REMEMBER WHEN YOU HAD TO BE TALENTED TO BE FAMOUS?

This weekend was very nostalgic for me.  I watched a PBS music series about the history of the American Songbook and then went on a YouTube frenzy watching archival films of everyone from Dolores Gray to James Cagney.  While being on this culture high and watching everyone from Fred Astaire dance to Sinatra sing, I was really struck by how talented people USED to be.  I mean they could act, sing, dance, and looked amazing without a bevy of stylists or make-up and hair artists at their disposal.  In other words, remember when you had to be talented to be famous?  Sure we have great stars today who can twerk at the same time as letting their tongue hang out of their mouth, but remember when stars really shined bright like diamonds? 

A lot of them had the extra glitz because of costume jewelry and Miriam Haskell always made some of the finest pieces.  These sea blue glass and diamante earrings may not give you the pipes to belt like Merman or the grace of Ginger Rogers, but a little a little glimmer of glamour goes a long way.

I leave for a fashion week frenzy so I won't be blogging on the Decades site BUT do follow me on Twitter and Instagram for my amusing bon mots from the front rows.

-Cameron

Miriam Haskell blue earrings, c.1940's. Length 2.5 inches. SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-1960. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing.

NEW OLD MASTERS

From Female magazine:

Cameron Silver, founder of legendary LA retro store Decades and one of Time magazine's 25 most influential faces in fashion, tells Patricia Lee what defines vintage, who to collect and how to wear it. Click on the images to read the article.

OH OSCAH . . .

Here in Hollywood, Tinseltown literally looses it's last mind when it comes to the the Academy Awards; grown people turn into children all hopped up on sugar and ripping down the stairs to open Santa's presents like it's Christmas and there is definitely a pony under the tree. Heck, most people get all dolled up just to watch the 73 hour event on the telly, never mind those who actually attend the show, get nominated or walk with a naked gold dude sans parts, (a kin to Ken perhaps).

Come Oscar night, the hills and haute hotspots are aglow with revelers in their Sunday finery - more parties are kicked off, champagne sipped, toasts made, hands hive-fived and if you're lucky enough to roll through the Governors Ball, chocolates nibbled at Wolfgang Puck's chocolate buffet. Chocolate coffee, chocolate toffee . . . Oy. I die.

So, if you don't live under a rock, chances are this Sunday's plans have been on lock for a sweet minute or two. Me, I don't have a TV nor the patience to sit though 62 montages. That said, my beloved and I have rsvp'd in the affirmative to a few fetes here in town and as far I'm concerned, the only portion of the show I care to see is the pre-show arrivals. Checking out who's wearing what and of course, digging out the final looks of the lovely ladies we've dressed is an absolute gas.

But once Billy Crystal takes the mike to say Bonjour 84, meh. I'm just hoping once the clock strikes 4p PST, that's there's a chocolate buffet in my immediate vicinity. I've already picked out my ensemble for the night and it involves some vintage YSL. However, I realize some of you may have put off picking out your outfit. Feeling a bit stressed about last-minute prep and dressing? Don't worry girlfriend, I got you. Today's Tuesday Ten at Ten features pieces that guarantee a mention on anyone's best-dressed list. I'm talking Gucci gowns, Cavalli kicks, Valentino evening bags and the ultimate in red carpet bling, why Miriam Haskell for Decades jewelry. Sadly, the little naked gold homie isn't included in the collection. Not that we didn't try.

--Lizzy

LADIES OF THE GALA

We couldn't help but post this photo of one of our darling and stunning friends of Decades, Sutton Stracke at the MOCA gala a couple of weeks ago. Sutton is wearing vintage Oscar de la Renta that we posted here and the fabulous Judy Chang in Miriam Haskell for Decades jewels. It is nice to be a patron of the arts but to look good doing it - it's an art form in itself!

WELCOME BACK FROM YOUR HONEYMOON

Newlyweds Kyle Martino and Eva Amurri just returned from their honeymoon and came for dinner last night. Love that Eva wore the Lexington necklace from our Miriam Haskell for Decades collection in a fresh manner. Eri suggested she double the chain and I think it looks great. Have you bought one yet? The Holidays are coming and remember all Haskell is made "Couture" style piece by piece, totally by hand, in New York City, so order your piece today by visiting our online boutique and SHOP Miriam Haskell for DECADES!
-Cameron

SATC IN LA

Loved that our dear friends and Decades supporters Alice Eve and Kristin Davis both came to our MIRIAM HASKELL FOR DECADES launch and wore vintage from Decades and bling from Miriam Haskell for Decades. Alice wore vintage Moschino Couture and Kristin is in vintage Pauline Trigere. As for the bling, buy yourself a piece or two or three by clicking here.
-Cameron
PS Lots more press coming out soon and I promise we will be blogging more of the goodies from both the Miriam Haskell for Decades collection AND our amazing recent vintage acquisitions, but we practically had a baby here last night at Decades with the launch of this collection!

PRE-ORDER NOW

The collection is finally available. You can pre-order now the entire collection of Miriam Haskell for Decades Uptown/Downtown. Order here now and get 10% off if you use the code JEWEL10. We promise that these pieces will spice up any outfit you have. You will love it!

COMING SOON

This is another shot from Miriam Haskell for Decades jewelry collection.

The wait is over everyone; tomorrow we will be posting a link where you can pre-order the collection. Stay tuned!

MIRIAM HASKELL FOR DECADES

As we leave for the weekend, we had to share with you some snap shots of the Miriam Haskell for Decades pieces that we just received this morning from the Uptown/Downtown collection launching in November.
The workmanship is amazing, the designs are so intricate, featuring a lively mix of gilded Russian gold and gunmetal, with glass pearls and semi-precious quartz and pyrite. Miriam Haskell is the foremost couture costume jeweler, and we are looking forward for these heriloom-like pieces to become available to all. We will keep you posted!
-Eri

Miriam Haskell for Decades; Uptown/Downtown collection, available at Decades in November 2011

ANONYMOUS AND NOT SO ANONYMOUS

If you follow our blog or Cameron on twitter, you might have heard already about Decades collaboration with Miriam Haskell on a new jewelry collection available in our store this November.

Yesterday we shot the beautiful Liza-Mae Carlin modeling our jewelry pieces. The mood was very old Hollywood glamour, very sexy and modern at the same time, part because that is Liza-Mae's charm and mostly because the jewelry is vintage inspired, re-imagined and modernized. Named Uptown/Downtown, it captures the ideal jewelry collection of the contemporary woman, who is as edgy as she is classic, as fashion forward as she is timeless.

We will be back on the collection during the upcoming days with more info, so stay tuned and check the blog and follow us on Facebook and/or Cameron on twitter.

One of many pieces worn by Liza-Mae yesterday was this amazing beaded dress from the 60's. It is an Anonymous designer who created such an intricate bead work using both bugle beads and sequins to create a swirl effect which follows the natural shape of a woman's body.

The dress is constructed using a nude color silk material while the bead work is all done on black chiffon covering the dress. The dress is black but when direct light hits, it takes hues of brown which makes it look more extravagant. It is a classic silhouette, always in fashion, just like all those lucky ladies who will get to wear and own Miriam Haskell for Decades jewelry.

-Eri

Anonymous dress with bugle beads and sequins, c.1960's. Modern size 4 to 6.

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-1960. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

Please Join...

Decades founder Cameron Silver for a panel discussion on the influence of costume jewelry in fashion. The event will be held on Wednesday the 11th of May at the Crosby Street Hotel.