And the Winner Is...

Award season has come and gone and with it an impressive roster of Red Carpet Trendsetters.

The 2011 Oscars proved to be a lack luster production overall - in my opinion - with its blatant attempts to appeal to a younger audience while missing the boat on entertaining its remaining demographics.  But the awards are really only a fraction of the show, right?  The fashion statements spoke loud and clear at Sunday night's festivities.  The ends of the spectrum seemed to be the rule of thumb with gowns draped in pale  nudes and lipstick red.  There seemed to be a subtle touch this year's red carpet.  I think it was coined by Whoopie Goldberg best that today's icons simply don't want to rock the boat and be under the "Worst Dressed" ridicule.  Rather than bold and outlandish the goal is to win through glamour and elegance, and this year's RTC hit the mark.

Kai Expressions is always quick to look beyond the fabrics - to the gems!  We have selected the top jewelry picks by this year:

Great beadwork for Cheryl Hines' glittering diamonds. Always love a statement collarbone piece!

 Four stars for Kate Beckinsale's Bold "Kiss My" Ring 

Gorgeous choker from Nicole Kidman - it made her look!

 Loved Jennifer Hudson's glamorous dangling earrings - she's really elongated for her new look! 

Lastly, "Lady O" rocked it in an amazing outfit that not only took the stage - it matched the stage!!  Her heiress left us with a true air of royalty... 

'Til the next ladies.  You keep us inspired!!

This Time, It's Personal...

For years we have increased the notion of customization, and nowadays it is no longer an option but a mandate.  Burger King's mantra of "have it your way" has infiltrated far beyond food to select options on your car to even custom 'his & her' heat settings on your mattress.  And why shouldn't you have things the way you like it?  As a culture we work harder, and we deserve to spend our earnings exactly the way we want to!

What hasn't caught on as much as one would think is customizing your jewelry.  Before Kai Expressions came into my life, I like most accessory shoppers used to depend on the department store buyers to know my taste and what colors were in my closet.  I would follow the styles dictated by fashion magazines but never had much flexibility in adding my own personality to my collection... until I became my own designer. I tell you what - I will never go back again!!

Several of my clients have gotten hip to the game and their creative innovations are worth noting:

"Carrie's" Challenge: Looking for a long necklace set she could dress up or dress down to match her denim jeans.  Kai Expressions created a 36" necklace from Czech fire polished faceted glass beads in a rich denim blue spaced with tan rounds to match the seams.  Carrie loved seeing her own idea come to life!

"Erica" was feeling funky and requested a chunky, bright canary yellow earring & necklace set.  We soon discovered few gems are bright yellow by nature, and few beaderies carry chunky yellow anything!  (Hmm... this must be what spurred the request!)  An indepth search online and throughout Downtown LA led us to some fantastic canary resins that accompanied Erica on a European adventure the day after she opened her new treasure!

"Chad" and his wife just had a brand new baby girl.  He was looking for a memorable gift to both mark the new chapter in their lives, but also elate his wife after a trying delivery.  We briefly discussed what he was looking for, and it was a unanimous decision to create a unique piece fusing both birthstones of mother and daughter: Amethyst and Ruby.  The finished piece went beyond expectations, and the brand new mother fell in love all over again!

                             (Original Bracelet)                                (Final Bracelet)

"Cynthia" was probably the most interesting request of all.  She found a handcrafted bracelet and wanted Kai Expressions to stretch it into a bracelet, necklace and earring set.  (Yes, you read that right!)  Our quest was either to find the Murano style glass beads in the bracelet, or comparable siblings that could marry well with the original cast. 

Rest assured, the task was accomplished, and Cynthia was just thrilled she could now be coordinated with her rare find.

All of these projects have made me scratch my head at times, but the challenge is exciting and I love the end result.  We have also worked on more conservative original designs, such as custom charm bracelets for graduation, birthday and new mom.  Our custom portfolio also includes a handful of bridal collections, which has been extremely rewarding to be part of such wonderful memories.  Our brides love the fact they no longer have to spend precious time hunting for matching color schemes, and their bridesmaids love the unique 'thank you gift' they can reflect on for years to come.

For more examples of creativity, visit our Kai Keepsakes portfolio, specializing in custom packages for a variety of occasions.

My message to you?  Get out there and take your jewelry "outside of the box!" (Pun intended.)  You will have fun with the one-of-a-kind imprint you can create.  We would love to see what you come up with!

Not Your Grandmother's Pearls

Pearls have had a pivotal place in the jewelry box for decades.  Some passed along from mother to daughter to daughter's daughter, classical wedding and gala attire, perfect right-of-passage gift to commemorate any and all special occasions.  But grandma's pearls have come a long way baby...  These aquatic treasures are busting out of the mold into more contemporary every day wear, and fashionistas around the world are loving it!

Trendsetting First Lady, Michelle Obama, has made fashion waves since she and the president graced American hearts raising the bar on marriage, family, and of course, couture! Mrs. Obama represents the out most class with a moderate style that embodies her ubiquitous position as the most powerful woman in the world.  A true fashion diva, she is often seen with the universal double strand white pearl strands, a prerequisite for the corporate professional and more conservative fashionistsa that is more of a "Charlotte."  Mrs. Obama can do no wrong in my eyes when it comes to fashion and setting a prime example for leading a nation with her head held high.

Enter "Carrie."  SJP has long since been the fashion icon raising the bar down every red carpet, be it a floral arrangement coming out of her hat or ruffles galore, no one can deny her highness turns heads. Here Sarah Jessica Parker adds her own unique touch to the classic pearl set, going bold, bronze and long.  A piece like this could be worn as she sports with a casual sweater, or to hit the town giving life to a simple cocktail dress.  With incredible dye techniques freshwater pearls today come in a variety of hues, shapes and sizes.  They are affordable, they can be dressed up or down, and they have just become your new best friend. Fortunately, they are no longer just for dress up any more...   

Several jewelers are mixing up textures and stones bridging the classic pearl to modern generations.  Mandy Moore looks dashing in a 'tuxedo style' set sporting black and white tones.  Note the length of the necklace breathes life into a simple strapless black dress, and paired with studs the necklace stands on its own to carry the outfit into a red carpet "do." Below Malinda Williams features the up-and-coming twisted strands of pearls that add a  fun and sophisticated splash for any occasion.

As the saying goes, the world is your oyster (pun intended).  Take advantage of the great canvas of freshwater and cultured pearl out there.  Mix them with some colorful semi-precious stones.  Wrap them in wire for a fun wearable-art ring.  One-of-a-kind jewelery designers are waiting for you (as are retailers at your neighborhood department store.) Tip #1: I learned from a trip to China that when you rub real pearls together, they should have a slightly rough connection. If there is a smooth rub, be careful, they are likely glass.  Tip #2: Have fun with it!  Wear a pair of studs to the gym or to keep the kids at bay, then change it up for an evening out with some dangling chandeliers.  Go for it!

A variety of pearls are available at kaiexpressions.com