Accessories

Amy Sussman/WireImage

Playing Gossip Girl’s Brooklyn boho beauty, Vanessa Abrams, Jessica Szohr has learned a thing or two about accessorizing. “I actually don’t think [Vanessa] can breathe without 8 necklaces or earrings!” Jessica joked to PEOPLE when we caught up with her at a VOGUE Eyewear event in New York City. “My style is much more simple, Vanessa is very funk’defied,” she says about her character’s tendency to pile on the jewels. “Because my style is very simple, I like to wear accessories to add a little sparkle to the outfit.” And one accessory she can’t get enough of are sunglasses! The Gossip Girl star, who was on hand at Bloomingdale’s to help customers pick out the perfect shades, explains, “You can never really go wrong with sunglasses. I always get myself a couple of pairs every year. One pair that I have had and have managed not to lose is an old vintage pair I found in Venice Beach, California.” And when it comes to her perfect pair of shades, Jessica skips the trends and tries to stick to styles that suit her face and aren’t too big or too small. “They also have to be a little bit funky and fun at the same time,” she amends. Other than her growing collection of sunglasses, Jessica stocks up on beanies and statement rings — much like her Gossip Girl character, Vanessa. “I’m always wearing some kind of big ring,” she notes. And while Jessica has found ways to incorporate Vanessa’s love of accessories in her own wardrobe, there is one thing that they both agree on. “I don’t think people should wear sunglasses at night.” We agree!

Ramey

When former Gastineau Girls, mother-daughter duo Lisa and Brittny Gastineau, created their Tres Glam fine jewelry line, they did so from the perspective of reality stars and Hollywood insiders. “The diamond evil eye in 18 karat gold is our main thing,” Brittny told PEOPLE from Los Angeles, where she lives with her mother. “It’s designed to protect you from any jealousy. And of course there’s a lot of jealousy, especially when you’re on TV. You have a lot of eyes [on you] and sometimes not everyone’s wishing you well.” Brittny has given the baubles to best friend Kim Kardashian and E! News host Giuliana Rancic, schooling them in her family’s superstition before bestowing the gifts. “I just feel like when you’re in the public eye, you do need protection. And I’m telling you, I feel naked without my evil eye. If I don’t have it on, I like freak out.” As for whether the Gastineaus would do another reality show, having seen the astronomical success of their close pals the Kardashians, Brittny says yes—but the focus would have to be on their work: “I love TV shows with depth. I would want to do a reality show showing my mom and I getting on QVC.” Check out the line for yourself at TresGlam.com–Suzanne Zuckerman

Courtesy of Chanel

For anyone who wondered why fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld picked British pop star Lily Allen to be the new face of Chanel’s Coco Cocoon collection, he cleared it up for Elle.com. The Kaiser explained that he “loves Lily’s humor, her cheekiness, her talent.” And the fact that she’s cute doesn’t hurt either, with Karl citing “her little upturned nose, and her perfect décolletage.” The British starlet, a regular at Chanel’s fashion shows in Paris, has also launched a jewelry line and is slated to star in Neil LaBute’s new West End production of Reasons to Be Pretty in 2010. Read more about Lily Allen and Chanel at Elle.com.

The Barber’s Daughter; Kristin Callahan/Everett

As if her singing career doesn’t keep her busy enough, Alicia Keys is taking on jewelry design. The 12-time Grammy award-winning R&B singer is teaming up with The Barber’s Daughters designer Gisele Theriault for a collection of necklaces due out in fall 2010. Alicia first met Gisele while she was touring in Toronto through her bandmates, who happened to be buying the jewelry backstage at her show. “I fell in love with the individuality of the pieces, but more than that, the words that were written on them really resonated with the songwriter in me,” Alicia tells WWD about Gisele’s pieces, which are inscribed with poetry and prayers. “I knew at that moment, for the first time, that through a whole other medium I would be able to spread inspiration, and that’s what got me started.” Alicia’s collection of necklaces for The Barbara’s Daughters will range in price from $85 to $2,500 and feature precious metals and gems inscribed with inspirational messages. And while the collection won’t be available until next year, New Yorkers will get a first look and chance to purchase her baubles next week during a two-day preview at a temporary shop at Collette Blanchard Gallery at 26 Clinton Street. Alicia’s jewelry has already gotten some celebrity love from Halle Berry, who purchased a one-of-a-kind piece for $40,000 at a charity auction! Tell us: Will you buy Alicia Keys’s jewelry?

Courtesy Coach; Dan Herrick/Zuma

First Brad and Angelina, then the Kardashians, and now Michelle Trachtenberg is stepping into the jewelry design business! The Gossip Girl troublemaker has teamed up with Coach to design a range of baubles for the brand’s fun and fresh Poppy collection. Michelle Trachtenberg for Poppy is described by Coach as embodying “refined-romantic with attitude, bringing a punky look to a lush mix of materials and inspirations.” Michelle says, “Getting the opportunity to design jewelry for Coach’s Poppy collection was too exciting to pass up. The collections are perfect representations of my whimsical attitude towards fashion and have that great mix of girly and edgy that I love.” While Michelle Trachtenberg for Poppy is slated to launch for Spring 2010, a small preview collection of bee motif pieces in emerald greens and cobalt blues will be available on December 1 at Coach.com and in Coach stores. Michelle’s holiday preview collection will range in price from $78 – $128 and will include a bracelet, necklace, ring and earrings while the spring collection includes five more pieces retailing from $128 – $328. Tell us: Will you buy Michelle Trachtenberg for Poppy?

Seth Browarnik/Startraks

Not only will the Kardashian sisters’ clothing line for Bebe hit stores this spring, but Kim, Kourtney and Khloe will also be launching a jewelry collection for hip L.A. brand Virgin Saints and Angels. “The collection embraces our unique style…. Romantic, edgy, and classic vintage… of at least we hope so . Our Armenian culture is very important to us and we tried to incorporate that in the jewelry also,” Kim writes on her official website. The Kardashians’ collection will hit stores like Santa Barbara’s Blue Bee, Sparkle Fred Segal and Nordstrom on April 15, 2010. Tell us: What do you think of the Kardashian sisters’ jewelry line? Will you buy it?

Courtesy of Asprey; PA Photos/Landov (inset)

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have put their creative minds to something new — elegant serpent-themed jewelry! The power couple has teamed with a top British jeweler Asprey to come up with a series of designs for everything from earrings, pendants, bangles, rings to a silver spoon and egg cup. And, like so much of their life away from the cameras, the collection will benefit others. All the net proceeds will go to the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, to which the couple has already donated $1 million via the Jolie-Pitt Foundation in June 2008. For Jolie, 34, the inspiration for the collection was an obvious one. While she was expecting Shiloh in 2006, she was given a special gift — a protective snake ring. It was seen as a protector for mother and unborn child, and Jolie has come to view the motif as something of a family guardian. “Since then she has seen the snake symbol as a protective talisman for her family,” a source at Asprey tells PEOPLE. The series started out as something for children — 16-month-old Vivienne has already been photographed wearing bangles with the snake motifs– but has developed into the limited edition “Protector Collection” of high end jewelry and other luxuries, which does still include children’s items like a tooth box and silver egg cup. The collection becomes available tomorrow, November 17. –Simon Perry

Courtesy of Asprey

Courtesy of Asprey