Last night Saturday Night Live's host and musical guest, Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio)caught my eye with his dark and sparkly style during his performance of the song, Monaco.
His latticework vest made of glittering crystals against his black long-sleeved top and smooth, black, leather, boot-cut pants stood out. The pants were fitted and cozy, as opposed to foolishly tight.
Then I wondered about his shoes. They were causal smart, black leather boots with pointy (?), narrow toes, and thick elevated heels.
It's a no-brainer, I loved his drop diamond earrings which you can see, as well as, his bracelets and rings which you can't see in the posted photos (but could on a big television screen).
No element was overdone. With the perfect ratio of dark to shimmer, the rapper has an edgy and glamorous style that is Savvy Shopper approved! Not saying Bad Bunny needs my approval, but Savvy Shopper-admired doesn't have the same ring to it, (and spell-check keeps correcting it to the former anyway:). Now where on planet earth can we get Bad Bunny's vest!?!
What's your favorite piece of Bad Bunny's ensemble?
I love going to my local T.J. Maxx, as well as, browsing online despite not being able to bring up specific designers by typing a name into its search box. Yes, a pain! T.J. Maxx has an agreement with certain designers not to disclose that their commodities, often marketed as exclusive, have landed at the retailer, discounted. Fair enough for the savings!
BETSEY JOHNSON Boo Ghost Crossbody
Moreover, here's thrilling news from the United Kingdom ... its T.K. Maxx, the company name across the pond, has paired with consignment shops to offer haute couture items for folks who buy Chanel, Louis Vuitton, or St. Laurent bags, wallets, or cardholders! Some of these high fashion labels are also landing on T.K. Maxx's shelves under the radar. If going forward you see them, it's not a mirage. Sometimes I see Valentino or Choe leather goods at the USA's sister company, T.J. Maxx, in addition to its Off the Runway section of apparel. The merchandise is still pricey, yet reduced by hundreds of dollars for interested consumers.
As regular readers know, I have an interest in haute couture as a blogger, although I don't buy it for myself. I'm happy with my Coach leather handbags and have picked up non-couture leather goods of excellent (or good enough however usually stellar) quality from T.J. Maxx's shelves. I buy all my leather wallets and cardholders for under $15. Shhhh, don't tell anyone![I'll have to put this problem child bag identifying information here. BAGAMOUR Made In Italy Leather Baguette Crossbody →]
Now let's end with a bit of spooky fun. I've pulled up some Halloween-themed bags that are available until supplies last from T.J. Maxx's online website to feature throughout today's blog. The retailer always offers super cute holiday-themed home goods, as well as, apparel (including children's costumes) and bags, and shoppers may not have to go elsewhere. No scary prices for Maxximistas to find!
On the ends are ISADORA Made In Italy Leather Phone Holders and in the center a DIVINA FIRENZE Leather Triple Compartment Crossbody.
Demarson New York has been featured in Vogue, WWD, Harper's Bazaar, NBC's Today Show, and now finally on THE SAVVY SHOPPER. As the song goes, How lucky can you get?😁 Of course, launching a blooming jewelry line is the result of having a vision and experience in the industry combined with hours of hard work and a good publicist.
The retailer's founders, Jason Crantz and Marcela Ponce, design modern, bold, edgy pieces that look beautifully crafted. I love the aesthetics and sophistication of the pieces, yet I caution all savvy shoppers against buying a collection of fashion jewelry. If a piece speaks to you and you know you'll get lots of wear and compliments out of it, go ahead and treat yourself. Some of the jewelry I've posted gracing the post you'll find discounted under the website's Sale Archive Tab.
Still, in lieu of collecting fashion jewelry, it's smarter to save up for fine jewelry, 14k or 18k gold, set with your favorite precious gemstones: diamonds, emeralds, rubies, or sapphires.
Although more expensive, all you really need are a few pieces of fine jewelry that you'll wear time and again over decades. For jewelry lovers, it's worth saving up to buy.
Fashion jewelry is usually less expensive than fine jewelry and yet not dirt cheap. With fashion jewelry, you pay for the design but don't get real gold or real gemstones. However, there may be places where wearing fine jewelry would make you a target, making the adornment of fashion jewelry safer.
At times 925 sterling silver jewelry -- also a precious metal and sold as fine jewelry -- is cheaper than fashion jewelry and is by far more affordable than gold. That said ...
Demarson's popularity with fashion editors is understandable. Its cutting-edge earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces are eye-catching. The brand stands out. Upscale stores like Nieman Marcus and Nordstrom carry the line.
