jewelry

Some charity work is physically difficult, and some is emotionally taxing. But sometimes, it’s just plain fun. Debra Messing’s latest charitable endeavor definitely falls into the third category — the Starter Wife and Nothing Like the Holidays star is joining with famed jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris to create a piece of jewelry to benefit YouthAIDS.

You’ll have the opportunity to check out Messing’s design skills — the piece will be featured in InStyle magazine this February and May. Also, a special website will go live to showcase the piece on January 13, staying up for a little over a month.

Additionally, Messing has been confirmed as a celebrity participant in the Leaves of Change charity initiative. She is the first A-Lister to join in, but will soon be joined by others in designing a gold pendant necklace with some sort of leaf motif. The stars will then decide whether they want proceeds from the sale of their designs to go toward a charity of their choice or Jewelers for Children, which helps children whose lives have been devastated by serious illness or abuse.

Hoping to get your hands on a celebrity-designed piece of jewelry? You’ll have to wait for spring, at which point a charity event will be held in Los Angeles, along with an online auction. I’ll keep you up to date, don’t worry!

Many celebs were on hand at the Los Angeles launch of the Cartier Love Charity Bracelet, including Janet Jackson, Fergie, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, and Hilary Duff. These stars weren’t just there to attend the bash — they had pledged support.

This is the third year of the Cartier Love Charity Bracelet, and this year’s version has a silk cord in different colors depending on which charity it’s connected with, and they feature a white gold and a rose gold link. Involved celebrities each chose a charity, and the sale of a bracelet in the color associated with the charity will net that charity $200 of the $995 price tag.

Some of the celebrities and their charities are Janet Jackson, whose grey bracelet corresponds to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance; Fergie, whose orange bracelet will benefit The Black Eyed Peas Foundation; Good Charlotte, with a deep green bracelet helping out the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation; Hilary Duff, whose purple bracelet will benefit Blessings in a Backpack (which is run by USA Harvest); and Ashanti, who has a royal blue bracelet raising money for the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America.

In the three years since Cartier began the Love Charity Bracelet, well over $2 million has been raised for 16 different charities. Great jewelry for great causes? Sounds like a beautiful combination to me!

Photo courtesy of celebrity-gossip.net

One way to simplify your morning is to rely on basics. The simplest basics are jeans and a tee; toss on a jacket and some great shoes and you’re ready to go!

Until the day you realize that you’ve worn the same outfit for weeks on end. Then you’re just in a rut.

This winter, break out of the rut with one simple piece: add a dramatic necklace to your jeans-and-tee uniform. Choose a fantastic bib shape, like the one pictured here, or opt for a simple strand of big beads. Go for color and texture; you want your jewelry to pop.

Consider your neckline; if you wear primarily crew-neck tees, look for longer necklaces. A choker length is good with button-up shirts and scoop necks, while a bib necklace works with everything. But feel free to break the rules — I am partial to a choker with a crew neck tee, because I like the way the layered necklines work together.

A dramatic necklace can take you from day to night; pair with your jeans and tee for lunch with friends or with your LBD for cocktails and dinner. For day or evening, keep the rest of your outfit simple — let the necklace be your statement.

J. Crew bubble necklace, $150.00. Available in three colors.

For most women, getting ready in the morning is often primarily about finding something clean and comfy to wear, no matter where we are going for the day. Hopefully, you are challenging yourself to reach beyond the yoga pants and tee, but I know that some days, it’s hard.

On the days when you have gotten past your pajamas and into something a little spiffier (jeans, a white shirt, cute shoes), go one step further and add a smart piece of jewelry, a little bling to brighten up your day. A distinctive cocktail ring can be just the ticket, not only because it is easy to wear but because you can see it all day and be reminded how simple it is to look stylish.

Cocktail rings are characterized by their large size and dramatic designs. Choose a bright gemstone or a simple dome or a whimsical shape; go with amethysts or synthetic sapphires or a sleek onyx. Choose from vintage rings or designer imitations; price points can range from thousands of dollars to under $20.00. Look for a ring that works with your wardrobe, both in terms of color and metals.

Wear your cocktail ring on your dominant hand, the hand you eat and drink and gesture with, for the biggest impact; put it on either your index or second finger for balance. Keep nails short and manicured, because a ring this big draws attention to your hands. Wear your cocktail ring alone, both because it will compete with other jewelry and because the whole idea is to simplify your routine.

And then take the time, during your busy day, to stop and admire your ring, and remember how wonderful it feels to know you look good.

Leslie Danzis cocktail ring, Neiman Marcus, $95.00