that I've always thought transparent straps as sort of tacky-looking in most situations. (Is it just me?) But I love the idea that the back strap was transparent -an alternative style for the thick strap at the back. Alas, I forgot to buy one before leaving the UK. Now I have to figure out how to wear the tank top! (I prefer not layering with another camisole because it just doesn't look as nice and defeats the purpose of keeping cool.) Any ideas?

Btw, I didn't even consider a strapess, backless bra because I imagine they would feel very uncomfortable and insecure. If any of you have used one, what did you think of them?

Image Credits: http://www.topshop.com/, http://www.marksandspencer.com/