evelynH. Jewelry Rocks Diamond Empowerment Fund’s “Dallas Rocks” Gala

Young jewelry designer, Evelyn Huang, of evelynH. Jewelry, partnered with Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) during their annual “Dallas Rocks” gala event to auction off her 2009 Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) DIVA award-winning earrings. The event, hosted by D.E.F. founder Russell Simmons and actor Anthony Anderson of Law and Order, took place on Saturday, November 14 at the historic Union Station in Dallas, Texas.

D.E.F, founded in 2007 by Russell Simmons, is an international non-profit organization with the mission to raise funds to support educational initiatives, which develop and empower the economically disadvantaged in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource.

D.E.F.’s "Rising Star Empowerment Award" was presented to the Bush twins, Barbara Bush and Jenna Bush Hager. Jenna Bush Hager showcased the evelynH. award-winning “Africa’s Hope Diamond Drop” earrings by wearing the earrings during the gala. Russell Simmons made the final bid on the evelynH. earrings and presented them to Barbara Bush as a gift for her support of D.E.F. and her work at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Capetown, South Africa.

The evelynH. “Africa’s Hope Diamond Drops” feature 3.54 carats total weight of African Emeralds, 4.89 carats total weight of colorless diamonds and is set in 18 karat white gold. The earrings are valued at over $19,000.00 USD. Evelyn selected African emeralds because the color green represents hope and one of the Earth’s natural resources, along with being the symbolic color for both D.E.F. and evelynH. The teardrop design is also reminiscent of an Angel’s harp, which is emblematic of the D.E.F.’s celebrity ambassadors called “Africa’s Angels.” Celebrity angel ambassadors include South African supermodel Nicola Breytenbach and reality star Kim Kardashian. Evelyn was introduced to Russell Simmons and the D.E.F. through her recent win at the WJA DIVA Competition.



“As a designer, I always seek to create beauty and meaning with my designs.” Evelyn continues, “As a human being, I am honored the ‘Africa’s Hope’ earrings will be worn by Barbara Bush, who cares so deeply about the mission of the D.E.F. and all the special individuals that the proceeds from these earrings will inevitably touch.”

Rock Princess-Demi Lovato- rocks Michael M

Rock princess, Demi Lovato, best known for staring alongside the wholesome Jonas Brothers in Disney's Camp Rock movie and recently releasing her sophomore album titled "Here We Go Again," was spotted wearing Michael M Jewelry to appearances on Good Morning America and The View.

LBG's Designers Hit Stands...

Things have been crazy at LBG, between recent magazine photo shoots with Elle London to cover shoots with Oscar winner, Hilary Swank and actress/stylista Rachel Bilson to loaning jewels to Disney star, Demi Lovato for upcoming new album press tour.

Hard work pays off...here are some notable press hits you may have seen LBG's designers featured in!

Michael M flower ring featured on the cover of
The Knot Magazine
Fall/Winter 2009

More pictures from The Knot...

Goregous 90120 & Nip Tuck star, Annalynne McCord
rocks Michael M earrings and Supreme Jewelry ring on cover of
Signature LA Direct
July 2009 issue

Christian Tse Prismatic Timepiece Collection
featured on several fashion and shopping websites and blogs

So many more press hits on stands now!

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

The LBG Team watched (along with a billion others) the memorial celebration tribute, honoring the late Michael Jackson. We will miss The KING of POP!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to MJ's children, family, friends and loving fans.


Jackson seen on the cover of Ebony last year wearing a Christian Tse 18K gold mesh necklace. He will be missed by all!!!

Back to Blogging...

Dear Diary (aka LBG Blog),

I am so sorry I haven't written is so long. OMG, I need to fill you in on what's up. I like have so much to tell you... (Don't most diary entries seem to start something like that!?) Well, here's the 411 on Vegas!

The Las Vegas jewelry trade shows came and went as quicker than I could say "What happens in Vegas..." Almost like the "Hangover" but with more jewelry and less tigers.

