Sam Edelman’s latest collection has made its South Florida debut. “It was about mixing and matching and playing on similarities and opposites,” says Edelman of the philosophy behind his offerings. Slip into his four-inch Lorissa ($200), a denim number studded with fierce spikes, and you’ll understand the pretty paradox. Available at Koko & Palenki, Village of Merrick Park, 358 San Lorenzo Ave., 305-444-0626

On March 30, Saks Fifth Avenue launches the Nicholas Kirkwood spring/summer 2011 shoe collection. Nicolas Kirkwood shoes are 1007 hand-crafted shoes Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Julianne Moore, Mary-Kate Olsen and Sienna Miller have been spotted wearing numbers from the Young Sole Rebel line. And for this latest collection, Kirkwood collaborated with the designers from Rodarte.

The launch is part of a charity shoe shopping event (6-8 PM) hosted by Saks Fifth Avenue Dadeland in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters. The first 100 guests to donate $100 or more to Big Brothers Big Sisters will receive a $100 Saks Fifth Avenue gift card. The event will feature a Champagne reception and hors d’oeuvres while guests shop the latest shoe trends at 10022-SHOE, the Saks shoe boutique. Saks Fifth Avenue Dadeland, 7687 N. Kendall Dr., Miami; 305-662-8655

Essie has teamed up with Toms Shoes for One Day Without Shoes, a global initiative taking place on April 5 to raise critical awareness about children in developing countries who lack proper footwear. To support the cause, Essie created One Day Without Blues, a dreamy blue lacquer with a hint of shimmer. The limited edition polish can be purchased at onedaywithoutshoes.com, where you’ll also find this cute video of bloggers and editors pledging to “show their toes so kids don’t have to.” At last check, the polish was sold out but here's hoping for a restock!

FROM LEFT: The Bulgari Octo Chronographe Quadri-Retro; Bedat watch; the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi Evotec BigDate

This year Bulgari redefines time with the Octo Chronographe Quadri-Retro timepiece with Gerald Genta caliber. The octagonal case is remeniscent of the great Genta look but with a sporty appeal. It is made of ceramic and steel and offers a jumping hours indicator at 12:00, and retrograde minute hand that travels over the arc. A retrograde date and retrograde chronograph counters complete the look of this automatic column-wheel chronograph.

Inspired by the Art Deco movement, Bedat continues to offer elegance and distinctive beauty in its timepieces. This new Swiss made watch is the perfect marriage of craftsmanship and jeweled magic. It features 365 diamonds weighing 3.53 carats and a monther-of-pearl dial, and is set with a violet satin strap and 18kt gold case.

And from Carl F. Bucherer, this women's Patravi Evotec BigDate watch in 18kt gold houses an automtaic 33-jewel movement. It features a diamond dial and case and a sea-snake strap.

Timepiece editor Roberta Naas reports from BaselWorld and beyond.

FROM LEFT: The Corum Caliber C0313; TAG Heuer Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph

Two amazing new watches debuted at BaselWorld 2011. For the first time ever, after four years of development, Corum released a new limited-edition self-winding Golden Bridge movement in white gold or red gold, equipped with a platinum linear oscillating weight. The exclusive new Corum Caliber C0313 automatic linear-winding baguette movement consists of 194 parts and offers 40 hours of power reserve. It features a mainplate and bridges made from 18kt gold, Teflon-coated rails for the linear oscillating weight, beryllium copper contact zones, and ceramic ball bearings to ensure unidirectional winding. There will be just 130 pieces made in red gold and 70 pieces in white gold, so act fast.

And it was just a couple of months ago in Geneva that TAG Heuer unveiled its 1/100th of a second wrist watch—the Heuer Carrera Mikcrograph. Now the brand unveils its TAG Heuer Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph. The watch beats 3,600,000 times in an hour. (No, that's not a typo.) The remarkable power house features a host of engineering breakthroughs and has 11 patents pending.

Timepiece editor Roberta Naas reports from BaselWorld and beyond.

Sometimes we miss amazing concerts and shows. (It happens—we can’t be everywhere.) So when we heard a bunch of South Florida bands brought their breed of noise to Texas for this year's South by Southwest (SXSW), we had to pick out the shows we wish we would have seen. Some were slated from the very beginning, some were snuck onto the schedule at the last minute—but all are worth a good listen.

