The Ultimate Jewelry Gallery from the 2015 Emmy Awards

I was so bummed the Emmys air at 4AM in the Middle East and I would miss it! Watching the recaps or the when it re-airs at 7PM Dubai time is just not the same! I spent hours searching the web for a recap of the jewelry at the 2015 Emmy Awards or at least high res images and managed to compile thee ultimate gallery. So without further ado,  here are the best of the best from last night's show...

Emma Roberts - Marin Katz Jewelry - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Emma Roberts - Marin Katz Jewelry - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Gina Rodriguez - Lavalier Dubai Jewelry

Heidi Klum - Lorraine Shwartsz - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Heidi Klum - Lorraine Shwartsz - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Jamie Lee Curtis - LavalierDubai Jewelry

January Jones - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Kat Deely - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Laverne Cox - Fred Leighton Jewelry - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Laverne Cox - Fred Leighton Jewelry - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Lena Heady - Harry Kotlar Jewelry - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Maggie Gyllenhaal -  LavalierDubai Jewelry

Mindy Kaling - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Natasha Lyonne - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Padma Lakshmi - Fred Leighton - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Ramona Keveza - Jacob and Co. - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Sarah Hyland - Lorraine Shwartz - Ofira - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Sofia Vergara - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Sofia Vergara - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Taraji P Henson - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Taryn Manning - LavalierDubai Jewelry

Uzo Aduba - LavalierDubai Jewelry

The Fendi 'Be' Baguette Cross-body Replica Review (2015topluxuryhandbags.com)

Just opened up my emails (after a looooong time) and found a reader submitted review! So exciting when people share their experiences with online shopping so that others can benefit from it.

Our dear reader, who chose to be anonymous, shopped at a Chinese replica handbag site now located on this domain name: 2015topluxuryhandbags.com. The reason I say it's now located there is because this site regularly changes their domain to avoid being prosecuted and shut down by brands like Chanel or Michael Kors.

Just a note before I start, although I do not condone the purchase of replica designer items, I do understand that people will buy them anyway, regardless of its illegality. This blog post aims to help people avoid getting ripped off, not to promote buying replica designer goods.

"Dear Lavalier,

I was looking for Fendi 'Be' Baguette Cross-body Replica and couldn't afford the hefty price tag... for some reason, the good people at Fendi think a small, leather cross body should cost 3,000 USD! Which is ridiculous! So I decided to go the replica route and I searched everywhere online but couldn't find the exact one I was looking for (beige color, gold hardware). Then I stumbled upon 2015topluxuryhandbags.com. I was terrified at first because it's in China and there were no prior reviews online. But I needed that bag so I took a leap and I am so glad I did so! Check out my awesome bag!!! This picture was taken after I wore it around for a year! It's the best bag I've ever owned and held up pretty well even though I used it almost daily for a year.

Here's my detailed experience with 2015topluxuryhandbags.com. First, I wanted to see if they were legit so I made a small purchase of about 129 USD + 60 USD fast shipping just to be sure they're not robbing me blind. It was a Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Canvas Trevi PM. The idea is that I would rather lose 189 USD than 349 USD (which is what the 'Be' Baguette costs on their site).

I spoke to the customer service and they answered pretty quickly, however, when I asked if I can see up-close pics of the bag, they refused. They can only show me pictures of the real bag once I placed my order. I thought that was shady and annoying but I went along none the less (I obviously really wanted that Fendi!)

I placed the order using my credit card because they don't have a PayPal option, which in my opinion is the safest way to transact online. They assured me it was safe and I went ahead.

A few hours later, they sent me pic of my real LV but it was really blurry and I wasn't able to see how good a quality it was. When I asked for me detailed pics, they refused. And now I know why... the LV was TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, AWFUL!

I have never seen such an atrocious looking bag. I wish I had pics, but I deleted them a few months ago and I actually gave the bag away to my house keeper. 

It was a poor quality bag and to make things worse, they forgot to include the strap. So I emailed them about it and they asked me to check inside the bag like I'm some sort of an idiot. I told them it wasn't there so they shipped out a new one to the same address. I never got it. 

The whole bad quality/missing strap fiasco should have put me off but I am not a quitter LOL. I made the Fendi purchase and it arrived a 10 - 12 days later, right on my door step. I paid the 60 USD extra so that I can get it before I was to travel on vacation.

The Fendi is wonderful and exactly as pictured! 

Overall, I would make another purchase and they did send me 2 or 3 emails about getting my strap. I would just stay away from their LV selection. And I would always go for the more expensive option... it's expensive for a reason.

Hope you liked the review!"

Thanks so much for this! Really helpful! These are the real images of the bag and yours is spot on! I can't see a single difference.

If you have a review to share, do send it to me at lavalierdubai@gmail.com.

Spring Time Happiness: The Floral Trend on the Red Carpet

Aren't we all glad winter is finally over?! No more over-sized sweaters, prickly scarves and chunky boots. Finally, we can go back to pastels, linens and open-toed shoes.

