White Hot

Who says you can't wear white before Memorial Day? The rules have changed. There are no rules! And celebs like Katrina Bowden and Busy Philipps are welcoming spring in fun, flirty, frilly white frocks.

White is a versatile hue that compliments a golden tan or fairer skin, brunettes and blonds, and provides a blank palette for accessorizing. What do you think? Who wears it best in this photo from Star magazine?

Pewter Perfection

As we've reported before, metallics are shining for 2011. Gold, silver, bronze and the latest Hollywood fashion craze is pewter.

We're familiar with the metal, using it in our keepsake designs for over thirty years. Pewter is a popular substance for creating giftware and jewelry because of it's softness. It's easy to mold into intricate details and patterns and gives off a beautiful, matte sheen. Which makes it a perfect hue for red carpet gowns that mold to the figure and accentuate the natural glow of the wearer.

Sofia Vergara, Kerry Washington, Emma Roberts, Jessica Alba, Malia Akerman, and Blake Lively were all photographed in US Weekly wearing glittering pewter gowns in glam and classic styles, exposing the versatility of the metallic hue. We expect to see pewter becoming more dominant in fashion, giftware and home decor as the year continues.

Assorted pewter ornaments by Gloria Duchin.

What's Trending Now?

City Garden from our annual 2011 Trend Intelligence(tm) guide, a perfect color and style trend for spring.


The concept of “going green” has evolved from a trend into a way of life. People are returning to a simpler time by changing the way they eat, clean, and shop. Labels like “local” and “organic” are important to consumers, as they are more interested in where their products are coming from and how they are made. This sentiment is becoming more and more important in the city, with the presence of farmers markets, the upswing of parks and public spaces, and the obsession with everything vintage.

In fashion, recycled metals are being made into chic jewelry and belts, paired with light and airy fabrics. Textiles are being dyed with vegetables such as beets and eggplant. Patterns and textures representing nature are found on the street and on the red carpet. A major trend in home décor is upcycling, taking the old and making it new, and when this isn’t possible, creating something new that speaks to the past. Retro chairs are refinished and paired with a reclaimed wood table. Plants are used to create an oasis amidst an inner city backdrop.


In Christmas décor, these same ideas hold true. Decorations are made from old or recycled items and scraps of unused fabrics. Ornaments represent nature in a modern, city-living kind of way. Trees are made from uncommon materials and are showcased as an art installation, while wrapping papers channel the past with their retro patterns.

Shop this trend with popular gardening keepsakes at gloriaduchin.com

Precious Metals

Striking silvers and golds hit the red carpet at the 2011 Oscars ceremony. Halle Berry, Michelle Williams, Hilary Swank and other leading ladies decked out in form-fitting metallic gowns accented with jewels and feathers.

One thing you'll notice in the People Magazine photo above is the metallic hue of choice is predominantly silver. I think this is a trend that will continue through the year as silver gains its reputation for being the sleeker, shinier, more glam metal. Paired with bold colored accents, gems or sequins, silver looks rich and glamorous.

The Full Spectrum

The New York Spring Fashion magazines shows designers using the full spectrum of color in this year's designs going from indigo to canary yellow.

Top: Maxmara, Cacharel, Emporio Armani, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein Collection, Prozena Schouler
Bottom: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Fendi, Prada, Versace, Akris, Diane Von Furstenberg

Top fashion designers are bringing spring to life with their multi-colored designs and we at Gloria Duchin are proud to present a new pet collection with the same brightly hued whimsy.

Coming this spring at CVS stores, purchase personalized pet accessories: key chains, large and small pet tags as shown above with sayings just for you and your pet.

In Love with SAG fashion

In case you missed it, the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards aired last night with Black Swan, The Fighter and the King's Speech leading the way in film awards. The little black dress was a token staple on the red carpet, but some love was in the air as stars like Katrina Bowden, Julianna Margulies, Jennifer Lawrence, and Angie Harmon embraced the spirit of Valentine's day with daring reds, feisty fuscia and pale pink.

A great way to accesorize a bright colored dress is with a simple piece of silver jewelry. For your Valentine's date, we have our new solid heart charm bracelet embellished with a siam Swarovski crystal that you can personalize for FREE with a one letter monogram on the front! GloriaDuchin.com

Tickled Pink

What better way to chase away winter blues than with vibrant, confident, flirty, honeysuckle pink? Recently named Pantone's 2011 "it" color of the year, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman says, "The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages."

The Pantone website has suggestions for wearing it, decorating with it and even charging in pink. If you just want to add a dab of honeysuckle to your life, I suggest carrying it on your keys with our silvertone pink "kiss" lips keyring. Add a charm and you can personalize it with your name.

Looking for more pink? This article has sixteen more ways you can brighten your life.