Jewelry Sparkles at Vogue Fashion Fund

Jewelry fashion is always gawk-worthy when the fashion world gets together for a function. Whether it’s sitting runway-side or throwing a fundraiser, where there’s Anna, Diane, Galliano and Leon – there’s diamonds, gemstones, and gold out the wazoo.

Last night, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund celebrated its fifth anniversary at Skylight Studios in New York, and the glamorous crowd came out in droves. The evening celebrated up-and-coming designers with five and six figure prizes and top designers Narciso Rodriguez, John Galliano, Diane von Furstenberg, Vera Wang and Zac Posen were there to root them on.

The evening’s top prize of $200,000 and a year's worth of mentoring, went to 24-year-old Alexander Wang.

"Four years ago I was reading about this award in my dorm room in a magazine," the youngster told Style.com.

Looking drop dead gorgeous in Dior and a stunning vintage diamond choker was my favorite jewelry hound, Charlize Theron. And while an understated Blake Lively was there to share the spotlight, no one could hold a candle to the evening’s glamazonian MC.

The guests glittered as well with model, Doutzen Kroes in Hervé Léger and a glittering statement necklace and guest Chiara Clemente, in Giambattista Valli and golden pom-pom earrings.

The only misstep was a usually classic Anna Wintour in an unfortunate short sleeved sequined number with black tights that bordered on the, dare I say, tacky?

Diamonds Rock the Casbah

Diamonds and Charlize Theron. Now that’s a winning combination. Our favorite jewels made a dazzling appearance last night in Hollywood at the “Rock the Casbah” fundraiser for Richard Branson’s Virgin Unite charity, and the drooling photogs got a lense-full.

While the bearded entrepreneur is stuck at sea trying to break the world record for crossing the Atlantic (what kind of excuse is that!), Hollywood’s beauties came out to show their support.

Neve Campbell made a rare appearance in a classic strapless dress and tasteful diamond earrings. TV personality, Samantha Harris, looked stunning in diamond teardrops, and the always beautiful, Salma Hayek, buttoned up in a black pants suit and silver dollar-sized vintage diamond clusters.

But, as always, all eyes were on the Charlize. Diamonds dripped from her ears, and she worked the trendy off-the-shoulder, little black dress like no other. And while we all have days when we wish, for a moment, we could understand what it means to be Charlize Theron, the Oscar-winner has her own ideas.

"He's got to be that guy that we all just secretly want to live his life," she said of Richard Branson. "Even if it's just for a week, I mean wouldn't that be incredible?."

"He's an inspiration, I think we want to surround ourselves with people who inspire you and push you, and this guy does that on a level that is out of control."

Tickets for the event went for between $750 per person to $50,000 for a V.I.P. table for 10. Guests were treated to a lavish dinner, auction and a performance by Natalie Imbruglia before dancing until the early hours.

Some of the proceeds from the night went to the Eve Branson Foundation, run by Richard Branson's mother, which helps Moroccan women set up small businesses to support their families - hence the Casbah theme.

Looks like they rocked it for you, Richard. Good luck out there!

Diamond Jewels, Gold Lions, Clooney AND Pitt? That's Amore!

Statement necklaces, artistic bangles, and diamonds, diamonds, diamonds littered the red carpet at the 66th annual Venice Film Festival this week. High fashion is always on parade at the world’s oldest film event, and this year is certainly no exception.

Before we get to the jewels, the JI would like to take a just brief moment to appreciate the coming together of two very important forces in Venice this year. George Clooney AND Brad Pitt. There to show off their new film, Burn After Reading (directed by the Cohen Brothers), the dynamic duo hit not just the red carpet but all the hot parties and…well… we’re sure they left hundreds of drooling women in their wake. Mea culpa!

OK. Moving on.

The festival’s “Sala Grande” outside the historic Palazzo del Cinema gave us Charlize Theron in two stunning looks, models and dignitaries looking elegant and oh so Italian, and Tilda Swinton in…well…you be the judge. The current ‘big’ trend was on display and new looks for the wrist caught our eye on both Charlize and supermodel, Claudia Schiffer.

We will continue to keep tabs on festivalgoers until the Golden Lion is awarded to the best film on September 6th, as Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei, Kim Basinger and many others have yet to show us their Venetian best. Viva La Cinema!

Hancock's Gems

At the premiere of Will Smith's latest summer spectacular, it was all about the heroines of the night and not the hero - sorry Will. Jada Pinkett-Smith looked her ever-glamorous self in a green goddess-style dress with some stunning blue jewels by Leticia Linton including a pair of over-sized yellow gold earrings featuring a whopping 66 carats of lapis lazuli, with a matching ring.



Virginia Madsen kept it simple with a solitary pearl drop pendant like this one from http://www.jewelry.com/














Charlize Theron is the perfect example of accessorizing etiquette. She wore a large gold hoop necklace but no earrings and a simple upswept hairstyle. She knows, if you're going to make a statement - just make one.







Another celeb choosing gold hoops was the venerable Queen Latifah wearing a pair of large double hooped earrings. But Queen... what were you wearing? Apparently she had come straight from the gym.