miss b loves....pearls(Part 2)...... style icons and how they wear their pearls

Pearls symbolise understated elegance and class and have been strung around the necks of style icons over the decades. Screen goddesses in Hollywood movies and celebrities have certainly reinforced the glamour of pearls........

Coco Chanel, in the 1920s, gave pearls their iconic style status and she was rarely seen without her signature strings of pearls ..... 

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"A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls" Coco Chanel

In the 1950s Marilyn Monroe wore a strand of Mikimoto cultured pearls given to her by her husband Joe DiMaggio while on honeymoon in Japan (and she famously wore them at the divorce court a year later too!)

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miss b loves ........ pearls and a special exhibition

Tastes in jewellery certainly vary but pearls have fascinated people for thousands of years. Unlike other gems they need no enhancement, no cutting or polishing.

Just before Christmas I visited the Pearls Exhibition at the V&A Museum (in collaboration with the Qatar Museum Authority) to find out more about these objects of desire which have been associated with wealth, royalty and glamour through the ages.....

A portrait of Jeanne de Marigny, about 1650-1660 greeted visitors .....

Pearls were a sign of
 wealth and status

The tour began with X ray images and a video showing the formation of the pearl. Contrary to popular belief, pearls do not form when a grain of sand enters an oyster! A parasite (tapeworm) enters the shell and the mantle then covers the intruder with layers of nacre (mother of pearl) the same substance used to create the shell.

The 'Pearl Fishing in the Gulf' section brought back memories of our trip to Qatar last October. 

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The most beautiful natural pearls came from the Gulf and the pearl fishing trade was the mainstay of Qatar's economy until the discovery of oil and gas. Apparently only one pearl would be found in every 2000 oysters!

miss b loves .....seeing The Tiffany Diamond in Dubai

To celebrate the 175th anniversary of the iconic Tiffany & Co jewellers, The Tiffany Diamond went on tour to Tokyo, Beijing and before returning home to New York ..........Dubai.......and it was still there during our recent visit.....

The exquisite 128.54 carat yellow diamond has been reset in a dazzling necklace of white diamonds to mark this very special occasion.........

This is the legendary Diamond which was set in Tiffany designer Jean Schlumberger's  Ribbon Rosette necklace and worn by Audrey Hepburn to promote the film Breakfast at Tiffany's in 1961.

miss b loves.....the key spring/summer 2012 trends

• Sugared almond pastels

The shops are now full of pretty pastel tones - sorbet, ice cream, dolly mixture colours. Mint, peach, sherbet lemon, pistachio, lilac and pink.... in delicate, lightweight fabrics...silk, chiffon and lace....It's probably the most dominant summer trend (and my favourite!) 

Miss Selfridge 

bobochic silk scarf

miss b loves......the key autumn winter 2011 / 2012 trends

 

The next few weeks will result in the usual dilemma - what to wear as the seasons change. There's always that tricky decision around this time - when shall I finally put away those summer clothes and wear the  new autumn looks? Even more difficult with the strange weather we're having - sun, rain, wind then sun all within one day sometimes within the hour!(miss b's tip - never leave home without a bobochic scarf or pashmina in your bag!!)  

Time to treat yourself to some key new season pieces..........

  

PRINTS - SPOTS, CIRCLES, SWIRLS......

Circles, swirls, polka dots and winter florals -the autumn/winter 2011-12 catwalks were a rich collage of print and pattern.