Surfer Blood: The West Palm Beachers have helped pave the way for a West Coast surf rock revival. Aand with three showcases under their belts for this year’s SXSW, we’re sure they brought their trademark quirky antics with them on stage, as usual.
UPCOMING: A new, not-yet-titled EP is slated for release sometime in April, and they’re touring.
Listen here

Awesome New Republic (ANR): One of our favorite ambient pop two-pieces played three official SXSW showcases this year and was a “band to watch” on several blogs and publications.
UPCOMING: They’ve recently released their new LP, Stay Kids, and have a show at Bardot on March 31.
Listen here

Millionyoung: Having played one SXSW showcase, South Florida’s first chillwaver is adapting to the genre’s changing climate with his latest release.
UPCOMING: He recently released his full-length debut LP Replicants.
Listen here

Pretty Please: This band wasn’t actually confirmed to perform at SXSW this year. They received a last-minute phone call about an hour before they were scheduled to go on, and the rest is history.
Listen here

Teepee: This one-man band led by Eric Lopez-Zareno typically works with synths, a guitar or a combination of both. But at his SXSW showcase performance this year, he hit the stage with a full band (the drummer of Deaf Poets and the lead singer of Little Beard backed him on vocals). We can only assume it made his dreamy pop tunes all the more powerful.
UPCOMING: Download his 11-track Morals LP for free with four bonus tracks.
Listen here

BaselWorld 2011 is full of surprises. Top trends include a host of exciting new women's watches, superb new complications and a real trend toward new materials and ceramics. Take a close look at this all-new Chanel J12 Chromatic watch: Though it looks like a steel watch, it's actually ceramic blended with titanium through a patented technology that was some time in the making. Chanel sought out the ceramic material when it was looking for a new alternative to white and black. It is ultra-chic, ultra-hard, scratch-resistant and so high-tech that it actually changes color based on the amount of light, offering an array of gray hues. Find it in three sizes, with the smallest housing a quartz movement and the two larger versions housing automtic movements. And varying degrees of diamonds can adorn the J12 Chromatic. Rock on Chanel.

Timepiece editor Roberta Naas reports from BaselWorld and beyond.

Since winning Project Runway Season 6, Irina Shabayeva has been living the designer dream. She debuted her first fall collection at Lincoln Center during New York Fashion Week Fall 2011, she recently launched a line at Macy’s and has had celebs like Lady Gaga wear her creations. We chatted up the New York-based designer who was recently in Miami scouting boutiques to carry her collection. Here’s what we found out:

What was Project Runway like for you and how do you feel you’ve grown as a designer since then?
IRINA SHABAYEVA: The experience was very rewarding and I did grow as a person and a designer. But I also think as a designer you grow every season with your collections. You have to explore and you have to have the accidents when you’re creating.

You’ve dressed several celebrities like Lady Gaga and and Selena Gomez. Is there a specific star you’d like to dress?
IS: Julianne Moore and Halle Berry.

Why did you decide to collaborate with INC and Macy’s for the Irina for INC collection? What inspired you?
IS: Well, I won a challenge to design a dress with INC when I was on Project Runway, so our relationship flourished from there. I think they do a great product for a great price. I looked at all sorts of dance [for inspiration]. The more embellished pieces like the silk baby doll dress was inspired from ballet.

I read that you hate to shop and only do so for makeup, jeans and shoes. Do you really make everything you wear?
IS: It’s true. I’m really conscious of how things fit on the waist and bust so I like to make my own clothes.

What are you doing these days?
IS: I’m currently working on finishing production for my Spring 2011 and bridal line. I’m also launching a home line. Right now it’s only going to be throws and pillows. My line [Luxe by Irina] is also growing with HSN. It’s going to include ready-to-wear, handbags and accessories.

What else do you want to achieve in the future?
IS: I want to get into costume designing for plays and movies. I also want to grow more and eventually have the company be strong enough so that I can have people to run it.

People tend to assign the word “icon” rather cavalierly these days—is Kate Middleton a style icon already?—but there’s no argument that it applies to Elizabeth Taylor. When you’re equally legendary for your work, your passions, your style and your philanthropy, "icon" actually seems too slight a word.

The global reaction to Taylor’s passing Wednesday morning only supports this idea, as tributes pour in from around the world for the woman who perhaps best defined 20th-century celebrity—and not merely for the Oscars she won or the designers she wore, but because before anyone else she shrewdly used that fame to create awareness for causes she cared about, most notably AIDS research and prevention.

