If you like your jewelry served with a little side of history as I do, I recommend that you find your way over to the blog Gem Gossip and dig in! I've particularly enjoyed GG blogger, Danielle's recent posts Titanic Lost Jewelry: The Artifact Exhibition and The Antique Jewelry in the Movie: The Young Victoria which offer some fascinating facts about jewelry in a historical context.

I've had the pleasure of communicating with Danielle over the past couple of months and I have participated in a couple of her very popular Show Me Your Rings posts. When I received an email from Danielle a couple of weeks ago to discuss the possibility of doing a Designer Spotlight on Kristin Pasternak Fine Jewelry, I was extremely flattered to be considered especially given the talented roster of past designers (think Nicole Landaw, Karen Karch and C Greene) that have been featured in Gem Gossip's Designer Spotlight.

I learned last Thursday that Danielle had posted the blog and I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome! Below is Gem Gossip's DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT on Kristin Pasternak Fine Jewelry:

To read the entire post, click here. And don't forget to add Gem Gossip to your RSS feed!

Merci beaucoup, Danielle!

xxKP

If a twelve page spread in March Vogue and a post from street-style demigod Garance Doré didn't convince you to fall in line with the Khaki cult for the Spring/Summer season, perhaps the NY Times T Magazine blog titled "The Khaki Brigade" will persuade you to enlist.

I especially love the pairing of black and khaki in the first image. Styling black with khaki is a great weather-appropriate way to begin transitioning the neutral hue into the Spring season now.

So while you're waiting for the warm weather to arrive in NYC, why not spend a little time daydreaming about your Spring wardrobe?! To view the blog and check out the rest of the images, click here.

xxKP

I've just finished combing through the March issue of Vogue and I must say that it did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and reviewing everything from the feature on somewhat unexpected cover girl, Tina Fey, to Alexander Wang's MOD (model off-duty) style inspiration, to the "Military Issue" fashion spread shot by Mario Testino.

The twelve page spread featuring utilitarian basics of the spring season including trench coats, safari-style button down shirts, military-themed jackets and cargo pants reminded me of a recent post on Garance Doré's blog titled "Khaki is the New Black."

A khaki color palette works well with many complexions as it includes a range of hues from beige to olive to brownish. Though I'm not quite ready to trade in my predominately white/grey/black wardrobe, I am definitely inspired to incorporate a few khaki pieces for spring. I love how the subject of Doré's post mixes khaki AND black - now that's a compromise I can agree with!

This khaki craze is reiterated in Vogue's take on styling the reoccurring military theme. By pairing more masculine, structured pieces with decidedly feminine silhouettes, fabrics and details, Vogue keeps the look modern, fresh and perfect for spring! Below is Vogue's March 2010 multi-page "Military Issue" fashion spread:

Standout surplus-style pieces from the spread include a Balmain cavalry jacket with fringed epaulets and braided cord details (image 4), Burberry Prorsum cashmere V-neck sweater with gathered sleeves and washed-chiffon skirt (far left of image 5), Comme des Garçons asymmetrical cropped moss wool jacket (image 7) and Alexander Wang peep-toe ankle boots (images 11 &12.)

Will you be sporting khaki military basics this spring?

xxKP

Featured in Vogue's March 2010 issue, Lauren Bush's fledgling collaboration with Barneys (the first collection launched in Spring 2009), Lauren Pierce Atelier, is a made-to-order collection of one-of-a-kind dresses that are created with environmentally friendly fabrics from around the world.

Each season, the model-turned-designer will donate 10% of the Lauren Pierce Atelier profits to a cause that affects women in the country from which the collection's materials have been sourced and the designs have been created. Ethically sourced and environmentally conscious, the fabrics used in Bush's latest collection have been hand-dyed by women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dresses are available in five silhouettes, retail for around $500 and are available exclusively at Barneys.

"You can love the dress, plus feel great about the good it's doing," Bush tells Vogue - I couldn't agree more! Hop over to www.lauren-pierce.com for more information on Lauren Bush's chic, reasonably priced, and socially conscious collection.

xxKP

Last week I began using the super-addictive site Polyvore, which allows you to "mix and match products from any online store to create outfits or any kind of collage." I was inspired to begin creating a monthly set styled around the birthstone of the corresponding month. I frequently build my outfits based on the jewelry that I feel like wearing on a particular day or for a specific event and I thought it would be fun to share my styled sets with you! In the future, I'll try and post this entry at the beginning of each month.

So without further ado, here's the first birthstone inspired set created via Polyvore:

Bonjour, mes amis!

While checking my KP Fine Jewelry inbox late last night, I came across an email from Caroline, the blogger extraordinaire and talented artist behind the super cute and whimsical site It Looks Good To Me. Consequently, I was beyond thrilled to read that Caroline had posted a little write up on the debut collection of yours truly featuring a lovely watercolor of our Diamond Granulation Stacking Ring!

The Diamond Stacking Ring is one of our favorite pieces and it looks great worn as a set of three or by itself - diamonds are just so versatile!

If you haven't had the opportunity to see our newly launched Online Shop, we invite you to do so. Also, don't forget to take advantage of an exclusive 20% discount off all merchandise in celebration of the Grand Opening of our Online Shop (and of course the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday!) now through February 14th, 2010. To receive the discount, simply enter the discount code VALDAY2010 in the notes section during checkout. The discount will be taken manually and will appear on your emailed receipt.

Don't you just love getting good news in your inbox?!

xxKP