MET Ball Beautiful

                                                       The Met Gala Red Carpet. Photo Courtesy of Kevin Tachman/Vogue.

The Annual MET Gala was last night in New York and after watching the red carpet I have only one word: SHOCK! 

There were substantially more misses than hits for me but it is not my style to point out all the fashion blunders I want to share instead the looks I LOVED! I must say however that the stars (or their stylists) need to invest in portable steamers, perhaps glasses and a little bit more taste. I look forward to the MET red carpet the most as I expect to see the most Stylish, Creative and Amazing looks. Let's just say I was underwhelmed this year.

The Looks I LOVED - Top 5 :

MY FAV!

Karolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe Collection.

I LOVE how Vintage-Inspired CHIC this is. The turban is the most amazing touch since the exhibition is about Elsa Schiaparelli & Miuccia Prada (Impossible Conversation). This is TRES GLAM! Exactly what I expected to see at the MET.

Elsa knew how CHIC a turban is - Vintage Style

 and the contemporary turban via PRADA

Rosie Huntington Whiteley - Burberry

Jessica Stam - DIOR Haute Couture

Rachel Zoe - Rachel Zoe Collection (I'm a sucker for FRINGE!)

Jessica Pare - L'Wren Scott

BEST DESIGNER DRAPE:

Michael Kors

 Jessica Alba

Hillary Swank

FAV Jewels

January Jones wearing Vintage Cartier (1955)

What were your favs???? 

Get Your Sparkle On: AB Jewelry

I LOVE costume jewelry.  Anyone who is a regular reader of this blog or who knows me knows how much I wear it, talk about it and BUY it! In my mind costume is the new fine

I have also been interested in the history and craftsmanship of Vintage jewelry. I think this is a great place to pass along some of the knowledge I have gained and recent facts I have found. 

First up, AB stones. AB is short for Aurora Borealis. A name taken from the Northern Lights.  AB rhinestones/crystals have a special iridescent finish that shines in a wide range of colors. Ever notice when you style AB stones with a certain color it picks them up?

The iridescent surface is a direct result of a very thin layer of metallic atoms that have been deposited on the lower surface of the stone. This process was invented and perfected by the Swarovski Company together with Christian Dior in 1955/56.  They dub it "The Aurora Borealis Effect".

I have seen this effect on both coloured stones and clear crystals of all shapes and sizes. It is produced in a vast array of jewelry over the decades. My FAV AB pieces are obviously Vintage but Swarovski still creates some amazing elements and embellishments for jewelry & accessories that are truly beautiful. I have even seen the effect on some sequins and fabrics.

Do you have any Aurora Borealis Pieces? Do you find them to be a versatile accessory, compatible with  a multitude of textures and colours?  You can get more bang for your bead with the AB stone or crystal. you can mix and match them with the rainbow of colours in your closet. They are not just reserved for "formal" events anymore either. Style them in a contemporary way; with jeans and a great blazer for a night out.

How do you get your sparkle on??

*Evolution Rewind Ring Collection Coming May 2012

The InvenTORI Evolution

I am excited and proud to announce that I am partnering with my friend Tori Spelling and her super CHIC BOUTIQUE InvenToriLA! She will be the EXCLUSIVE retailer to carry a selection of items from the EVOLUTION VINTAGE collection!

In store NOW you will find a selection of Vintage jewelry, hand bags, scarves, hats and MORE! Visit: 13826 Ventura Blvd Sherman Oaks, CA

Call: 818-981-1007

Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-7pm

Sun: 11am-6pm

Yesterday we celebrated a successful in store afternoon and have another one coming up SUNDAY DECEMBER 11th ... Details soon!

Don't live in the LA area? Shop Inventori online and SAVE 10% using code HOLIDAY (exclusive to Evolution Revolution Readers). Inventori has an amazing selection of unique gifts!

This is just the beginning of the InvenTORI Evolution. Stay tuned for more exclusive deals, events and promotions! When two Style Maven, Multi-Tasking Mom's with endless creativity collide and collaborate ... you never know what's next!

STAY TUNED.

L

xo

Obsessed: Vestige Jewelry

For those of you who know me and/or read this blog know that lately I have been obsessed with jewels; costume, fine, contemporary, vintage, antique. I LOVE it all and I am an equal opportunity fashion offender. In my hunt for the most amazing an unique pieces I stumbled upon VESTIGE JEWELRY.

It is the passion of Tracy Glantz who designs AND makes each piece by hand using recycled metals, vintage crystals and unique mixing of the past and present. The contrast of her creations are STUNNING! and I immediately fell in love.


She is into all of the things I love and respect. She is a creative entrepreneur who is recycling and using elements of the past to style into the future. She has a unique perspective offering her clients custom, one-of-a-kind pieces with a "something for everyone" attitude. She is also inspired and ready to use her creations to make women feel beautiful AND pushes her creative boundaries with every piece! BRAVO! It is creative people like you that make my crazy world go round!


I spoke to Tracy about her Vestige Venture recently;

LISA: What inspired you to start your business and use Recycled/Vintage materials?