As much as I love jewelry I've always known the price of gemstones is arbitrary to a great extent. Jewelry is as much of an overpriced luxury item as Hermes handbags, Manolo Blahnik shoes, or Dior pants and coats. They cost what consumers are willing to pay for them. Never think of luxury items as investments but to be enjoyed as things of beauty only. The value of luxury goods is driven by want not need. If you covet investments, take your money to an investment firm to buy stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, where you'll earn returns on your portfolio. You're lucky to break even by reselling luxury goods after you subtract a 15% - 20% commission.
So I'm happy to report an exciting development in the diamond market! In 2023 diamond prices are tumbling down -- about 23% for 1-carat stones and about 15% for 3-carat stones -- according to experts who watch diamond prices such as That Guy Osiris, an ex-diamond trader who has a YouTube channel.
The reasons for the decline in diamond prices are several:
(1) Monopoly diamond sellers such as DeBeeraren't as powerful as they once were in setting diamond prices high combined with limiting the supply of gemstones on the market.
Photo: istock
(2) Nowadays the demand for diamonds is less. Not every bride in 2023 desires an engagement ring. Some wish to put their $7,000 - $15,000 earnings elsewhere such as for a downpayment on a house or car. Millennials are more interested in spending on travel and experiences than buying diamond rings.
(3) A main reason why the price of diamonds is sinking is the greater acceptance by the public of lab-grown diamonds which cost about 1/3 less than diamonds mined in nature. Diamonds created in a lab are chemically and optically identical to natural diamonds.
(4) The process of making laboratory diamonds is getting better and cheaper all the time, and more companies including jeweler James Allan are offering them. According to Liberum Capital Markets, about 25% to 35% of diamonds sold to customers today are lab-grown diamonds.
5) That Guy Osiris says that industry leader DeBeers is responding by discounting its prices for 2 - 4 carat rough natural diamonds. Recently prices for uncut natural diamonds have dropped from $1,400 a carat to $850 per carat to be competitive with lab-grown diamonds.
All of this is a win, win, win for customers! If diamond prices keep falling, one day I'll be able to afford my fantasy 4-carat stud diamond earrings (that's 2-carats each ear, sister!!), my 20-carat diamond blingy tennis bracelet, and my 5-carat diamond solitaire ring ... no engagement needed!
Diamonds By Bonnie - has an Instagram and a YouTube Channel
I don't care one iota about the lesser monetary value of lab or natural stones as long as I'm not charged for it. Just give this glitter-loving girl her diamonds! I'll start with that big brilliant round diamond at the top of the blog and the pear-shaped diamond ring at the bottom! We can add my fantasy diamonds to my collection later.😉😂
If in the future diamonds cost less, would you value them less?
No doubt about it, fall has arrived in the Western Hemisphere. With a change of seasons, perhaps you need to add a few new casual pieces to your fall wardrobe? Old Navy is located a couple of blocks from where I live, so it's impossible not to float into the store often when passing. I continue to be amazed by the quality of the retailer's leggings at ultra-affordable price points making them a steal!
The merchant tends to tweak their offerings from year to year so when you find a style you like and they go on sale, it's a good idea to buy a few pairs. You may prefer mostly cotton fabric but next year find mostly polyester or modal as choices. The waistband may change or the flare could be discontinued.
To the left are all the selections of leggings this fall, which consist of different styles, textures (meaning weaves and fabrics), and lengths.
Although 8 offerings require studying each one, a good selection is great for different body types or activities. Two Old Navy leggings I love right now include:
1) High-Waisted Ankle Leggings For Women - Although I prefer jet black, there are other colors too. They sit just below the belly button and are 96% cotton and 4% spandex. Super soft and smooth for comfort, and opaque. Lightweight yet not see-through, I highly recommend them for fall and early winter. They are warm, but not too warm for the sometimes 75-degree F days of autumn. They are fitted through the hips and waist and narrow at the ankles. At times I wear these smooth and lightweight leggings with black ankle socks under a dress in winter instead of tights for warmth with comfort, and nobody is the wiser!
2) Extra High-Waisted PowerChill Leggings For Women - They sit slightly above the belly button and contain 53% cotton, 22% polyester, 13% modal, and 12% spandex. These are light and airy, but also a tad heavier than my 1st recommendation above. Great for Pilates, yoga, or a workout. They are fitted at the hips and thighs and narrow at the ankles. The fabric offers 4-way strength with stay-dry, sweat-wicking technology. They also have an elastic waist that has an inside pocket. Unlike pair #1, they'll be warm enough to take you through the winter months and in the jet-black hue can be dressed up with ballet flats and a blazer. They also come in shorter 7/8 lengths.
