Neil Lane: A Journey through Jewelry

From searching trash cans for things to sell in his hometown of Brooklyn to getting a phone call from the Louvre. Curators there wanted a piece of his jewelry collection to put on display in one of the museum's exhibits.

One man's trash certainly turned out to be Neil Lane's treasures. At first it really did take digging. Whether is was through a trash can, a flea market or scouring the jewelry shops in Paris.

But Neil Lane took that often heard phrase and turned it into a jewelry empire.

I was lucky enough to meet Neil at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. He was a guest speaker at one of our Fashion Council events.

I was definitely excited to meet him. Wouldn't you be? I've seen his jewels glam up celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Renee Zellweger and Demi Moore.

But there is so much more to Neil Lane then just the glamorous jewels.

He told us he loved "old things". Not just for their value, but for the history...the story behind it.

Like the piece he purchased at a Florida flea market. It was a Tiffany & Co piece from 1891! Who knew you could find something like that at a flea market?

Neil knows what to look for. He's studied Tiffany jewelry and is an avid collector. Although his favorite era for jewels is the 19th century, from 1880-1935 he appreciates all sorts of jewelry.

And the select number of celebrities he loans them to appreciate him. When Renee Zellweger wore a Neil Lane ring to match her red Carolina Herrera dress at the Golden Globes in 2001, she made sure to give credit to him for designing it.

It was the first time he heard his name on tv. He told us his Mom heard it too...and she was so excited for him.

Neil also told us about the jewelry he has from Mae West.

Mae West!

He acquired the jewelry in an estate sale.

The story is fascinating.

When Mae West's career faltered she started doing a burlesque act. She had bodyguards around her for protection. One of those guards took his job very seriously.

And took Ms. West seriously.

He fell in love with her.

Although she didn't reciprocate, he stayed with her until she died in 1980. Even though her beau fell on hard times, he never sold her jewelry. The estate sale took place after he passed away years later.

A true love story that could only happen in Hollywood.

Another love story involves singer Gwen Stefani and a strange connection to Oprah.

When Gwen Stefani wed Gavin Rossdale in 2002 in Los Angeles, she wore a Georgian pendant of pink tourmaline, peridot and diamonds from Neil's collection.

Some time after the wedding Neil got a call from one of Oprah's reps. 15 of Oprah's nearest and dearest wanted to pool their money and buy the necklace as a gift for Oprah's 50th birthday.

Neil said he found himself in a slight dilemma.

Gwen had the necklace,

Oprah's people wanted to buy the necklace.

As he's telling us the story he starts using his hands as if they're scales, moving them up and down while saying, "Oprah, Gwen, Oprah, Gwen..."

Yeah, you guessed it.

Oprah received the necklace for her 50th.

Such a fabulous gift!

So after many years of collecting and selling, Neil has now turned his focus from buyer to designer.

And you don't have to be a celeb to own a piece of Neil Lane jewelry.

He has a store in Los Angeles.

He said he can experiment with different designs since celebrities are always looking for something new to wear to an event.

Such an amazing tale of a boy from Brooklyn who is now a worldwide name.

A journey in jewels.

Stories like that only happen in Hollywood. right?

They do if you're Neil Lane.

A "Gather Round" with Tim Gunn

I felt as if I was just sitting with a friend talking about fashion.

Although last time I did that I wasn't sitting in a private dressing room at Bloomingdale's, on a beautiful chair.....

chatting with Project Runway's esteemed mentor Tim Gunn.

But that's what I was doing today....and I was loving every minute of it!

Tim was in town promoting the Kate Spade Spring/Summer 2010 collection at Bloomingdale's, He's the Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne Inc, the parent company of Kate Spade.

He was nice enough to sit with me and dish.

About everything.

And he didn't hold back.

Tim told me he was so thrilled that Project Runway was about to start casting for their 8th season. He couldn't believe it took off like it did and has had such huge success.

He's like a proud papa referring to the show's designers as his children. He couldn't pick just one that he loved....but boy oh boy could he pick the one he DIDN'T!

Emilio Sosa.

Just saying his name brought a sour look to his face.

That "damned Emilio" was what he told the Boston Herald.

But he told me even more when I brought up a recent challenge on the show where the designers got to create their own fabric using whatever colors and print they so desired.

Emilio chose to use his own initials, Louis Vuitton-like, in his design.

Tim hated it.

"I thought Michael (Kors) was going to eviscerate Emilio for his design";

But he didn't. And Emilio won the challenge. Much to the dislike of Mr. Gunn.

"The judges act like he invented fire!"

Tim went on to say he couldn't believe Emilio used his own initials, "branding" himself so soon.