Laurie Hudson, principal and Queen of LBG, (I guess that makes me the duchess!?) did a presentation on "Understanding How to Market to Generation X & Y Consumers." With over 60 jeweler professionals in attendance, Laurie filled the room with humor, interesting ideas & concepts, and of course, her infamous Laurie-isms!

Read what JCK Magazine had to say about it:

http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6661472.html?q=laurie+hudson

Although the JCK and Couture shows were noticeably lighter in exhibitors, advertisers, parties and overall people, it still was a great opportunity for LBG's designers to launch new collections and sell merchandise. Surprisingly, retailers were buying...conservatively, though. None-the-less they were still purchasing.

My feet have finally heeled from five long Vegas days of standing, booth-to-booth walking, heel-wearing and party and club dancing. I'm glad to be back, but it was great to see everyone!

More to come...

XOXO,

Jewelry Girl

The Results are in: Carrie Ann takes the prize

With all of the craziness surrounding the season finales, LBG has been a little crazy.

Therefore I would like to share with everyone the amazing jewelry that Carrie Ann Inuba was wearing during the results show last week.

The utter amazingness of the cuff alone might require a
friend or co-worker to peel your jaw off of the floor.

Notice the ring too!

You can tell she likes it too!

Samantha Harris Rocks Michael M

Popular TV host, Samantha Harris, of Dancing with the Stars, The Insider, E! Entertainment and many other shows, recently rocked this Michael M one-of-a-kind natural rough cut diamond flower cocktail ring from the new "Dreaming in Color Collection" while hosting the weekend edition of the newsy show, The Insider.

As newscasters always say, "Let's take a closer look..."

Up close and personal!

Come see us at JCK!

We L.O.V.E... Camilla Belle

Over here at Luxury Brand Group, style is what is all about. Every now and then there is a celebrity who makes us go, "ooooooooo," and lately, it has been Miss. Camilla Belle. Her beautiful eyebrows and dark hair adds a pop to anything she wears, but thankfully that isn't all she has to depend on! She is a pure-fashionista with a girl/rock/glam style all her own. Please join us in admiring her.

A Little Mother's Day Cheer!

It's that time of year again where we take one whole day to thank our wonderful mom's who do way more than a just a days worth of gratitude. Over at LBG we are focusing on the moms who not only are amazing moms, but also amazing fashionistas. Whether it is fashion or our beloved jewelry, these mom's definitely know how to work it. So here is an LBG shout out to all the moms who we thought deserved some extra recognition.

Cathy Nadel of Town & Country
Diane Mattioli of Vogue
Amanda Gizzi of JIC
Nicole Ritchie
Ashley Simpson
Laurie Hudson(hey! how did she get on here! J/k She is the best) of LBG
Vanessa Williams

Victoria Tse of Christian Tse Jewelry 

The one and only, Angelina Jolie

& last all of the LBG moms! 

Who wouldn't want to strut their stuff in the office?

Thanks to our friends over at Marie Claire, we got a behind the scenes (or should I say closet doors) look at what really goes on over there! I love the catwalk they did right next to the cubicles! It doesn't get any more diva than that! This gives me an idea to show you all what really goes on over at LBG!

ETSY Find of the Week: Ring of the month club

This week we discovered a brilliant idea... What you might ask???

A ring of the month club!!! You can choose to do a three or six month stint and every month you will receive a new ring, customized to your style in the mail!

According to Cookoorikoo, store owner, "these rings are made with vintage jewelry and findings. i sometimes replace missing stones but most of the time i let the item's well worn love shine through. because of this no two rings are identical. each one is special in its own chippy, sparkly way."

Sounds like I am sold!

So you wanna be a model????

Calling all aspiring models: V Magazine and Ford Models have joined forces to find the next big thing in the modeling world. Do you think you have what it takes to be the next Gisele or Heidi? Well if so, you just might just be the next winner!
Last year's winner, Amanda Laine has since worked with
Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen, Miu Miu, and Balenciaga.
So start your engines ladies and start submitting your
best "taken in your bedroom, sexy, I wanna be a model" photos!

