ethno teknik

Dying over this hand-painted Swarovski crystal necklace by Tom Binns, at NAP.

neck bling

Oh. em. gee.
Serious neck wear at Luisa Via Roma.
Clockwise from top left: Margiela, Tom Binns, Delettrez

stopitrightnow

zippy

More fabulosity from Tom Binns (at shopbop).

Arts and crafts

Tom Binns' latest offering to the fashion world: DIY jewelry! Binns has taken various magazine photos of jewels and pasted them together like only he can. He then laminates the final product and voilà: the best damn arts and crafts project you'll ever see! Well, it better be at $125 a pop (which I think is a little overpriced for paper and laminate..even if it is Tom Binns). The paper jewelry is now available at Paris shop Colette.


Photo credit: style.com

Michelle loves Tom

No, its not that Tom (thank God). First Lady Michelle Obama is in the midst of a love affair with jewelry designer Tom Binns (myself included). At the Governor's Ball, Michelle accessorized her stunning Peter Soronen gown with Binns' Pearls in Peril. The result? Absolute perfection. Here she is (below) with her handsome, charming husband.

Photo credits: style.com

Paper bag princess

Recession chic is the new black. The economic crisis is inspiring designers to show looks with a nod to an increasingly unstable financial world.

The trend of the past five or so years has been for haute designers to collaborate with stores like Target (Thakoon), Kohls (Simply Vera, Vera Wang) and H&M. Side note: the mega-successful Swedish chain's next guest designer is Matthew Williamson whose much-anticipated line will be available this summer. Read more about it here.

Alexander Wang's RTW collection was infused with fresh urban street influences. The look was undone, evident in pieces like the baggy sweater with sheer-spun rayon webbing throughout and the tough black leather fringed and pierced platform sandals (LOVE those!). You can get your hands on Wang's wares at shopbop.com

Tom Binns, jewelry designer du jour and my current obsession did a very tongue-in-cheek pair of medal earrings with precious stones' names engraved in rhodium. See a photo on Style.com's Spring 2009 Accessory Report.

I dream about the day when I'll be able to thrift vintage Alexander Wang or Tom Binns at Frenchy's or Value Village... but I'm not holding my breath.

Photo credit: Jenna Bienenfeld