3) Dr. Scholl's Women's Time Off Platform Sneakers - I'm recommending these with caveats. Not only are they cute and feminine with leggings, jeans, and dresses, but the platforms provide a measure of arch support and stable heels. Customers love how comfortable they are for walking. For sneakers they are also well priced, but here's the rub ... customers report if you wear them a lot for walking, they won't last longer than 6 months to a year. The shoes' material tends to separate from the rubber, so don't pay the full retail price but wait for a generous sale. I'd buy the Time Off Platforms on sale for $40, but not at $69 or $100. Even at the lower price, I'd be disappointed if they didn't last. To be competitive, Dr. Scholl needs to resolve this manufacturing weakness to make these stylish and supportive sneakers as durable as Nikes and Converse! Sneakers are made for walking … but sometimes a cute style we know to baby is tempting, no?
So there you are, 3 sporty styles to take you through the fall while leaving you with a few dollars to put in your leggings' hidden pocket.
Photo: go here - Note the size of the diamond when holding it and look at the perfectly manicured nails! Both are amazing!
The Regent Diamond is the 7th largest of the D-grade colorless diamonds in the world. It is also one of the purest and most brilliant of the known large diamonds. Gemologists think it was mined in Golconda, India between 1698 and 1701. In 1701 an Indian diamond merchant named Jamchand sold the 410-carat uncut diamond to Thomas Pitt, the Governor of Madras, who sent it to England hidden in the shoe of his son, Robert Pitt, where it was perfectly cut by a diamond cutter called Harris, into an internally flawless 140.64-carat brilliant cushion-shaped diamond.
Eventually, Pitt sold the diamond to Philippe d’Orléans, regent for Louis XV, the 5-year-old grandson of Louis XIV of France, which is how it acquired its name. In 1723 the Regent Diamond was set in the coronation crown of King Louis XV. It was reset in 1775 in a new coronation crown for the ill-fated Louis XVI. His wife Queen Marie Antoinette also wore the diamond attached to a black velvet hat. During the French Revolution, the Regent Diamond was stolen (along with the Crown Jewels) but it was later found in a Paris attic.
In 1812 Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte took possession and had the diamond mounted in his sword. After he was defeated at Waterloo and exiled from France, his 2nd wife, Archduchess Marie Louise smuggled the diamond to her native Austria, but her father, Emperor Francis I, returned it to the French Crown Jewels where the Regent Diamond was set in the crowns of France's Louis XVIII, Charles X, Napoleon III, and a Greek style diadem of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napolean III. After France once again dethroned and expelled its royal family, the Regent Diamond ended up at the Louvre Museum in 1887. During the Nazi occupation, the Regent Diamond was sent (along with the Mona Lisa) to the Loire Vally where it was hidden in the plaster sealing the marble of a fireplace at the Chateau de Chambord, returning to the Louvre after the liberation of Paris and the unconditional surrender of Germany in 1945. The gem is now owned by the French state.
Cushion cuts have more fire (i.e., colored light) than other diamond cuts. Today theRegent Diamond, an ideal cut, bluish-tinted stone, is on display at the Louvre for public viewing. What an adventurous journey ... with a happy ending. Home sweet home!
Since the pandemic forced us to stay at home for 2 years to work and play people are dressing ultra casually when they leave the house. Although I see people wearing questionable sweats, loungewear, and what resembles houseshoes even in Midtown Manhattan, overall casual attire is more good than bad. In fact, I'm a huge fan of a casual smart appearance. When we match colors, stick to neutrals and complementary colors, we can dress in comfort and still look like we care ... like we've made an effort before leaving home.
The following are 5 wardrobe pieces people on Amazon and elsewhere overwhelmingly love. Based on many 5-star reviews each piece is super comfortable to wear at home; to the gym; or to run errands around town including all the way to Midtown Manhattan:
Casual Smart Comfort for Home, Gym, or Running Around Town:
1) Hoka Ora Recovery 3 Slides - Runners began wearing these after long or tough races to support and help their feet recover. They cushion and let your feet breathe.
