‘Tis the season to make jewelry. More and more of New York’s ready-to-wear designers—suffering, we’re sure, from an overabundance of free time—are adding custom or collaborative jewelry to their collections for the Spring ‘11 season. And if you’re a fan of silver, you’re in luck.

Jen Kao has collaborated in the past with other designers on jewelry for her namesake label, but this Spring, she steps out on her own, launching a collection of sterling silver bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and even a belt that pick up Spring’s romantic theme. “When I can be, I am always head-to-toe in jewelry, but it still always feels like there’s an essential piece that’s missing. I particularly love pieces that become such a part of you that you don’t ever want to take them off,” Kao says. “I wanted to design jewelry that speaks the same message as the clothing: personal, easy dramatics.” The weird, slightly supernatural romance of her current theme—”the youthful kismet of desert princes meeting zombie brides,” she says—was replicated in a gift to editors: a dangling pendant from the upcoming collection (above), complete with a hand-penned poem.

For his upcoming collection, Jeremy Laing worked with fellow Torontonian Jaime Sin on a few silver pieces as well. Sin’s main occupation is DJ—she’s done the music for Laing’s shows for the past few seasons—but she’s launching her line on Laing’s girls, some of who will be wearing the geometric pieces Sin and Laing co-designed (above).

Opening Ceremony and Levi’s joined forces earlier this spring to launch a collection of pastel-hued cords, from cut-off shorts to overshirts, and a perfectly broken-in denim jacket. For the collaboration’s second wave, hitting stores next week, they looked back to Levi’s workwear heritage—and namely, its classic railroad stripe. Here’s your exclusive first look at the new Opening Ceremony 505 jean ($210), in eye-popping, graphic black-and-white stripes, and trucker jacket ($300), which brings together a few colors of denim with a shearling lining and a patch of that same railroad stripe. Look for it at Opening Ceremony, select Levi’s stores, and levis.com by next Friday.

Alexis Bittar, the recently crowned CFDA Accessory Designer of the Year, is heading west. The charming jeweler with the Lucite bent already has three Manhattan locations, but this month, he opens three more in California—one in San Francisco and two in Los Angeles. In between finalizing his Resort lookbook, manipulating new mohair knits, and putting the finishing touches on his fashion week collaboration, Bittar met with Style.com to talk L.A., elk heads, 80-year-olds, and what’s coming next.

The British Fashion Award nominations are in! For designer of the year, Phoebe Philo (pictured) faces off with Christopher Kane and Erdem Moralioglu; for designer brand of the year, it’s Burberry and Mulberry vs. Pringle of Scotland and Victoria Beckham; and for menswear designer of the year, Christopher Bailey, Margaret Howell, Paul Smith, and the Savile Row label E. Tautz. Meanwhile, Nick Knight, Nicola Formichetti, and Rankin are all up for the Isabella Blow award for fashion creator—at least two of whom are Gaga besties. Now who will she root for? [WWD]

Richard Chai, who nabbed the CFDA Swarovski Award for emerging menswear designer last year, has announced he’ll debut his capsule collection for Original Penguin at his runway show this season. [WWD]

Rumored yesterday, confirmed today, the latest designers to collaborate with H&M will be Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz and Lucas Ossendrijver. “I have said in the past that I would never do a mass-market collection, but what intrigued me was the idea of H&M going luxury rather than Lanvin going public. This has been an exceptional exercise, where two companies at opposite poles can work together because we share the same philosophy of bringing joy and beauty to men and women around the world,” Elbaz said in a release this morning. The collections—both womenswear and menswear—will hit 200 stores worldwide beginning on November 20 in the United States. The collection will be revealed in a short film released November 2. More as we get it.

Also, look out for Style.com’s own little collaboration with Elbaz, coming September 15. Stay tuned for details.

Think of any successful African-American celebrity and chances are publicity dynamo Marvet Britto has represented them. As Founder and President of the Britto Agency, Britto has represented the likes of Mariah Carey, Angela Bassett and Vivica A. Fox.
She’s also known as one of the most fashionable Black women power brokers in New York City. Whether perched in sky-high Louboutins or Brian Atwood pumps, the petite industry insider relies on an effortlessly chic style philosophy. She spoke with ESSENCE.com about her style repertoire, and gave us a peek into her legendary closet.

If you’ve been following the steps of “10-Minute Style,” you’ve been
collecting and categorizing fabulous pieces to match your lifestyle.
While suggesting that you use things you already have and offering clues
for fall purchases, here are my “10 Fall Clues to Transition the End of
Summer Blues”…

We admit it, we’ve always had a bit of a crush on “America’s Next Top Model” judge Nigel Barker (left, with previous “ANTM” winners Danielle Evans and Jaslene Gonzalez). What’s not to love? He’s dashing, he’s a brilliant photographer, he’s got that charming British accent — and now he’s written a compulsively readable new book, “Nigel Barker’s Beauty Equation,” in which he shares his expert beauty and fashion tips. We chatted with Barker about everything from the importance of compassion to Queen Latifah’s hotness…

ESSENCE Relationships Editor Demetria L. Lucas recently celebrated the completion of her first book, “A Belle in Brooklyn,” with a Belvedere-sponsored after-work soiree called “Influence” in NYC. Check out who attended and what they were wearing…
Here’s what you had to say:

Gabrielle commented via Facebook: “The LBD never fails.”

Ashley wrote: ‘Demetria always looks nice and classy!’

Tennis champ and budding fashionista Venus Williams is undoubtedly one of the best players to ever serve on the court. Ever since debuting a line of saucier designs from her eleVen fashion house, the seven-time Grand Slam winner has had everyone talking about her on-court appearance. While we’re left wondering whether her outfits are too sexy for the sport, this L.A. girl continues to push the tennis fashion envelope. Check out our favorite buzzed-about Venus Williams outfits from the past year…