TRACY: I started my business, because of my love of jewelry. It makes sense to be responsible this day in time and use recycled, re purposed, and vintage materials. It makes a WOW statement, and adds dramatic elements that are unique and timeless to wear.

LISA: What inspires your pieces?

TRACY: My jewelry is inspired by many things I create, but to name a few; Old Hollywood Glamour, Art Deco, Baroque, Victorian, and Steampunk.


LISA: What is your favorite piece and why?

TRACY: My favorite piece is my first design creation which is a charm necklace. It’s derived from an older piece I have had for many years. It’s as simple as having one piece to inspire you. I just kept pushing my creative boundaries.

LISA: Where can my readers purchase your items?

TRACY: They can purchase the items on my web site www.vestigejewelry.com


LISA: Do you design AND make each piece?

TRACY: Yes, I design and make each piece by hand.


LISA: Tell our readers about you. Who is the woman behind Vestige Jewelry.

TRACY: I am currently living in Austin, Texas and a proud pet parent to my little adopted dog named Ozzy. I moved here from Dallas, Texas 2 years ago where I am originally from. I have worked as a network engineer in the telecommunications industry for 14 years. I started working from home two years ago, and it wasn’t until then I tapped into my creative ability. I had more time to pursue my passion for jewelry. I was grateful to have an opportunity to work from home, because not having those structured stresses freed my creative thought process and I was much more relaxed. I just keep striving to achieve more, and proud how my designs make people feel.

I am excited to make my first purchase from VJ; the issue is choosing which one that I NEED first!! reptile bracelet perhaps???

Stay tuned for Tracy to add more pieces to her already amazing collection!! Follow her on TWITTER read her BLOG & LIKE her FACEBOOK page.

Costume Jewels ... Trash? or Treasure?

Vintage Kenneth Jay Lane Statement Necklace - circa 1970's

Purchase @ Evolution Vintage

ALWAYS A TREASURE TO ME ...

I have always LOVED costume jewels; from the plastic vintage beads of my grandmothers to the semi-fine elaborate pieces of higher end designers. The artistry, colours and unique materials have always intrigued me.

What many people do not realize is that costume jewels have been CHIC for centuries .. COCO CHANEL being one of the biggest advocates as she rarely wore her fine jewels! She loved her "Junk Jewels" that remain staples at the house of CHANEL today!

I had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with my friend, Style Maven and Multi-Tasking Mommy Mogul Tori Spelling for her recent article in the Style section of her eMag EdiTORIal.

Costume is the New Fine READ IT HERE

Join Tori's On-Line community for women today and read her interview about EdiTORIal HERE

C'mon girls Dig out your granny's costume jewels and flex those creative muscles!

Looking to expand your existing jewel collection? or start one?

SHOP Evolution Vintage's JEWEL COLLECTION

Let LOVE Rule

LOVE like everything else in our diverse world comes in many different forms, in various scenarios and under atypical circumstances.

The news broke yesterday that Playboy founder Hugh Hefner is engaged to Crystal Harris. The BIG deal appears to be the issue of age (Hef is 84 and Crystal is 24). The news made me smile and genuinely happy for them, ageism is the last thing I thought of. I was saddened however to see that the news was "trending" on twitter but many of the tweets were negative. The terms "cradle robber", "grave robber" and "gold digger" were being thrown around as hundreds of tweeps made a feeble attempt at comedy. This public display of negativity and judgement really got me thinking. As a society have we become so jaded, pessimistic and negative that we cannot accept the fact that the pair simply LOVE each other? they as consenting adults have chosen to spend their lives together? and make a commitment to one another? If we put aside all the labels such as age, status and wealth I feel there is LOVE there, regardless of its origin.

"A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams" John Barrymore






I applaud anyone who has the courage to live an unconventional life, create their life the way they envision and live on their own terms. So, BRAVO Mr. Hefner for not only creating your own vision and dreams but living your life in the way YOU want to no matter what. I must confess however I am happy to see you drop the barrage of tacky "girlfriends" and spend your time and energy on just one special one. I must be clear however, I LOVED the original 3 GND and they are not the "tacky" girls I am referring to at all. XO Imagine how boring our lives would be if we were all society's version of cookie cutter, homogenized, generic versions of human beings. I love that there are extremes in life and in love.



We are all entitled to our opinions (thankfully) in this free world but I guess my idealistic and human self would love not to see everyones reactions immediately default to the negative. Let's make "love" and "happiness" the trending topic on twitter for a change.

There is such awful, tragic and depressing items in the news, why as a society do we try to turn even the most beautiful one, such as a marriage into a joke, or have a rude comment that one feels the need to share with the world via twitter or any other form? Lenny Kravitz said it best "Let LOVE rule" and we will all be better off as a society. Let's try to evolve our humanity shall we instead of being terrible negative examples of the human races devolution.

Good Luck to you and Crystal. May you enjoy each moment together.






"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident." St. Augustine (from the film: Captain Corelli's Mandolin)

**Fashion Note: CRYSTAL Evolution Vintage would be HAPPY to provide you with Vintage Aurora Borealis crystal necklace & bracelet for your BIG day! or a fabulous Vintage clutch (that can be your "something old" or borrowed)













www.evolution-vintage.com