Click here to find out how you can become the next big thing!

A Pocketful of Sunshine

Jen here... I spent Saturday at a photo shoot with the lovely and talented singer, Natasha Bedingfield, made famous for her song "Unwritten" the theme song for The Hills.

LBG supplied the fabulous jewels for Signature LA Direct Magazine who is featuring Natasha as their May cover story. The issue hits stands in a few weeks. Look for our amazing designers to be featured.

Natasha was such a blast to work with and knew how to strike a pose...

...or two
The crew:
Stylists, Melinda and Brittany, glam it up with Gucci.
Eryka the Editor-in-Chief, Natasha Bedingfield and I... after a long shoot!

Bulgari 125th Anniversary Campaign

Bulgari has decided to celebrate their 125th anniversary in a very charitable way. They have teamed up with the Save the Children charity to create the Rewrite the Future Campaign.The campaign is aimed at providing education to millions of children suffering from war and conflict with a donation of 10 million euros by the end of the year.

The ring is a silver ring (rare because Bulgari usually only works with gold) with engravings. The purchase will contribute $60 of the total cost of $290 to the Save the Children charity.

Bulgari has enlisted the help of many celebrities for the ad campaign such as Debra Messing, Ben Stiller, Jason Lewis and Terrance Howard.

Laurie Hudson in Jewelry Book!

Our very own Laurie Hudson recently wrote an article for Jewelry Book on what we can expect for the jewelry industry this coming year. Laurie is full of knowledge and this article really speaks truly to that. Read the article in the Winter 2009 issue of Jewelry Book.

GET THE LOOK: Academy of Country Music Awards

To get Carrie's look, look for an earring that has sparkle, length and a wow factor. Visit http://www.supremejewelry.net/ for this earring and more.

To get Kaley's look, look for fun, bright, and different style bangles. Mix it up! You don't have to wear gold with gold and silver with silver! Wear silver with gold and throw in some pink while you are in there! (from left to right: Juicy Couture bangle, Forever 21 bangles)

For Taylor's look: look for an earring that has a heavier bottom then the top. A dark colored stone is all the rage. Micheal M has a beautiful pair (shown above) that basically match Taylor's look! visit http://michaelmcollection.com/

We dont just love jewelry...

WE LOVE BEAUTY TOO!

Want to get smooth skin without breaking the bank? I know I sure do! So, I am going to test out this homemade spa treatment that will probably cost no more than a couple of dollars versus hundreds! See we aren't all about luxury here! We love the economic-friendly things too!

Running in Heals is making me want to run away!

Okay Style Network... Listen up. We love Marie Claire. We love reality. We love Fashion, and we love you. BUT... we do not love DRAMA. Please stop focusing on the interns drama and get back to what we love! THE STYLE!

Give us more of Zoe's photo shoots, trips to Fashion Week in Brazil, new designers, events with designers like Roberto Cavalli and all the other things that make our fashionista's heart pound.



Really, naming a whole episode, "Intern Wars" is a little too much.
This isn't MTV.

A look through the lens

We know a great photographer who blows us away

every time we use him and every time we see his work!

His name is Wallis... Jason Wallis.
(that was my bond impersonation in case you missed it...)

Check out his website at www.wallisphoto.com
and his awesome blog, www. wallisphoto.blogspot.com/


(from wallisphoto.com... taken by Jason Wallis)

Goodbye my friend...

It's official... Lipstick Jungle got the boot.
(this is where you begin hearing sobbing, screaming, and yelling)

Hopefully you remember my post about how much LBG loves the show because of the great taste in jewelry, clothes and accessories! Although we still have our Gossip Girl, our fashion inspiration will never be the same again.

R.I.P Lipstick Jungle

And the winners are...

The Jewelers Choice Award winners were just announced in the JCK March issue and there are some amazing pieces! There were a couple of things that made me jump out of my socks! Seeing pieces like these refresh my love for jewelry! Keep it going designers!

LBG's Top Picks:

1st. Best Bridal Design- Michael M.

