Archive: November 17th, 2007

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Celebs like Chris Brown love to indulge in a little luxury from time to time — but that doesn’t mean they don’t like to give back too. And ultra-pricey urban sportswear line billWillie lets them do both. The company was founded by a successful media mogul who chooses keep his identity a secret and includes ultra-luxe reversible hoodies detailed with 14K gold-dipped thread, zipper teeth, and pulls. Each jacket will set you back $1400 to $2100 — but every dollar of profit goes directly the billWillie’s Youth Ambassador Program, which offers grants to 11 ambitious 14- to 18-year olds with winning proposals to change their communities for the better. Kids with designs on improving the world can apply for a billWillie ambassadorship between now and February 29. Other fans of the line include Will Smith, Will.I.Am, Fergie and Kanye West. And if you happen to have a couple grand burning a hole in your pocket and a spot in your closet begging for a new sweatshirt, you too can prove that fashion doesn’t have to be frivolous.

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Nothing is quite as timeless as pearls — ask any of the jewelry fans, fashionistas, and stylists at the L.A. launch of Stormy Weather, the new fine jewelry line by famed designer Yohji Yamamoto and pearl-pro Mikimoto. “Who doesn’t like pearls!” enthused Desperate Housewives‘ Dana Delaney to PEOPLE at the launch party Monday night. “They’re just classic!” Showcased along with a few of Yamamoto’s runway looks, the collection was broken into three groups, Drops, Le Cri, and — the hit of the evening — Moon, which drew the most amount of admirers for its long necklace featuring a touch of diamonds — including Ali Larter. “Every girl loves the best of the best,” Larter, told PEOPLE. “I’ve always loved jewelry — I love real jewelry, I love costume jewelry, it’s almost the best when you have nothing on with it.” With everything from long delicate chains with graceful pendants to short rope necklaces with statement pieces, Larter had plenty to choose from. Her favorite? “The south sea pearls — the Tahitian pearls — I just love them! The ones that get a deep, dark charcoal gray color, I adore.” Delaney, a pearl-lover since she was a little girl, was equally excited. “I had an uncle who lived in Asia,” Delaney told PEOPLE. “He was with the Peace Corps in Asia, so he used to always come back with pearls for us, so I was always into pearls. I remember my first gift from him was a ring from Japan.” As for Yamamoto’s more contemporary take on an accessory staple, sums up Delaney: “To mix the classic with the cutting edge is kind of a great thing.”