Vanity Fair- The September Issue

OK, I admit that I just wasn't all that interested in the Lady Gaga cover story but the photography by Nick Knight was stunning

and every other article in the September issue was stellar.

If you aren't a subscriber, go out and buy the magazine today.  No really, it has everything you want in summer magazine reading

from a profile of the exquisite Jacqueline de Ribes, the last queen of Paris

Here's a photo of Countess de Ribes looking a-ma-zing

to a story on the messy family fight over the estate of socialite/designer/playboy/licensor extraordinaire, Oleg Cassini, who bagged all the babes from Gene Tierney to Grace Kelly to Anita Ekberg

yet kept his 30 year marriage to Marianne Nestor a secret.

Here's Oleg with his "Top Girl" first wife, Gene Tierney.

to an article on sleazy Kenneth Starr and how he bilked his society and entertainment clients out of millions.  How did this man ever get his hands on Bunny Mellon's money?  I just love this quote "When your business manager marries a stripper" says one ruefull client, "that's a tell." Ya think?

Here's a photo of the fraudulent financial advisor and his fourth wife, stripper Diane Passage.

There's lots of other great stuff too including the the international best dressed list which I previously posted about, the preppy handbook rebooted, and Fall Fashion must haves with suggestions from fashion bloggers including The Trad.  (Admittedly I'm a little confused on why they didn't contact me for my opinion on jewelry trends...maybe next year. Sam, you know how to reach me)

Even the ads are awesome with fabulous Fall clothes.

Vanity Fair, job well done

Jewelry Biz - Melania Trump For QVC

In a world where every celebrity/socialite is transformed miraculously into a designer I guess that it was only a matter of time until Melania Trump introduced her own line of jewelry.
From National Jeweler
According to a press release, Trump is launching her own line of costume jewelry, "Melania Timepieces and Fashion Jewelry," designed exclusively for multimedia retailer QVC.Each piece in the Melania menagerie will retail for $30 to $200 and the line is set to hit QVC's airwaves on April 30 at 9 p.m., and will be available while supplies last, according to QVC.

From the New York Times we get a glowing report on Melania and The Donald's new venture
Another Trump Hopes What Glitters Will Be Gold
Mrs. Trump, who has been married to Mr. Trump for five years and is his third wife, said that she alone designed the jewelry line, without outside help. yeah whatever
Not surprisingly, Mr. Trump sings her praises.
“She’s got an amazing sense of design and an amazing level of intelligence,” he said in a telephone interview. “She’s got great ability, and I want her to run with it.”
Several questions come to mind.
Do we really need another celebrity designer?
Do we really need another brand of cheesy costume jewelry?
and
Whatever happened to that breed of NY grand dame socialites, like Pat Buckley, Jane Wrightsman and Mary Astor who spent their time and energy raising money for great institutions and great causes?
With a world of Tinsley Mortimers and Melania Trumps I'm afraid that the days of the old guard of grand dames has finally expired.