Jewel & Jewel

Forget what your mother told you about not mixing prints. The Elie Tahari Resort 2009, shown in a preview in New York , breaks that rule, with an array of prints that will satisfy anyone suffering from late winter doldrums.

The collection included everything from abstract watercolor prints on silk shift dresses and loose flutter sleeve tops - think Georgia O’Keefe’s flower paintings - to graphic black and white, op art and Biba-esque prints on sheer chiffon.

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There are five fashion essentials for 2008. Whether these pieces have already found their way into the closet or a shopping trip is needed, each of the following is a must-have for their versatility and freshness.

1. The Sheer Shirt

Spring (and now summer) fashion this year has embraced sheer fabrics as well as lace, cut-outs and eyelets. The go-to shirt for summer is a sheer one, whether in girlie gauze or more sophisticated linen. Pick a light, neutral color that compliments the warm climate. These shirts are perfect to wear over a tank top – embracing the coolness of a tank without being so exposed. If the shirt gets worn, by the end of the summer, use it as a bathing suit cover-up. But sheer shirts can last a long time if they’re treated gently and hand-washed.

2. The Floral Dress

Yes, the summer staple: a floral dress. For 2008, the shape of the dress doesn’t matter so much – it can be a shift, a full skirt or belted at the waist. What’s important and what makes the dress modern is the pattern itself. Dainty little flowers are out; bold patterns are in. Bigger, brighter flowers (as long as they’re not gaudy) look sophisticated and elegant. Pick dark flowers on a light background – dark gray or navy on white, for example – for an extra grown-up look.

3. Casual sparkles

The shimmery trend from the past year continues – but for summer, keep sparkles from being too glitzy by making sure the piece of clothing is a casual one. Pair a sequined top with jeans or khakis or a lightweight jeweled cardigan over a plain shiftdress. Sparkles have even been showing up on the beach. Teen Vogue recently featured a beach-wear spread that included a sparkly shirt. Who says shine has to be limited to the city?

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French fashion house Christian Dior said it has dropped Sharon Stone from its Chinese ads and released a statement from the actress apologizing for saying China’s earthquake may have been bad karma for its treatment of Tibet.

The 50-year-old actress said she was “deeply sorry” for causing anguish and anger among Chinese people with her remarks in an interview last week. Stone models for Christian Dior SA, and the company’s Shanghai office issued the statement.

Stone’s comments caused considerable anger in the Chinese media. The official Xinhua News Agency said in a commentary Thursday she was the “public enemy of all mankind.”

The public relations manager for Dior in Shanghai who gave only her surname, Guo, said Stone would no longer appear in the company’s advertisements in China.

“Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people,” Stone said in the statement. “I am willing to take part in the relief work of China’s earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people.”

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As Wall Street fluctuates wildly and inflation devalues “money in the bank,” as the dollar weakens and oil prices soar, savy women may have the right investment idea. Women have known for years that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” but today they may be more than just a pretty bauble. “Experts in the diamond industry are paying close attention to the rate at which prices for fine quality diamonds have been escalating over the past year, and there is no sign of reversal for these high quality gems,” says gem expert Antoinette Matlins, author of Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide (GemStone Press, Woodstock, VT), “and we’re not the only ones watching the market—I’m getting calls from successful women looking for inflation protecting investments that will give them a guaranteed psychic as well as a possible financial return!”

But is this a sound idea? According to Matlins, who consults with clients around the world on their acquisition of jewelry and gems, it may be if done wisely. And, there are now unusual opportunities not just for fine diamonds but for fine colored gemstones as well because supply of these high quality stones is failing to keep up with demand. Matlins sees this gap widening over the next 10 years. “As wealth continues to spread to more people globally, demand is increasing for very fine quality diamonds weighing 2 carats or more, and very fine colored gems in varying sizes, but the supply of these gems is actually diminishing as existing mines are depleted,” Matlins explains.

Matlins predicts that the gap between supply and demand will widen even further as people in the Middle East and China become more interested in acquiring fine quality gemstones, resulting in even stronger prices.

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The pink diamond is the world’s most rare and valuable diamond.The Argyle mine is the world’s foremost source of unrivalled intense pink diamonds, producing 95% of the world’s supply. However, an extremely small proportion of Argyle Diamonds production is Pink colour, in fact less than one tenth of 1% is classified Pink.

The legend of Argyle pink diamond has grown over the past ten years. At the 1989 Christie’s auction in New York a 3.14 carat Argyle pink sold for $1,510,000. Privately, Argyle has sold pink diamonds for up to $1 million a carat.   
  
For years the white diamond was considered the world’s most beautiful diamond, until the discovery of the Argyle mine heralded the arrival of the Argyle pink diamond. Never before had pink diamonds displaying such intense shades of colour been seen. The pink diamonds of India, Brazil and Africa were characteristically light in colour and paled even further when placed beside the intensely pink Argyle diamonds. The natural colour diamonds have in fact been around as long as the classical whites but in much smaller quantities and never in great demand.

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Your wardrobe isn’t the only thing that may need updating this spring and summer. Trendy new cosmetics can also be a great way to add some new life to your look. One of the best things about the new makeup trends is their versatility and wearability. No matter what your fashion sense, skin tone or hair color, you can find a new makeup trend that works for you.

Texture is important for cosmetics, and never more so than in 2008. The new crop of mineral makeups are smooth and nurturing for every skin tone and type. Mineral makeup comes in a powder form, which is gently buffed onto the skin using a soft puff or large, fluffy brush. The finely milled powder works to cover imperfections and even skin tone while imparting a healthy glow. Pigment powders are also a hot trend. These powders, such as those offered by MAC Cosmetics, can be used as loose eyeshadow or mixed with a blending medium and used on the cheeks, lips, even nails.

Step 1: Moisturize, moisturize and then moisturize some more! With such a basic palette, glowing skin is the basis of any good makeover. Rub a good face cream all over and then blot anywhere it looks shiny.

Step 2: Put a dab of foundation on any area of the face where skin tones need to be evened out. I just blended in a tiny bit on my friend’s t-zone.

Step 3: Apply concealer to any red marks or pimples. Also, you can use concealer for dark circles under the eyes, but make sure to dab gently, rather than rub it in. I like to use a brush instead of my finger for blending.

Step 4: Apply a little concealer to your lips. No, that’s not a typo. Put just a bit of concealer on your pout. It will help lipstick stay on longer.

Step 5: Get a big blush brush and apply a peachy blush (or light pink if peach isn’t your color), to the apples of the cheeks and up to your temples. Make sure to blend so it looks natural. Not trying too hard is the look we’re going for here.

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The Brazilian supermodel is convinced her mother is proof she will get better looking as she ages.

She said she will never opt for plastic surgery. “No way (will I have surgery),” Contactmusic quoted her, as saying.

“Actually, I asked my mother the same question and she said, ‘It’s taken me 58 years for me to look like this. You think I’m going to ruin it now?’

“She looks great, so I hope I will look the same,” she added.