I agreed and said I was equally as horrified at what the designer produced and was also not happy when he was chosen the winner.

Tim was still shaking his head back and forth so I decided to change the subject...

onto something nicer....

Season Four Winner, Christian Siriano.

"I didn't even want to meet him".

He thought Siriano was too young.

Until he read his dossier and saw his work.

Then he called him a "prodigy". telling me he'd never seen anyone like him in all the years he was at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City.

He was so proud of Christian. I asked him if he saw Christian's show on Bravo "Christian Siriano: Having a Moment". He regretted that he didn't but asked me, "What was he having a moment about?"

"Life in the fashion world". I said. "It's his new catch phrase. Apparently he's still Fierce...but that's so yesterday. So now he's Having a Moment."

Tim laughed loudly and shook his head, obviously delighted that the prodigal son was a huge success.

Not such a success?

In Tim's opinion...Vogue's Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour.

Oh yes. You just read that. And oh yes, Tim had a very strong opinion on Ms Wintour.

Very Strong.

I explained how I recently attended the Health Matters: Weight and Wellness in the Fashion World forum at Harvard, where Anna Wintour was a panelist.

He asked, what does Anna know about that...."She sucks on celery sticks all day"...clearly commenting on Anna's lithe frame.

He added that fashion magazines "perpetuate" the "skinny model" as normal and acceptable.

Tim raised his voice a bit for this comment: he said it's "preposterous" that she has so much power in the fashion world.

I said Ms Wintour called a size 10 model "plus size". He looked incredulous. I told him I read the article in Vogue about the plus sized model and the writer referred to her as "Amazonian".

He prickled at that and said he felt the same way about the article. He was deeply disappointed in Vogue for having an issue devoted to a woman's shape and then putting Gisele Bundchen on the cover.

I have to stop....I think I'm having a moment.

Let's reflect: I'm SITTING IN A ROOM WITH TIM GUNN!

Reflection over.

Back to the dishing...still starstruck but I'll carry on....

Apparently Mr Gunn also gets starstruck. Who knew?

When asked who his fashion icon is, he said it was George Clooney and that he met Clooney while covering a red carpet event a while ago. Tim was a little verklempt about it!

Clooney thanked Tim for naming him his fashion icon, Tim said he was very welcome and then George Clooney said "Now let me fix your tie". Nicely played Mr Clooney!

So he did.

On live tv.

He fixed Tim's tie which was a little askew.

Tim was thrilled. How often do you get to meet your fashion icon?

As for the fashions of today Tim loves a suit from Banana Republic. "I love that store!" I shouted a little too excited about the fact that Tim shops at the same store I do.

He loves the store for wardrobe essentials and their suits. I do too! Oh, sorry, already said that....but I have a few fabulous suits from there as well...

I explained that shopping at Banana Republic or Ann Taylor allows me to get well made clothes, then I can accessorize with high end items like Manolo Blahnik shoes and a Chanel handbag.

"I can see that!" he said.

Um, was that a compliment from TIM GUNN?! Breathing, breathing....

After a half hour of fashion, funny quips about everyone from Project Runway contestants to Anna Wintour...it was time to wrap it up.

We laughed, we cringed, we guffawed at the crazy world of fashion and a little show on cable that has become a huge success.

Mostly due, I think, to the mentor who takes the designers under his wing and helps them make it work.

The best piece of advice he offered?

"Be who you are".

Well said my friend, well said.

But can we get back to the "she sucks on celery sticks all day" comment...just for a second...

Anna Wintour

The side door to the auditorium opened...

and she walked in.

About 1000 people stopped talking and there was a hushed silence.

It was Her.

I've read about her, seen her in a documentary...and always wondered....was she REALLY that way?

We were about to find out.

Me and the 999 other people who were seated inside Harvard's Burden Auditorium for the public forum Health Matters: Weight and Wellness in the World of Fashion.

The Harris Center for Education and Advocacy in Eating Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital was sponsoring the program. And they invited some very well known fashion experts to sit on the panel.

Michael Kors, Fashion Designer and judge on Project Runway.

Natalia Vodianova, a model who now talks openly about having and beating anorexia.

And...

Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue.

I've never been in a room where ONE person can just walk in and have such a presence.

It was amazing. Breathtaking. It was Anna Wintour.

She spoke openly and candidly about the fashion world and how there has been a "dramatic downward shift" in the size of models over the last ten years. She talked about how Vogue was trying to help those models who are "frighteningly thin".

I hung on her every word.

How could you not?

She dictates what's in and what's out.

She is VOGUE.

But it was Michael Kors who brought tears to my eyes.

He told us about a model who was in his show years ago. She had bruises on her back because she was so thin her backbone was bruising her from the inside out.

