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Whats More Ear-isistable Than Giant Earrings?

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One of the things I noticed immediately during the Oscars were Angelina Jolie‘s supersize-me emerald earrings. Even the hubby, who rarely notices these things, was like “Whoh! Those can’t be real!”

Apparently, Angelina took a lot of time hunting for the perfect pair to wear for Oscar night, wanting it to be a real show stopper. Well, she obviously did the job (with $2.5 mil beauties by jeweler-to-the-stars Lorraine Schwartz) and along with Kate Winslet, who also donned large chandelier earrings, now started a fashion trend because statement earrings are now officially HOT for 2009.

Why? Well, the economic downturn is to blame (again), because look-at-me earrings can revamp a look instantly, so you can recycle an outfit and freshen it up with bold accessories – the eighties also have a big influence here. Think bright, glam and bold…okay, not flawless gargantuan emeralds, but you get the idea.

Other statement earrings seen on the catwalk were Chanel‘s Mademoiselle offerings and Louis Vuitton‘s colorful beads.

Add Color With Cheerful (and Cheap) Kate Spade Earrings

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As I was flipping through my latest issue of O magazine, one thing that really caught my eye were the Kate Spade earrings on The O list page (what great finds!):

Razzle Dazzle ‘Em! Don’t let the fact that the economy is in recession keep your earlobes from looking like a million bucks. The jewels may be faux, but the sparkle is real.

Yes, the sparkle was definitely real! Fantastically bright colored in hues of pink, coral, red, green and blues, I could see them giving sunshine to any outfit – and the best thing about it was the price – a very credit-crunch friendly $45 a pair!! For our anniversary last year, my husband sweetly gave me a pair of gorgeous pink saphirres, which look pretty identical to the Kate Spade versions. Let me tell you, they make anything I’m wearing just that bit more elegant. Now I’ll be coveting the KS versions in all colors!!

Donna Karan’s Zodiac Bags: Do We Want One?

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The Modern Leo Large Tote

Has Donna Karan shown her creative flair, taking a chance in what could very well be a naff concept, turning it into something on every gal’s “I Gotta Have it!” list? or is it an attempt to salvage her handbag reputation by this “astrological” marketing cliche?

The Zodiac collection, which features, yes, bags inspired by the signs of the Zodiac were unveiled by the designer as part of her pre fall collection, which came out in June.

As Karan said in a WWD report:

“It makes sense — I live by astrology….I am a Libra. I can’t make up my mind. We never find a balance. We like it all.”

Picking up a Virgo handbag, she said, “I need a Virgo around me. Libras always need Virgos. My husband [the late Stephan Weiss] was a Virgo.”

“The challenge was, would I wear this bag? These I would,” she said and, pointing to a large shopper, added, “You know I will be carrying this for the rest of my life.”

The bags, which are now available online for around £1,300 or $ 2,500 at places like Net a Porter certainly don’t come at a cheap price, and now, several months on after its debut, it can be said that, in spite of their somewhat novel concept,  the bags have not arrived at the ” so last season” list just yet.

For Virgos like me, there are two models to choose from, the Modern Virgo North/South or East/West totes in waxed vachetta, which gives it a chic, weathered look.  Personally though, I prefer the Leo tote in shrunken lamb pictured above.

If you visit the Donna Karan website, you’ll find only some of the zodiac signs represented – Leo, Aries, Scorpio, Libra, Pisces, Virgo and the evening star (lovely roll clutches). Some of which, like Leo, have more than one design. You’d think they’d make one for the Taureans at least, as they’re known to have a weak spot for indulging in luxe items like these.

And lastly, I have to say that these new-fangled “exotic” names just don’t get me excited.

Shiny goat? French bull? Shrunken lamb? hmmmm….. Besides from sounding very un-Peta friendly, they remind me more of the menu of a restaurant trying too hard make ordinary dishes sound posh.