Where's The Brooch? Michelle Obama's Election Night Jewelry Fashion

Well, he did it. In case you’ve been living in a cave, Barack Obama is the next President of the United States. The fabulous Michelle Obama is not only as smart and capable as our 44th President, we love her new take on significant other fashion. Her down-to-earth style and mixed use of designer and ‘off the rack’ is a far cry from Jackie-O’s fashion plate model and nowhere near Cindy McCain’s $70,000 outfit gold standard.

We’ve tracked Mrs. O’s jewelry fashion choices throughout the campaign, and last night she wowed us again with a diamond look worthy of the paradigm shift heard round the world. Her black and red Narciso Rodriguez dress was a fashion risk, but one that paid off in our book. Although the country is likely divided on the subject. Just a hunch.














And while the dazzling diamond drop earrings and blinged out bangles were a surprise choice for the jewelry-conservative Obama, we noticed one thing was missing. Where’s the brooch?

From her speech at the Democratic National Convention to her lauded appearance on the Tonight Show, brooch bling has been the jewelry of choice for the First Lady Elect. It’s, of course, good to keep the jewelry hounds guessing, but we hope she hasn’t put the brooch out to pasture along with Karl Rove, Dick Cheney and the neocons.

In the meantime, if Oprah has already picked out her Inauguration party frock, we can only imagine what the Divine Mrs. O will wow us with. One thing is for sure.

J Crew ain’t gonna cut it.

Michelle Obama 'Brooches' the Fashion Subject

Vintage diamonds, yellow gold, glittering gemstones – we’re seeing a bevy of beautiful variations on the brooch theme these days. The sensibly stylish, Michelle Obama, is now synonymous with the jewelry trend, and she launched yet another brooch blitz last night on the Tonight Show.

“I want to ask you about your wardrobe. I’m guessing about $60,000, $70,000 for that outfit,” Leno joked.

“Actually this is a J. Crew ensemble. We ladies, we know with J. Crew. You can get some good stuff online,” a gracious Mrs. O replied.

“Do you order it all online? Doesn’t that take the fun out of it?”

”When you don’t have time, you’ve got to click.”

Indeed.

We are still on the lookout for the brooch details (which, like her convention brooch, most likely came from her own jewelry box), but the J Crew ensemble included their Italian Deco tank, Crystal-button colorblock cardigan in Silver Honey and Metallic cloque pencil skirt in Metallic Sour Lemon.

Even Mrs. O knows it’s all about metallics this season, ladies.

Until recently, the brooch was a forgotten jewelry accessory relegated to Victorian era museum exhibits and grandma’s jewelry box. But with Michelle Obama’s help (and TV’s hit Mad Men), it’s clear women of all ages can “spread the wealth” with this glittering jewelry trend.

Diamonds, Gold, Filth and Wisdom

The stars came out in droves last night to toast Madonna’s latest accomplishment: movie directing. The lady clearly likes a challenge.

Dolce & Gabbana and the Cinema Society hosted a celebrity-packed screening of her freshman film effort, Filth and Wisdom, at New York’s Sunshine Cinema. Movie director hubby, Guy Ritchie, was conspicuously absent from the affair.

Jealous, anyone? Or maybe he couldn't sit through it again.

The film is a “musical/ drama/ comedy” hybrid about an aspiring Ukranian rock star and features Richard E Grant and Eugene Huntz of the gypsy punk band, Gogol Bordello. The interweaving plot also revolves around "a man who spanks for money, a chemist and a pole dancer".

That’s our Madge.

The director looked lovely in a black D & G number and worked the diamond brooch blitz to its full effect. Lindsay Lohan (is there a red carpet she hasn’t been on lately?) wore a tasteful pendant necklace and the layered bangle look with her short short skirt and very blue fingernails.

Actress Elizabeth Banks (who plays Laura Bush in the upcoming Oliver Stone film, W) looked lovely in a tasteful gold choker, and newlywed, Beth Ostrosky, showed up in a tasteful LBD and a classic gold bracelet.

Jerry Seinfeld ex, Shoshanna Loenstein, on the other hand tried to work the gold statement necklace trend, but the overall effect was less than glowing. Unfortunately, movie reviewers have had the same reaction to the flick. Ouch.

Filth and Wisdom opens in select theaters on October 17th

I Guess That's Why They Call It the Bling

Break out your checkbooks, music fans. A diamond and sapphire brooch worn by Elton John is on the auction block in London tomorrow. The 1930s Art Deco piece was worn by Sir Elton in his 1988 music video, “I Don’t Wanna Go on With You Like That.” A photograph of him wearing the piece during the filming of the video accompanies the lot.

The brooch, which is expected to fetch over $20,000, is shaped like the letter “J” and has brilliant-cut and baguette-cut diamonds and oval-cut and circular-cut sapphires.

"Diamonds have an enduring appeal," Jean Ghika, Bonhams' UK director of jewelry, said Tuesday. "They provide timeless elegance in a fast-moving fashion arena and in many instances maintain their worth."

An 11-carat emerald-cut diamond ring by De Beers that auctioneers say could go for as much as $593,000 is among the other items being sold. Economic crisis? What economic crisis?

For those of you who miss music videos with narrative through lines dramatized through interpretive dance (or heck – just music videos), check out the old Elton MTV gem on You Tube here. Playing the synthesizer in a long-tailed suit never looked so cool.

The Brooch Heard 'Round the World

Brace yourselves jewelry junkies. The brooch is back! No longer the domain of grandma and your flashy Aunt Ida, the brooch is beaming everywhere from the runway to TV's hit series Mad Men. But perhaps the most important brooch sighting was on would-be first lady, Michelle Obama (a.k.a. the new Jackie Kennedy), during her highly anticipated speech at the Democratic National Convention. If there was brooch buzz before, Obama sent the look into the stratosphere.

No matter your political persuasion, the starburst brooch Obama wore with her turquoise Maria Pinto dress had tongues wagging throughout jewelry land. Who designed it? What is it made out of? Where can I get one? Our sources reveal that it came straight from Mrs. O’s jewelry box and was symbolic of Barack’s rising sun campaign logo. It is said that she wore it close to her heart to symbolize that her speech was coming straight from the heart. I see your eyes rolling. Hey – whatever works, people!

But you don’t have to be married to a presidential candidate to hop on the brooch bandwagon. Much like the pearl strand, the brooch is one of the more versatile and accessible jewelry looks. Dig through your grandma’s jewelry box for a vintage piece or shop around for a new, modern interpretation. Pin it on to add flash to your little black dress or throw some sparkle on your office attire. The opportunities are endless (much like the race for the White House).

So do your country proud and 'brooch' the subject in your own fabulous way. Cindy McCain, are you taking notes?