I admit that, until now, I did not have a very good opinion on diamond jewelry - I don't know why but I just always related them with a lack of taste, useless starlets (a.k.a. footballers' wives) and a cruel way of showing ones wealth (something like endangered species furs).

This was my impression until I stepped upon Apples of Gold Jewelry, an online seller specializing in gold jewelry, wedding rings, diamond rings and gemstone jewelry. What is great about this company, whose name derives from the Book of Proverbs, is its commitment for ethics, integrity and honesty in business, which is a rare thing when speaking about the luxury market in general, and about diamonds, in particular.

colored diamond rings

Named one of the ten most promising newcomers by style.com, designer Joanne Cordero Reyes amazed the fashion world with her fall/winter 2008/09 collection. Her clothing label Vicente Villarin, (named after her grandfather, a talented composer of the early 1900's), is only two season old and has already made its mark.

Kirrily Johnston is another remarkable Australian label that showed at the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2008 (2-9 March). Among its notorious fans the most recent one is top international supermodel Irina Lazareanu.

Kirrily Johnston at Melbourne Fashion Week

I adore handmade designs; they send out so much of the creator's personality. As I laid my eyes on these gorgeous rings from Colleen Baran I just knew I had to have one. Colleen is a Canadian artist working in jewelry, photography and book-works, with a creating philosophy "based on a love of language, pattern and form".

"You See Me" ring by Colleen Baran

On April 15, Gap marked the second consecutive year of Gap Design Editions, a limited edition collection specially designed for Gap by the winners of the annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund competition.

American designers (3.1) Phillip Lim, Scott Sternberg from Band of Outsiders, Michael Bastian, and ThreeAsFour's Gabi Asfour, Adi Gil & Angela Donhauser designed a limited edition collection inspired by the classic Gap white shirt.

Gap Design Edition: THREEASFOUR

If you're interested in the green movement in fashion then you should really check this event: the Academy of Art University is hosting the Recycled Couture Fashion Show and Auction named "Discarded to Divine" on 26th April in San Francisco. Donated clothes (from jeans to bridesmaid dresses) and discarded items including high quality upholstery textiles and curtains are transformed into one-of-a-kind designs auctioned to help the poor and homeless, through the St. Vincent de Paul Society's programs.

Flapper style is one of my favorite moments in fashion so I'm glad that this season designers paid more attention to it. I was particularly inspired by the modern-flapper look Rodarte showed on its spring 2008 collection: I love the floppy hat and the sheer, loose clothes. Gladiator heels and fingerless gloves bring the needed modern vibe.

Rodarte spring 2008