Tod’s driving mocs—at 30 or so—are tried-and-true fashion classics, but Tod’s Group chairman Diego Della Valle is lending his support (and around $25 million) to an even more time-honored favorite: The Roman Colosseum. The brand will fully fund the landmark’s entire renovation. [Elle via Refinery29]And speaking of accessories, Serena Williams wasn’t happy with the state [...]

If you had any doubts about the power of a little black dress, Halle Berry is here to remind you. “A black dress always makes a girl look slimmer,” the actress (in a tiny black minidress) told us at Swarovski Elements’ 22 Ways to Say Black charity auction at Phillips de Pury last night. Julianna [...]

The last time we saw the Swarovski-encrusted capsule collection created by the 2010 CFDA Swarovski Award nominees, it was on display in the window of Bergdorf Goodman. The CFDAs have come and gone, but those one-off pieces can be yours—provided you’re a dab hand with the mouse. On Wednesday, items from eight of the nominated [...]

Nine designers nominated for Swarovski Awards at the CFDAs last night—Joseph Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung, Jason Wu, Richard Chai, Patrik Ervell, Simon Spurr, Eddie Borgo, Dana Lorenz, and Alexander Wang—and nine studio visits in Swarovski’s new short film Brilliant. (Bonus for the numerologists: Swarovski has been sponsoring the award for nine years, too!) Directors Josh Melnick [...]

The lull is almost over, party animals. Mid-January can feel like a bit of a social hiccup—men’s shows aside, there are always a sleepy few weeks between the mayhem of the holiday and the revving up of spring—but that will come to a definite end on Monday when the haute couture shows in Paris begin. [...]

One of the ironies of Michael Jackson’s death at 50 is that he had been back on the radar for so many people lately, fashion watchers included. Just yesterday there was the news that the King of Pop would be outfitting himself in hundreds of thousands of Swarovski crystals at his upcoming sold-out London concerts. [...]

Nadja Swarovski’s pre-Oscar celebration on the roof of the Thompson hotel in Beverly Hills attracted designers like Alexander McQueen, Viktor & Rolf, Jonathan Saunders, and Doo-Ri Chung. Well, their designs, anyway. Swarovski collections by McQueen et al., among others, were displayed poolside Wednesday night, where gem fans like Kate Walsh, Liz Goldwyn, and Angie Harmon [...]

The Proenza Schouler after-party is BYOB. The coffee at the tents is Mickey D. Car service is out, the C train is in. We’re all finding ways to embrace the recession economy. But perhaps no one in the fashion industry has taken quite so happily to the task of making lemonade out of the proverbial [...]

What’s in a name? That’s exactly the question we found ourselves asking after paying a visit to Swarovski headquarters along the rue Saint-Honoré this morning. One of the brand’s red carpet favorites, the classic Power clutch bag, has been released in a new shade for spring: padparadscha. Tongue twister, non? The rare pinkish-orange sapphire takes [...]

What: Swarovski Crystal USB Robot
Why: Besides being cute, it has a 2GB storage capacity—which translates into 2,000 photos or 500 songs.
Where: $180, www.swarovski.com.
—Marina Larroude

Photo: Courtesy of Swarovski