Spring time has also hit the red carpet. Check out the latest celebrities rocking the floral trend.

Alexa Chung in Miu Miu (Are those legs for real?! Eat something, jesus!)

Eva Mendes in New York & Company (Love everything except the headband... looks like a maid about to clean the balcony)

Kiernan Shipka in Dolce & Gabbana (the little annoying and bratty older child from Mad Men cleans up nice!)

Lupita Nyong'o in Christian Dior (Her face is glowing!! Very nice... Dress sucks!)

Katy Perry in Vivian Westwood (Hair = No!, Dress = Yes, Boobs = Yes, Eyes = "I just smoked some ganja in the limo")

What do you guys think of the floral trend... Let us know in the comments section below!

Real Vs. Fake: Chanel Classic Flap-Bag

I've gotten some great responses about my Real vs. Fake posts. Most people will look at sites like Ebay, Souq and Dubizzle to purchase pre-loved bags but often can't authenticate them. They would want to know if they are paying thousands of Dirhams for the real deal, or a bad knock-off.

So, I decided to write a blog post on how to spot a faux Chanel, which is by far one of the most replicated bags out there and people WILL try to sell knock offs and pass it off as the real deal.

I will start off with my favorite Chanel: The classic caviar or lambskin flap-bag with cross stitching and with silver/gold hardware.

Authentic

According to this thread on the Purse Blog Forum, the flap-bag comes in 3 sizes: 

Small - 9"W x 5.5"L x 2"D
Medium - 10"W x 6"L x 2.5"D
Jumbo - 12"W x 8"L x 3"D

Sizes are vital because it's a dead giveaway in a fake bag.

The white Chanel below is 10" W, 6"L, 2.75" Depth. It's amazing... but the most shocking part is how much she paid for it back in 2006: 5,800 Dirhams or 1,595USD! If you visit the Chanel boutiques now (2014), you'll be lucking to get a measly Wallet-on-Chain for that amount.

Just a quick note here: I would NEVER buy a white bag... especially not a Chanel! First off, you can only wear it in the summer. And secondly, it gets so dirty so quickly. I  had a white Fendi once and was holding it above my elbow... My jeans (although they weren't cheap!) rubbed off and absolutely ruined it. I still don't wear it to this day. In my humble opinion, when you're paying that much, you're better off buying a black or dark color. 

Caviar, Silver Hardware

Lamb Skin, Gold Hardware

Patent Leather, Silver Hardware

Side View of Jumbo, Medium and Small

A real Chanel's stitching is impeccable and symmetrical

Replica

Researching this blog post made me realize that it's getting harder and harder to authenticate Chanels because of how well the Chinese are making them. But because I have seen so many real and faux bags in my lifetime, there are some giveaways.

I got the below pictures from TopLuxuryBag2014. If the link is broken, it's because Chanel probably shut it down for selling fakes.

The Differences

From far, both the authentic and the replica look identical. But the devil is in the details:

• The grains of the fake caviar bags protrude while the real are flattened and larger 
• Even if the bag is an A+ replica, the zippers are always a give it away. The zipper lining should be straight, not crooked. Also, the zipper clasp can sometimes be a piece of leather rather than a metal clasp. That does not mean it's a fake. However, how that piece of leather looks/feels is important. 

Use this picture as a handy tool:

• As mentioned before, replicas are almost NEVER the same size as the original. 
• Stitching: Take this as a rule of thumb: Real = High Stitch Count, Fake = Low Stitch Count. And, as the image above shows... the stitches is impeccable and in a straight line.
• Hardware: the right C in the CC logo should be over the left. Newer Chanels do not have a stamp on the left C. Also, the bag strap should be heavy. I've seen fake bags where the chain is really cheap-looking and light.

Now, it's your turn! Let us know how you detect a fake Chanel in the comments section below. Also, if you have review you can share it with us in the comments below!

Real vs. Fake: Fendi 2Jours Petite Leather Shopper

Great news! It's replica bag review time. One of our lovely readers sent us some pictures of her brand new replica Fendi 2Jours Petite Leather Shopper. Now, we can see what the fake one looks like when compared to the real deal.

Just a note before I start, although I do not condone the purchase of replica designer items, I do understand that people will buy them anyway, regardless of its illegality. I also know that people want to buy authentic bags on sites like Ebay or Souq.com but can't differentiate a replica from an authentic products. This blog post aims to help people avoid getting ripped off, not to promote buying replica designer goods.

Let's get started with the facts. Here are the specs of the authentic 2Jours:
Signature style in a petite Italian saffiano leather silhouette with logo hardware and lining.

• Double top handles, 4.25" drop
• Detachable adjustable shoulder strap, 21"-23" drop
• Snap strap closure
• Two inner compartments
• One inside zip pocket
• Fully lined
• 10"W X 8"H X 4½"D
• Made in Italy
• It's available in 6 colors: Barely (Beige), Black, Cobalt Blue (the IT color of the season!), Grey, Pink and Poppy (Orange)
• Price: 7,000 AED ($1,907) 

Here are some up close pictures, taken from Saks Fifth Avenue's page:

Now, on to the faux Fendi. Here are the pictures shared by an awesome LavalierDubai reader who chose to stay anonymous.

