I've written before about pearls like the affordable ones they sell at Ross-Simons, but as many know, the ne plus ultra of pearls is Mikimoto.  Why? Honestly, I never really knew.

During the mid 1800s in Japan natural (non-cultured) pearls were over-harvested and a pearl crisis was imminent. Kokichi Mikimoto spent decades researching seeding oysters to create pearls, he finally succeeded in 1893. And the cultured pearl was born.  Unlike freshwater pearls which can be very odd shaped, sea pearls are round. Mikimoto pearls are perfectly round and lustrous.

A classic 18" Mikimoto strand with 6.5 - 7 mm A quality Akoya cultured pearls with an 18k gold clasp (in either white or yellow gold) is $2,600.

Here's some interesting news for Chanel lovers, the Paris Mint is releasing a series of coins to commemorate Coco Chanel's 125th birthday. They asked Karl Lagerfeld to design the coins.

It's sort of a similar idea to our beautiful state quarters coins, except these coins are not meant for circulation, they'll be cast in either gold or silver and will sell for far more than their face value of 5 euros.

They go on sale on Dec. 1st. The silver version for export (no VAT) will be 37.63€.

Diane Von Furstenburg introduced her knit jersey wrap dresses in 1973... and now 35 years later they're a fashion icon.  So much so there is even one in the collection of the Costume Institute of the Met.  Her collections are much more broad now, but the wrap dresses and other variations of the jersey knit dress are always an important part.

Here's a totally classic wrap dress, in a fun retro print, $385. 100% silk jersey.

Here's another wrap style, "Hampton Wrap Dress", $365. This one sleeveless, but still easy enough to wear all year by pairing with a cardigan. 88% nylon, 12% elastane stretch fabric.

I love this tuxedo dress, $365 available at Net-a-porter. It has a tuxedo pleated front and black buttons and belt. Contrast lining at sleeves and front placket.

All three of these look like they'll be in style for another 35 years for sure.  I always tend to love stuff that stands up to the test of time.  I mean really, who would ever need acid washed jeans again?  Classics like these dresses, when well kept, can be passed down to daughters and nieces and be enjoyed for many years to come.

Here are a couple of Yves Saint Laurent finds at Bluefly. A gorgeous tote bag, the YSL 'Overseas' Medium Tote in chocolate brown leather, $1,436 (retail $1,795). It's made with pebbled leather and brasstone hardware and has a cool chain with padlock.

Detail:

They even have a matching wallet, $340 (retail $425).

Both are also available in black and the bag also in a larger size for $1,516.

Bluefly has a great deal right now on a coveted Chanel flap bag in the best color - black, of course.

It's normally $2,050, bluefly has it at 20% off, so $1,640.  These never last, surprsingly so in this bad economy, so hurry!

Ralph Lauren is having a private sale with up to 40% off now through Monday, Nov. 17th. Also, an extra 15% off with code NOV1317 at checkout.

Here are a couple of examples, this Blue Label cashmere turtleneck dress is normally $325, on sale $199 and with an extra 15% off, $169.15.

This Blue Lable slim fit tee with a heraldric lion and crown crest is normally $98, sale $49 and with an extra 15% off, $41.65.

With deals like this, it's a good time to start holiday shopping!

As I was out and about this weekend I saw this dress in the window at the Banana near Bloomingdale's (uptown).  I went in to check it out, but I didn't have time to try it on.  The fabric is a beautiful brown with a sort of iridescent effect from a crossweave. The dress is $175, I thought it would be more, it has the look of a much more expensive dress.

This is a great option for anyone who needs a new dress for holiday parties this year. Oh, and I hadn't been into that particular Banana store for ages - the downstairs section that used to be so small and cramped is now HUGE, they must have taken over the basement space of the store next door (which I believe, conveniently, was their sister company, Gap's basement).  It's great - now they have the entire women's department down there with enough room to fit the entire collection including shoes and jewelry and not be really crowded like it used to be. 

As mentioned in my last post, I finally went to the Mobile Art exhibit this past weekend. 

I had tickets for Saturday at 11:30 am.  They managed the whole thing beautifully, people with tickets just had to wait in a line for their time slot and were let in at the exact time, on the dot.  Since we arrived just a couple minutes before there was basically no wait at all.  (the unlucky people who didn't have tickets had to wait in a HUGE line) You are ushered into the container and they made you check everything: coats, cameras, handbags, everything!  And then you're given your headset for the audio tour.  The whole visit is paced with the narrator (at times, a bit too slow for my pace). I'm afraid to say that overall, I liked the architecture better than the art is housed.  The first room had a beautiful floral mosaic floor. One installation was a series of cardboard boxes with film projection of naked people running around inside them.  Another was a large shipping container (as in ocean freight container) with this poor giant black gummi bear like guy tied up inside with furniture, and then there is a screen where you see a film reel of a dominatrix woman beating on the bear.  At the end they had a big tree where you were instructed to write down a wish and tie it to a branch. There was also a giant black 2.55 bag laying on it's side with fur lining.  The experience was tranquil, I liked the narrator, I just thought she was a bit too slow at times. At the end when you get your coat and bags back they give you a photography magazine with some beautiful black and white shots done by Karl Lagerfeld and others. It also has a section about the exhibit and architect and the different places the container has been. You were not allowed to take any pictures inside so I only have pictures of the outside.  

So my birthday was over the weekend, I am getting frightfully old, but thankfully still look young enough to get carded (sometimes at least). I had a wonderful day walking around the Upper East Side and into Midtown and finally made it to the Mobile Art Exhibit in the park (see next post). Anyway, along my walk I got these wonderful Chanel earrings, they're from the Chanel store on 57th Street (betw. 5th and Madison).

These are Chanel costume jewelry, so they are genuine "metal" and cost $350.  Funny, ha?  These particular ones are made in Italy, others they had in stock were made in France.  They come with a little fabric pouch for storage and a beautiful Chanel box, they tied it with Chanel ribbon and put a big white camelia flower made of fabric on top.  The flower was just part of the wrapping, but I think I'm going to make it into a pin.  I don't have a link for these because they don't seem to be for sale online anywhere.

Caudalie, the wonderful vinotherapie skincare company, is offering a free travel kit with any $50 purchase now through Nov. 20.  So it's a great time to start early for Christmas shopping. Their gifts sets are a great way to introduce someone to the line.

The "Spa in a Box" set is a reasonable $38 and includes small sizes of their popular crushed cabernet scrub, hand and nail cream, vine peach shower gel, fleur de vigne soap and nourishing body lotion.  (oh, I LOVE this body lotion, it smells SO GOOD).

The "Vinoperfect Radiance Set" is $98 and includes Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Cream SPF 15, Vinoperfect Night Correcting Cream and a small Beauty Elixer.

Both of these sets would make great gifts.  You can also buy the travel kit for $15 and those make great stocking stuffers.

Caudalie's profile just went up a notch here in the US because they just opened their newest spa at The Plaza.