2) Colorfulkoala leggings and yoga pants - I'm always bookmarking leggings and yoga pants that get rave reviews at a fair price. Colorfulkoalas come in several styles, lengths, and colors, including shorts. With 48,000 Amazon reviews, customers say they are dupes for some of the higher-end more expensive activewear. Personally, I lean towards cotton with a small percentage of spandex leggings, but these are praised as buttery soft with 4-way stretch and sweat-wicking technology. I'd compare them to Uniquo's Airism technology and their cost is far below Lululemon, Athleta, and GAP. For casual work meetings, I'll pair black yoga pants and a cotton t-shirt under a well-fitted wool blazer with ballet flats and nobody is the wiser. The trick is not to dress casually from head to toe but to mix casual pieces with fitted pieces and classic shoes.
3) Filoto Running Belt Fanny Pack - I have never liked the look of fanny packs, but this one is stylish and still holds your phone, cardholder, keys, and cash. So you really can leave your bag at home. The fanny pack is unisex to fit the waists of men or women. IMHO it looks more like a sleek accessory than a fanny pack.
4) Uniqlo Airism tops - for men and women - Wisks away sweat, there are several styles and a wide assortment of colors. Some have built-in bras, and others have a dominant percentage of cotton fibers.
5) Hoka One Sneakers - For running, walking, and playing. They're as popular as Nikes on the streets of Manhattan. Everybody seems to be wearing them.
If you pair the right neutrals and complementary colors you can dress in comfort without needing to change your clothes if you stay home; exercise; or roam away from home.
In winter the local news in Manhattan sometimes airs stories warning the public of the harm salt used to melt snow on sidewalks can do to their dog's paws, so it is not unusual to see a few dogs wearing boots. But now I see it also in August and September. Shoes on dogs have definitely caught on with pet owners this summer, and it's understandable.
As great as New York City is, the sidewalks and subways can be very, very dirty. In response, I'm one of those annoying people who ask guests to remove their shoes in my apartment. I buy extra houseshoes to offer visitors who'd prefer not to walk around in their socks, but few folks let on that they mind the "sockhop." when entering my place. My guests who accept my houseshoes get to take them home as a gift after their visit. I think if you're forward enough to ask people to remove their shoes in your home, giving them footwear is a thoughtful gesture. You won't catch them off-guard with holes in their socks, plus you want your guests to feel taken care of and comfortable in your house. You can buy inexpensive hospital booties at the dollar stores to have a supply on hand.
If [still] a pet owner, I suppose I'd extend these findings to my dog's paws in cold and warm weather. More and more, it seems like a good idea in a high-traffic city for several reasons!
Think of it this way: When popcorn drops on your rug while watching a movie, you don't have to worry about picking it up to eat it! Moreover, Fido is in the habit of licking his paws. Yes, it's true he also licks his own butt -- but IMHO spreading germs is a numbers game, so let's limit him right there to spreading his own bacteria throughout your home! For sure, think about keeping the other bacteria from God-knows-where-and-God-knows-what out of your living space. The idea is not to avoid common household germs but all the foreign germs we don't want to know about!😳
Sidewalks also get hot and at times there's broken glass or sharp objects to potentially cut paws.
India's famed Koh-i-Noor (meaning "Mountain of Light") Diamond is one of the most extraordinary diamonds in the world. First mentioned in history in the 14th century, it was owned by the ruling maharajahs of India, but after bloody battles, the diamond became a spoil of war to various Sikh, Mogul, and Persian rulers.
It was given as a gift to Queen Victoria during the colonial era when the powerful British East India Tea Company annexed Punjab (then in India, today also in Pakistan) in 1849 forcing its 11-year-old ruler, Prince Sir Duleep Singh, into abdicating and surrendering his lands and prized diamond via the Treaty of Lahore. The legendary diamond was singled out as a symbol of conquest.* The British authorities also separated the boy from his mother, refusing to let him see her for 13 years. They brought him to England where he was educated, given estates, a palace, and the privileges that reflected his rank as a Prince and Maharaja, plus a yearly pension (of $3,145,248 in today's value) as long as he pledged obedience to the Crown and British government, which is the rub of colonialism. Except for 2 controlled visits to India, Maharaja Duleep Singh spent the rest of his life in exile. (His ... is a fascinating life and family. His daughter Princess Sophia Duleep Singh was a prominent Indian British suffragette who was instrumental in helping women win the right to vote in Great Britain. It's admirable how the family balanced retaining their Indian heritage with assimilating into high English society. The Maharaja longed to return to his throne and wrestled with a measure of regret in adulthood; still, he remained respectful and a close friend of Queen Victoria.)