2nd. Best Earring Design- Supreme Jewelry

3rd. Colored Diamond Jewelry- Sylva & Cie

Some Valentines Day Cheer!

Due to the lackluster economy, Michael M. and Bridal Rings Company, wanted to bring smiles to the faces of a couple in need of a bridal ring. Peter Meksian and his father Michael Meksian, owners and designers of the award-winning fine jewelry brand Michael M., partnered with the top-rated radio station, with over 3.5 million listeners, and retailer Bridal Rings Company, to give away a 1.21 total weight diamond ring, set in 18 karat white gold, with a center diamond of .75 carats graded G color, VS2 clarity. The spectacular ring is valued at over $10,000.

The winner, Tracy Bennett, was presented the ring on Friday, February 13th at Bridal Rings Company. With family and friends in tow and ready to celebrate, Tracy was romantically proposed to by boyfriend Frank

KIIS-FM listeners logged onto http://www.kiisfm.com/ and entered keyword “diamond.” They filled out an entry form on why they deserved to win. Thousands of heartwarming stories were received by the radio station. After days of deliberation, a young couple from La Mirada, CA was chosen. Tracy Bennett, age 27, an evaluator for an educational non-profit called, THINK Together in Santa Ana, CA., and her boyfriend, Frank Arroyo, age 31, a 7th grade PE & Health teacher at Willard Intermediate also located in Santa Ana, were chosen as the winners.

The couple of over two years met while teaching together at Willard Intermediate. Last spring the couple became engaged and within a week of the proposal, Frank received a letter, along with thousands of other teachers statewide, that his teaching spot may be cut because of educational budget cuts. Tracy also received disappointing news; her position was officially eliminated as of June 2008. With the tough financial circumstances that suddenly ensued, the couple felt it was not the right time to celebrate being engaged, as they were unsure as to where they would be living, let alone working. They mutually decided to postpone the proposal, and return the ring, until they could afford it. Tracy decided to enter the KIIS-FM “Ring in the New Year” contest, on a total whim, never imagining that she would win. In her entry she wrote, “This ring would prove to me that sacrifices made for love actually pay off.” Upon finding out that she was the winner over the phone, Tracy cried with excitement and disbelief, “When we spoke about sacrifice in our entry we were referring to being unable to move forward due to financial constraints. It was a contradiction of sorts because even though we felt ready, deep down we knew it just didn’t seem completely right. We wanted to be able to enjoy our engagement. And now we can!”

Peter Meksian, of Michael M. said, “Bridal Rings Company and the entire Michael M. team feel so joyful and honored to help this touching couple.” Peter continued, “Providing this ring is an emblem of love, and the beginning of a new life for Tracy and Frank. Their story really changed my perspective: I realized it goes much more beyond just a ring.”

Check out the below links for more information: http://www.kiisfm.com/pages/contest/michaelm.html?_show or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7Z5X8lnj5M&feature=channel_page

Thank you KIIS FM, Michael M and The Bridal Rings Company!

Lipstick Jungle moving to a new channel?

According to E-Watch with Kristin, Lipstick Jungle might be moving to Bravo or Lifetime for the next season. If that is the case, fine!, but please don't get rid of the show! Where else will I get my fashion and accessories fix each week?

For example, Kim Raver's character, Nico Reilly wore an amazing ring by Rhonda Faber Green in the episode, Chapter 9, Help!

This ring along with many others are the reason we have shows like Sex and the City, Cashmere Mafia (RIP), Gossip Girl, and many more! The clothes, the jewels, the boys, the drama, Oh My!

It might have won a Razzie for worst picture of 2009, but the jewelry won our hearts!

As awards season is in full throttle, the Razzie awards must also be given... This year, Mike Myers, "Love Guru" won the Razzie for worst picture.... http://www.razzies.com/history/08winners.asp

HOWEVER... The movie did have one redeeming quality! The Jewelry!

Supreme Jewelry provided the beautiful ring that Mike Myers is wearing. Is there a Razzie award for Best Jewelry in a movie?