According to her email, the reader actually visited the Fendi store after purchasing the bag and found very few differences. Judging for her pictures, although they are a bit low-res, I have to agree! This bag is spot on!

Let's look at some of the differences:

• The Fendi logo on the upper right hand corner of the replica bag is in a bold font while the authentic is significantly thinner. Same goes for the Fendi logo on the tag.
• The tag on the replica is much longer than that of the authentic, which is a huge giveaway.
• I asked our fan to measure the dimensions of the bag and she found that the width and height are exactly as the authentic, however, the double top handles drop at 6.5" rather than 4.25". In terms of girth, the authentic and replica look pretty much the same. 
• It seems that the snap strap closure is waaaaay crooked! For me, this is a dead giveaway but luckily, this is inside of the bag so it is not too noticeable.

Now, it's your turn! What do you think of this replica bag or the replica industry in general? Share your thought below.

Got a bag review you would like to share? Email me lavalierdubai@gmail.com.

Want To Become a Jewelry Professional? Get Certified in the UAE!

When I started my online wholesale jewelry store in Dubai, I never imagined one day wanting to create my own designs. But more and more, I am feeling the need to make something: to bead, to string, to draw... I've been dabbling in designing my own collection for a while, but after watching countless YouTube videos, I realized I needed professional help (for my jewelry work that is).

Being in the jewelry industry makes people assume that you know everything there is to it (and that should be the case if you want to be successful!)

I've been in situations where my friends and co-workers ask me about a certain gemstone, or the clarity of their diamond or what the difference is between gold plated or gold filled? Often times, I would just BS my way through my answer, hoping they won't Google it and find out I'm completely clueless.

Thus, I began my jewelry knowledge journey. I started off with iBooks and bought every book imaginable about the subject. I familiarized myself with the big dogs in the industry (Cartier, DeBeers, Van Cleef) and focused on some of the newer, less known designers. But of course, I am still learning and sharing my knowledge on this blog. And I need to study the subject academically.

So, if you are looking to get a proper certificate or degree in the UAE in any jewelry related field, read on to find out how you can get started.

International Gemological Institute
IGI is an international diamond and gemstones grading laboratory based in Antwerp, Belgium. They've been in the jewelry-certifying business since the 1970's and are the one of the oldest labs in Europe.

They began offering jewelry related courses both online and off since the early 2000's in several locations, including Dubai. The courses vary in duration and at the end you will be certified in:

• Polished Diamonds
• Rough Diamonds
• Colored Stones
• Pearl Grading
• Jewelry Design
• CAD Design
• e - Learning
• Retail Sales  

Tuition for the above courses are pretty steep, totaling to 23,000 AED ($6,270) for the entire module. But you can also register for the e-learning course, which is relatively cheaper and is self-paced. That will set you back 2,700 AED ($750).


ESMOD Dubai 
ESMOD is the only fashion-dedicated institute in the UAE. Although they specialize in fashion design and pattern-making, they do offer a jewelry workshop for beginners. The tuition for a 1 month workshop is 6,500 AED ($1,800) and you will learn beading and jewelery-making techniques as well as creating mood boards and concept creation.

National Institute for Vocational Training (AKA Damas University)
NIVE was established in 2006 to provide students with the opportunity to gain specific job competencies geared to enhancing their employ-ability. Shockingly, they have an extensive jewelry business development program fully funded by Damas Jewelry. The 2-year Higher National Diploma (HND) is inclusive of all things related to jewelry and the jewelry business. Not only do they give classes in design but they also include business courses on how to manage your own jewelry company!

Out of all the above programs, I feel this is the most comprehensive as well as the most reputable. Unfortunately, not much is known about the tuition but you can contact them and inquire here.

Do you know of other online/offline jewelry diplomas or certificates? Got a review to share with us? Let us know in the comments section below or email us at sales@lavalierdubai.com.

Exclusive Pictures Showing a Glimpse Inside the House of Christian Dior During the 1950's & 60's

The 1950's was a great time for fashion: People were done with war-time austerity and wanted to live it up. And what other way to spend cash than on looking good?

Only two years after the end of World War II, Paris fashion houses reopened their doors and solidified their role as the fashion capital of the world.

Enter Christian Dior, who resurrected the Haute Couture we now know and love. With the help of Spanish designer Cristobal Balenciaga, a new direction for women's clothing was formed: it was dubbed the "New Look".

We all know what 1950's fashion looked like: a nipped waist, knee-length skirts, neck and bust in full view. That's all the handy work of the genius who was Christian Dior.

The below were taken by Life Magazine photographer Mark Shaw, who snapped these behind-the-scenes images from the 1950's through the 60's. They don't only capture clothing but the mood of French society at the time.

Check them out and let us know what you think in the comments section below!