In 2014, Marie Kondo wrote the book on decluttering. Literally. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Fans are devoted to Kondo’s “KonMari” method for organizing their homes. You will not find Kondo’s book perched in my extensive bookshelves. If you look…
In the News
RIP, Pete Burns. Plus, Nothing Is New About Patient Zero.
The year 2016 must really hate us because another musical icon is gone. Pete Burns of Dead or Alive died of cardiac arrest this Sunday at age 57. Pete never achieved the lasting fame of David Bowie or Prince, but he was a big deal to me and a lot of other 1980s kids. The…
Jewelry From Suffragette City
Wham bam thank you Becky Stone of Diamonds in the Library for this myth-busting post about suffragette jewelry. It turns out that the oft-told story that suffragette-related jewelry in green, white, and violet stood for “Give Women the Vote” is just a story. Becky writes: “At least one of the most popular suffragette groups –…
Jewels of the Month: VOTE NASTY
The final presidential debate this week inspired me to put together a special stud-earring set, which I shared on Instagram. Do you follow me on Instagram? You should because that’s where I share spur-of-the-moment things like this — new designs, new combinations, and special sales. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM. I only had…
Get Smart About Manufacturing, Take Two
In 2010, I explained that it’s much more expensive to manufacture goods in the U.S. compared to manufacturing overseas, which results in U.S.-made goods being more expensive for consumers. CLICK HERE TO READ THE 2010 POST. I wrote that post to explain why my limited-edition jewelry designs — 99% of which are made in New…
Oldchella Day 1 and Thoughts on the Trump Tapes
I’m enjoying a weekend at “Oldchella,” aka the Desert Trip music festival, in California. Last night, I saw the Rolling Stones. I missed the opener, Bob Dylan, but the reason why is kind of great; you’ll get that story later. Tonight I’m seeing Neil Young and my almost-husband, Paul McCartney. Sir Paul showed up last…
Throwback Thursday: Nobel Prize Edition
The Nobel Prizes are being announced this week, and that always makes me think of my best Huffington Post story. In 2012, I wrote, “A Dress Worthy of a Nobel Prize,” about Jenny Carroll, the daughter-in-law of Ralph M. Steinman, a professor of immunology at Rockefeller University. Dr. Steinman died of pancreatic cancer on the…
Kim Kardashian, Jewelry, and What’s Irreplaceable
The reports of the armed robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris — with millions of dollars of jewelry stolen — reminded me of advice my late business partner used to give to customers. Always insure your jewelry, she would tell people who were nervous about getting a sizable diamond. If (“God forbid!” she’d exclaim) you’re…
RuPaul Rules
I’ve been a fan of RuPaul — Nicki Minaj’s real inspiration — since “Supermodel” in 1993. I mean, a song that shouts out my beloved Linda Evangelista? After that, when RuPaul told me, “You better work,” I got to work, dammit. I was happy that after eight seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul won his…
Two Fashion Favorites, Two Big Magazines
My favorite model of all time is Linda Evangelista — and I especially like her Harper’s Bazaar covers from the 1990s, when the late Liz Tilberis was editor in chief. The September 1992 issue electrified the industry. I still have the January 1995 cover framed and hanging on my wall. It’s appropriate that the first…