Later in her life she indulged one of her other passions: In 2002 Taylor had written a book, My Love Affair With Jewelry, which chronicled her considerable collection and her personal anecdotes of famed pieces, including two purchased for her by Richard Burton, the 33.19-carat Krupp Diamond ring and the 69.42-carat Taylor-Burton pear-shaped diamond. The success of the book led to conversations about whether Taylor was interested in designing pieces herself, and in 2007 I had the good fortune to interview her about the jewelry line she launched as a result. Under the moniker House of Taylor, the collection reflected her personal love for all things that sparkle.

What inspired you to make the transition into jewelry design after garnering such a well-known reputation as a collector?
ELIZABETH TAYLOR: I’ve always had a passion for jewelry. I bought my first piece for my mother when I was 15, and it was love at first sight. So when I was asked I thought, what fun to design jewelry for other people. I’ve designed pieces for myself for many years.  It all starts in my head: Many of the designs come to me in my dreams, and when I see the pieces come to life, it’s magical.

How involved are you throughout a design’s development?
ET: Totally and completely involved. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother to do it. My mind goes buzzing off to jewelry all the time. Sometimes I’ll write an idea down in the middle of the night and sketch it out in the morning. I’ll call the boys at our little shop and say, “I have a new design,” and it just grows and grows into reality.

Any favorite stones or cuts that will always be a part of your design?
ET: Diamonds, of course.  You can’t cry on a diamond’s shoulder, but they sure are fun when the sun shines. I think people may expect diamonds of me. We have a certain association. I love cushion cuts. People often ask about the Krupp. When I look into it, I see the deep Asscher cuts, which are so complete and so ravishing, like steps that lead into eternity and beyond. It’s my baby.

In your book you tell great anecdotes about various pieces, such as the ruby and diamond suite from Mike Todd or the Iguana Schlumberger brooch from Richard Burton. How much of a piece of jewelry is about wearing something gorgeous, and how much of it is about sentiment and a wonderful memory?
ET: The importance of jewelry is emotional and psychological to me. Who gave it to me matters greatly. Each piece in my collection pays tribute to a certain moment in time or memory that I cherish. I always want to share my collection with others so that they have a glimpse of the joys, the thrills, and the pure happiness that these beautiful creations have given to me. I know they will one day belong to others, but not anytime soon.  That’s why designing for our little company is giving me such joy. I am able to share jewelry with people today in a very personal way.                      

With so many wonderful memories about your own collection, what sort of memories do you hope to evoke in those who buy the pieces you design?
ET: I hope their presence and their magic will be passed on to others, loved but not possessed, for we are all only temporary custodians of beauty. I want women who choose our jewelry to be passionate about it, to love it, to protect it, to nurture it and to share it.  Most of all, jewelry and love are to be shared. Without love, nothing else really matters.

Bestselling author Jill Kargman’s latest offering, Sometimes I feel Like a Nut, explores subjects far beyond a snack impulse. “If I had to identify myself with one advertising campaign, it would be the eighties jingle of Mounds and Almond Joy,” she confides. “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.” 

Known for such chic lit hits as Arm Candy and Momzillas, Kargman uses grade school style illustrations, personal observations and pure no-holds-barred wit to demonstrate the life of a converse and jeans clad mom trying to fit in on the New York’s Upper East Side—aka Gossip Girl country. We caught up with Kargman to find out just how much of her latest book is autobiographical.

Are the book's sex-addicted babysitter and the Manhattan momzilla characters based on real people?
JILL KARGMAN: One hundred percent true. You can't write this shit!

I’ve noticed some crossover themes in your books. Do you consider them to be a series?
JK: Yes. My real life informs all my work, even the novels. This is the first nonfiction [book] where I'm not hiding behind characters to say what I want to say, so it's more vulnerable.

Will readers notice a difference in voice, since the new book is so personal?
JK: The voice is the same as the irreverent sidekick characters in my trashy novels. My inner gay man is more out and about and I also let loose more in general as I was unburdened by a narrative.

You like to balance heavy subjects, like cancer, with ridiculous tape dispenser throwing bosses and Don Henley.
JK: True, but the underlying thread is always humor. Using wit as a weapon to combat life's challenges whether it’s a shitty boss—which we all have—to cancer to being snubbed by Don Henley, asshole of the universe.
 
Do you think these characters only exist in New York, or could you see them in Miami as well?
JK: Sure. Anywhere there are high-maintenance people—drama queens are omni. I'm sure there are whorish babysitters, fashion victims and fame fuckers here.