Fancy charm necklace by Tangerine

You see her walking down a fashionable boulevard.  She struts through the Champs-Elysees like she owns the place.  Fifth avenue melts and bends with her every move.  She seems effortlessly stylish with sleek lines or playful embellishment, and she is almost always covered in sparkly, funky, elaborate jewelry.

What is her secret? How does she afford to pile on pearls with Dior one day, and stack cocktail rings on both hands with a fly pair of Seven Jeans the next?  Is she a long-lost member of some royal family? A debutante who lucked out on a large trust fund? 

You'd be surprised how many of the Smart Set utilize every diva's best kept secret - Costume Jewelry.

Kim Kardashian wearing costume jewelry - Bamboo ain't gold, honey.

Costume jewelry levels the playing field by allowing the truly fashionable and creative to be stunning without breaking the bank.  While having a few heirloom pieces in your collection is definitely recommended, plastic, ceramic, wood and glass are godsends for the young, broke, and fabulous!

Be the Queen of the Night with these mesh earrings from Tangerine.

I had the immense pleasure of being invited to attend Irina Shabayeva's Fall/Winter 2011 runway show for last week's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.  If you keep up with reality television, she was Project Runway's Season 6 winner.  But, regardless of any televised appearances or pop-culture fodder, Ms. Shabayeva is real designer with some serious talent.

Courtesy of Irina Shabayeva

Ms. Shabayeva's collection focused a lot on texture and shape - she heavily utilized laser-cut fabrics and mutli-layered glistening fabric.  Ms. Shabayeva's collection was also unique in that it featured Swarovski crystal embellishments heavily throughout the collection.

Swarovski embellished cocktail glamour!

The great thing about Swarovski crystals are their versatility and ability to an an infinite amount of glamour to any outfit - a lot is never too much!!  Could you just imagine how amazing the above cocktail dress would look with this hot zebra design Jimmy Crystal clutch?


Fab-u-lous!

A great way to kick off the shows and other exciting events going on during the Fall 2011 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week! NOLCHA, an award-winning leading global platform advancing independent fashion designers and retailers, hosted an all-star affair at the Empire Hotel, right across the street from Lincoln Center.

Adolfo Sanchez with a piece from his amazing collection

Ramona Singer from the Real Housewives of NY

The crowd was amazing, the fashion and accessories on display were electric, and the views from the rooftop penthouse at the Empire Hotel were amazing.  Not only were the clothes and jewelry to die for, everything being shown was organic and made from recycled materials!

Cool hat made from 100% recycled Alpaca wool - from design house Pitusa

Stay tuned - next up: straight from the catwalk at Lincoln Center - a Swarovski jewelry designer who's making moves - and she's a huge fan of our merchandise!

These amazing works of design and whimsy, crafted by young design students in collaboration with Pucci, are created completely out of paper.  Using texture, form, and shadow, these talented artists turn the simplest of materials into a luxurious fashion statement.





These dresses would certainly not look out of place at a fashionable fête under the stars. Or, take to a winter wonderland party and embellish with Swarovski accessories. Just be careful to not let the snow or ice get on your dress - it would slowly disappear!

Courtesy of New York Magazine

Time to get excited!
The ever popular Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011 is coming up soon! Get ready for new and exciting designer duds from the Old Guard - Gucci, Armani (above), Prada. and others - and a taste of new, young, and upcoming designers to look out for!

Here at Vonk, we're busy securing invites, meeting designers, and scoping the scene for the Great Event. We'll keep you posted on all the parties, the fashion, and the fun!

Courtesy of New York Magazine