THE ORIGINAL GODFATHERS OF BLING

Enchante! Spring has finally ushered in warm weather and languid days in the park, but most importantly, MAGNIFICENT JEWELS & COUTURE. This past weekend, Doyle’s held their phenomenal couture exhibition and auction… we’re talking the primo you-want-to-die-for them big guns of vintage glory: from the 1926 blue silk ombre fringe CHANEL dress, to the ultra-mod (nay, uber-mod!) 1960′s Largerfield day dress, and everyone else of consequence in between (can you say Dior, Valentino, Gucci, Hermes… give-it-to-me-now fabulous? Mai oui!).

Please tell me you didn’t miss out! You did? Por qua! Well salvation is still attainable at SOTHEBY’S MAGNIFICENT JEWELS collection, during the “Van Cleef & Arpels at Sotheby’s: A Centenary of Style” exhibition, April 19th-25th (www.sothebys.com). Don your vintage splendor and flaunt, strut and flounce it in the revered presence of the original godfathers of bling! before it all goes to auction on April 25th (at 10:15am, and again at 2pm). Capiche?

One more thing… if you’re not the white-gloved, chichi auction type, but still have that insatiable hankering for rockin’ antique jewels, then check one of my fav little gems on the Lower East Side: Doyle & Doyle (189 Orchard Street) has amazing victoriana bling! and heirloomesque estate pieces in every style and budget (I’ve been eyeing a few as a post-tax filing treat). Because let’s face it, that perfect sun dress at the hoity roof-top party is sorely lacking without a flawlessly accessorized killer gem or two… happy rummaging!

THANK GOD IT’S GIRLS NITE!
By Amber Roniger

When it comes to beauty tips and techniques, I can admit it, I’m sorely lacking. And judging from the pancake-powdered look of the majority of women during rush hour, they could use a little tutoring as well. Well help is on the way…

“Meet the Experts” Girls’ Nite is Wednesday, April 19th from 6-8pm, featuring industry experts in hair care, skincare, and makeup, namely Ted Gibson, Mally Roncal of Mally Beauty, and Sarah Kugelman of Skyn Ice. Seriously, this comes not a moment too soon as I’m-melting make-up and frizzy-frazzled hair weather is just round the bend.

“Meet the Experts” is open to the public for a $35 registration fee, a mere pittance to learn techniques to avoid looking like griddle cakes in the mornings and runny eggs by afternoon. To register call the Bendel’s Beauty Department at 212.904.7961

HIP HOP FLIP FLOPS
By Amber Roniger

It’s hard to explain exactly how dope Havaianas Flip Flops are. Nay, impossible. It requires something of a childish suspension of disbelief to accept that flip flops are more than just some crappy rubber you strap to your feet come spring to show off your shiny French manicure. It’s challenging to conceptualize that the flip flops could be the center show. I get it, really…

Thus was my own thinking when Betty, my personal Maven Goyisha Shopping Gal (in Gladwellian terms), approached me about ordering some Havaianas. What are these magical flip flops of which you so glowingly speak, ponders I. Honestly, the thought briefly flashes that Betty may have flipped her lid… again. Likened to the time she bragged about having $7 worth of coupons for the Dollar Store. Seriously…

But I’ve learned never to doubt Betty’s particular genius for finding extra-ordinary quality products, and rarely at cost. We cruise the site (www.havaianas.com) and I pick out two pair, one with a ‘lift’ heel and one flat, so cute (the site is an acid flashback in the making unto itself)!

And then I essentially forget about the Flip Flop Revelation… until they arrive.

I take the aqua lift pair for an impromptu, circuitous city hike on Easter Sunday. They’re surprisingly substantial; they actually have weight, muy impressivo! Me ‘n flip flops go everywhere, all the sunny afternoon. And for the first time ever, the thong thingie doesn’t rub a hole right through my poor big toe! I get no blisters, no rubber burns, no nothing! I must admit, these are some seriously fly flip flops. I must inform Maven Betty of my pleasure at once.

As I come to find, there are some crazy tricked-out Havaianas cruising around out there in the ethersphere. Lori Jack (www.lorijack.com) crafts some serious bling-bling hip hop flip flops for your fancy feets by embedding them with Swarovski crystals by hand “smashing, divine!

Psssst: I hear the next hot thing is Vera Wang bridesmaid’s gowns with Swavordski jeweled feet for major fetes. You heard it here first.

So go on and rock the Casbah in Havaianas this steamy season with your hip-hop-house-bling-bling-ching-glam-girl-thing bad ‘ole self!