Kors made a pledge to never hire models under the age of 16, to only book models who have a natural beauty and a healthy body.

Natalia Vodianova spoke softly, but walked in very tall stilettos.

She was told to "lose a few pounds" so many times she became anorexic. Trying to please editors, designers, photographers....it was a vicious circle. She wanted to be healthy, but she wanted to work. If she gained weight, she said, she wouldn't get hired.

She's one of the lucky ones. She recognized her problem and got help. Now she's happily married and a proud mother of three. She talked about the issue that even Anna Wintour and Michael Kors admit, was a "secret".

Models who starve themselves to be thin.

It's out in the open now and everyone is talking about it. Maybe, hopefully it will help.

What the panelists said spoke volumes about the World of Fashion. About the responsibility they have as editor, designer and model.

Michael Kors had my favorite line of the night:

"Clothes are made to make yourself the very best version of you".

When he said that, everyone clapped and cheered.

Well, not Anna.

She sat stoically at the table, sipping bottled water.

She was all business. She said what she had to say and that seemed to be it.

But ok...I admit...when I open up my new issue of Vogue I will grin with complete satisfaction because I got to see Anna Wintour speak.

Even from five rows back she made an impression on me.

She's just that good.

Afterall...she is Anna Wintour.

Jean Therapy

I was mesmerized.

He spoke in a soothing, calming voice.

The entire room was just transfixed.

You mean WE COULD FIT INTO SKINNY JEANS?!

Some shook their heads in disbelief.

Murmurs started in the room.

Questions were raised.

ME? Really?!

According to the Jean Therapist, yes we could.

He would make sure of it.

James Coleman from Saks Fifth Avenue Boston: Jean Therapist.

He was a speaker at "Fit Into Your Skinny Jeans" at Maxime Color Salon. (where I get my hair done).

I wasn't sure about this part of the night's program before I got there. I always think "hungry" or "starving" when I think about fitting into skinny jeans.

But I was wrong.

It's all about the fit, the style and the designer says the Jean Therapist.

He had regular girls in skinny jeans to prove his point.

After that, I was a believer. How could you not be? After listening to James I can't wait to visit him at Saks and fit into my skinny jeans.

I picture walking into a dressing room and throwing myself onto a chaise lounge and telling James all my denim dilemmas. Or all of my problems. Seriously, this guy needs to open up a therapy room.

Couldn't we all use a little Jean Therapy?

What are the two things we hate to try on?

Jeans and bathing suits, right?

So why not have someone tell you the absolute truth about your jeans.

One brave soul did get up in front of the room to show off her jeans. She called them "comfortable", like a "boyfriend jean".

The Jean Therapist cringed. Why would you want to wear your boyfriend's jeans? You're a woman!

He called those jeans "The Bad Boyfriend" jean. You know they're not right for you, but you keep going back. And you only have yourself to blame.

So off I'll go to Saks and see the Jean Therapist. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm sure it will be the perfect fit.

Dress for Success

The applause filled the room as one woman stood up to accept the accolades.

The Emmys?

Nope.

Prize winner?

Of sorts...

She is a woman who took her circumstances and turned them around with one simple change.

A change of clothes.

I was at the Dress for Success Boston luncheon at the beautiful Fairmont Copley.

The woman standing up, the one we were all clapping and cheering for used the resources at Dress for Success to dress up her life and get a good paying job to help her family.

Sound simple?

Not at all.

She not only had to get up the courage to ask for help, she had to accept it. And she did. Now she's a success story. One that brought a tear to my eye as I joined with the other 400 guests that afternoon applauding her success.

You've heard the saying "Clothes make the man". It's true. But wearing the right clothes most definitely makes the woman.

Don't you feel a little kick in your stop when you're wearing that fabulous new dress or pair of shoes you coveted for so long and finally gave in and bought?

I most certainly do!

When I'm having a bad day, when my MS is kicking my butt I turn to fashion to turn things around.

And it always helps.

Looking good has a direct response to feeling good. And with that, good things can happen.

My very first neurologist used to tell me I was her best dressed patient. We'd talk about fashion and shoes and anything that I was up to involving fashion...she inspired me to not lose myself in my disease. To not let it bring me so far down that I couldn't find my way back up.

That's where fashion has always helped me. Always been a lifeline. A way to make myself feel better (because there is NOTHING better than Chanel!)

While my circumstances are different from the Dress for Success success story....I think there is a little bit of her in all of us. Fashion (and some very generous fashionistas) helped her improve her life.

Am I saying that fashion can save the world? Nah.

But if a piece of clothing, a fab handbag or a killer pair of shoes can brighten your day, make you feel better....it certainly is a great start.