Replica of Kohinoor Diamond before recut
The earliest recorded weight of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond is 186 carats. Cut in the style of Mughal-era diamonds, it resembled the diamonds in the modern Iranian Crown Jewels. This was disappointing to Western eyes, so Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, had it recut by a leading mineralogist, James Tennant, (removing some discovered internal flaws) into a more dazzling brilliant cut stone. The colorless D-grade diamond was cut into a cushion shape with excellent clarity. Unfortunately, it also reduced the size of the diamond from 186 carats (or 191 modern carats) down to 105.6 carats. Diamond experts all agree it enhanced the beauty of the diamond and yet, at the loss of its size and history.
Queen Victoria (and Prince Albert) were quite taken with and became lifelong friends of Maharaja Duleep Singh (and later on with hisdaughters). The British Queen showed Prince Duleep Singh his lost diamond. Reportedly the 16-year-old Maharaja grew silent with emotion while holding and twirling it for 1/4 hour in his hands ... surely recalling how it belonged to his family and was later seized from him at a tender age.
After Queen Victoria's death, the Koh-i-Noor was added to the Crown Jewels. It was mounted in the crown of Queen Alexandra, the wife of Edward VII to use during her coronation in 1902. Queen Mary (wife of George V) and Queen Elizabeth (wife of George VI) also used the Koh-i-Noor Diamond in their coronation crowns. Due to its enduring controversy, the diamond was removed from the crown for Queen Camilia's coronation in 2023.
Ever since India gained its independence in 1947, there have been cries to return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond to India. Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan also claim ownership resulting from the diamond exchanging hands as a spoil of war by the victors of those countries over the years.
Photo: Baunat - how the Kohinoor compares in size to other well-known gems
I realize how hair-splittingly difficult it is to determine what is the right thing to do after centuries of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond's complex history, however IMHO, India has the strongest argument for ownership. As a Westerner, I'm biased towards wanting the diamond to stay in the Tower of London, but there's no doubt the diamond was acquired as the spoil of war under the strongarm of colonialism coupled with the coercion of a powerless 11-year-old boy ruler to sign it away. In the 21st century, an 11-year-old cannot sign legally binding contracts or treaties.
3rd daughter Sophia Duleep Singh with her mother, Bamba Muller and with her elder sisters, Catherine and Bamba
I also recognize the fear of opening a Pandora's Box by returning the Koh-i-Noor Diamond to India. Granted, not everything in history can be made right because time makes it convoluted and impossible to correct every wrong. I think we must go on a case-by-case basis. Just because righting a wrong is challenging doesn't mean it should not be attempted.
Click here for this photo credit: Duleep is seated, left of the future King Edward VII, at the time of the photo, still Prince of Wales.
Today there are no living Duleep Singh direct descendants, but India understandably still feels the sting of how the Koh-i-Noor Diamond was taken from its country. What a magnanimous diplomatic gesture it would be for the British royal family to return the diamond to India. They would likely not even miss it (having so many other jewels), and it would loudly honor India and the last owner of the diamond, Maharaja Sir Duleep Singh.
Yikes, now Pakistan will dislike me for thinking that India has the strongest suit ... as it also has a logical claim. In modern times before 1947, there was only India, a colony of the Britain Empire. In 1947 the British colony became two independent states of India and Pakistan. Punjab was divided by religion, with the western portion becoming Pakistan, and the rest of Punjab becoming part of IndiaSo it's a judgment call. Perhaps all 3 countries with the royal family could sit down at the table to decide.
So what do you think? Great Britain has it, but who should own the Koh-i-Noor Diamond? A difficult and problematic question for sure!
*The timing of the East India Tea Company was not by chance. Whenever a boy ruler comes to the throne, other powers who want control of a country's land or treasures use the country's weakness as the time to strike. The head of the mighty East Indian Tea Company, Lord Dalhousie, said he targeted the Koh-i-noor Diamond with the aim of giving it to Queen Victoria to be added to the Crown Jewels as a symbol of conquest. An elaborate ceremony occurred for the 11-year-old Maharaja to hand over the jewel as a sign of his submission to the Crown. After recutting it, Queen Victoria wore the Koh-i-Noor Diamond as a brooch. It became part of the Crown Jewels soon after her son Edward VII became King.
Duleep Singh's mother was exiled to Napal and her son was adopted and raised by British diplomat John Spencer Login and his wife whom the boy grew close to, and it was a warm, trusting relationship. They took him on tours of Europe.
