Beauty & The Arts

Links to Wonder Woman

If Wonder Woman had a makeover today, we think she’d make very different choices. She might hire a stylist to handle the details with her being so busy chasing criminals around the planet. No doubt she’d redesign her crime-fighting frock using new high tech fabrics that would give her the flexibility and comfort that old strapless corset could not possibly allow. As for her boots, she’d likely have several pairs in different heights from ankle to thigh high. And no dynamic diva would be complete with her power accessories, desperately in need of trading in her tiara, invisible rope and uninspiring cuffs for a bold gold link Sutra bracelet or two, the signature style of designer Diane von Furstenberg by H.Stern.

Epitomizing today’s wonder woman, Diane von Furstenberg told her own tale of combating the odds in a fun and inspiring limited edition comic book: “The Adventures of Diva, Viva and Fifa,” published by DC Comics. Illustrated by Konstantin Kakanias, the book also contains Wonder Woman cover art through the ages and previously published material from Gloria Steinem, Les Daniels, and TV’s Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter. The proceeds of the sale of this book, priced at $25, benefit Vital Voices Global Partnership, an organization that supports women leaders around the globe to become change agents in their governments and advocates for social justice.

At the recent launch party for the book, DVF was caught flanked by actresses Becky Newton and Debra Messing, who not only sported a Sutra Bracelet, but also one of the designers latest Wonder Woman-inspired fashions, the Maupati long wrap dress. Strong and powerful in look, the Sutra is a bold, sexy link bracelet in gleaming polished 18k yellow gold that was first introduced in 2004 as the signature style of the Diane von Furstenberg by H.Stern collection. It heralded a new era in oversized accessories, and brought back link jewelry in full force. Worn by the DVF comic character on the book’s cover, the Sutra bears DVF’s inspirational words on each link: laughter, harmony, love, perseverance, peace, abundance and friendship. For more information about the bracelet and other DVF by H.Stern styles visit hstern.net, and for details about DVF’s comic book, selling for $25, go to http://dvf.com.

Resurrecting 1900 Paris World’s Fair in Cleveland

Just over 100 years ago, three of history’s greatest designers—Peter Carl Fabergé in Russia, Louis Comfort Tiffany in the United States, and René Lalique in France—were engaged in a spirited rivalry that drove each to attain unsurpassed heights in the creation of jewelry and luxury goods. Celebrating the innovation and creativity produced by these three mavericks of their time, the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is hosting through Jan. 18, 2009, Artistic Luxury: Fabergé, Tiffany, Lalique.

The exhibition reunites the works of these artists for the first time since the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris, showcasing nearly 300 objects from more than 50 international lenders, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, as well as institutions and private lenders in London, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Paris, Lisbon, Berlin, Hamburg, and across America.

Artistic Luxury offers a glimpse, through the stunning creations of these three great artists, into the world of the rich and famous during the years leading up to the First World War. Each designer was known for his own characteristic style and achievement, and the exhibition devotes a separate gallery to each jeweler, recreating the ambiance of the Paris world’s fair.

The Cleveland Museum of Art, located at 11150 East Boulevard in Cleveland, Ohio, is one of America’s leading comprehensive museums with a collection that spans 6,000 years of creative achievement in the arts. For more information on the museum, call 1-888-CMA-0033 or visit ClevelandArt.org.

• House of Fabergé: Brooch (c. 1900) in gold, platinum, star sapphire, diamonds from the Joan and Melissa Rivers Collection

• Tiffany & Co., designer Paulding Farnham: Iris Brooch (c. 1900-1901) in pink tourmalines, green garnet, platinum from the Primavera Gallery, New York

• René Lalique : Pendant with Serpent Motif (1901) in gold, pearls, enamel from The State Hermitage Museum 1E-5364; © Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris

Boob Tube Bling

ABC’s “Ugly Betty” character Amanda—a veritable icon of what’s hot—stacked up “Scrimshaw-Me-This” bracelets by designer Jessica Kagan Cushman on an Oct. 9^th episode (“Crimes of Fashion”).

Cushman, who uses an antique art form on an ancient material to create designs that are modern cool, scrimshaws fossilized mammoth ivory bracelets with quotes from movies, books, and even N.Y. graffiti, with our personal favorite, “No Wire Hangers! Ever!” Cushman also reproduces these statement-making bangles in high-quality resin, which she hand inks and finishes. For information visit jessicacushman.com.

Samantha Harris, co-host of ABC’s Dancing With The Stars sparkled in an Oct. 27^th episode in over $1 million worth of platinum and diamonds by red carpet darling jeweler Martin Katz including bangle bracelets, chandelier earrings, pendant necklace, and large cocktail ring. For more on platinum jewelry and celebrity trends visit http://preciousplatinum.com , details specifically about Martin Katz visit martinekatz.com.

The leading ladies of NBC’s Lipstick Jungle sparkled in H.Stern jewels while attending a "Bonfire's Autism Speak Fundraising Event" shot in Central Park for its Oct. 23^rd episode ("The F-Word"). Among the jewels spied on our three high powered friends are pieces from several of H.Stern’s latest collections including Cascais, Celtic Dunes,-Spring, Avignon, Fire and Stars and a favorite by Diane von Furstenberg for H.Stern, her Sutra bracelet encrusted in diamonds. For more information about these styles and others visit hstern.net, and to view the episode go to http://nbc.com/Lipstick_Jungle/video/episodes/?vid=778161

The new CW network series, “Privileged,” saw all three of it stars wearing Amelia Rose Jewelry around their necks in its Oct. 21^st episode. In this “Gossip Girl” meets Palm Beach show, Rose (played by Lucy Kate Hale) wore a sky blue topaz necklace, Sage (played by Ashley Newbrough) had a multi-stone design, and Laurel Limoges (played by Anne Archer) sported a single pendant of smoky quartz. For more information about these and other styles, visit http://ameliarosedesign.com