HOLY SHIT. ANN TAYLOR HAS STEPPED IT THE EFF UP IN THE MOST REAL WAY

Yesterday I had THE MOST vile experience ATTEMPTING to browse wedding rings at Michael C. Fina -- they barely acknowledged my presence. Maybe they're not in the habit of... selling... fine jewelry? To people willing to pay good money for fine jewelry??? Seriously? I had to ASK the woman behind the counter for help. And I was the ONLY PERSON IN THE STORE. Ew. Sure, I was wearing fuchsia leather fingerless gloves, so she perhaps assumed I was a drug addict or a thief or something (wrong on both counts). In actually, I interested in what they had for sale. Sorry, but my father and my fiance's father were both in sales, and you never know who you're turning down or turning away. (In this case, A PERSON WITH A BLOG! Who's not afraid to share her shitty experience with the reading public! Three other friends told me they had same experience trying to shop there. Since when do you need to "TRY" to shop??) So turn away, I did. But not before I noticed they had like the TACKIEST crap for sale near the door -- Ed Hardy-esque flame-lick cuff links and stuff. EW. I headed over to the diamond district, which, sure, can be sharky, but people actually TOOK their time to talk to me like they gave a shit as I attempted to look for a piece of jewelry that symbolizes my love and committment to my partner. So thank you, diamond district dudes, for giving a shit. And fuck you, lady who works at Michael C Fina, for not giving a shit. Because I'm trying to buy my WEDDING rings, so yes, I do give a shit.

SOOOOOO, long story longer, after that, I stopped into Ann Taylor because they had sparkly things in the window. AND OH MY GOD. Ann Taylor has SEEEEEEEEEEEERIOUSLY stepped it ALL the way the fuck up and gone from Grandma to Grand-NAW! Like, such an epic makeover it's like when Sandy goes from boring to whoring at the end of Grease. Except obviously neither Sandy nor Ann Taylor is/ are whores.

Okay, check out ALL of the super cute things I found at Ann Taylor online that I would wear in a single solitary heartbeat.

($65, AnnTaylor.com)

WHO among us would NOT wear this amazement chunky statement necklace? NOT I! I can tell you that much.

($120, AnnTaylor.com)

Um, I'm sorry, but ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I can no longer separate rational needs from irrational wants when confronted with this metallic jacquard leopard-print skirt, Ann!

($85, AnnTaylor.com)

Lately all I can think about is Glee and sequiny things. Unsurprisingly. This sequined tank top is as perfect as Puck.

($175, AnnTaylor.com)

ANN! WTF! I LOVE this grey slouchy boot! Seriously!? Jamaican me CRAZY!

($175, AnnTaylor.com)

Ann! It's cool, not tryin' to put a rush on you. I just wanna let you know that I got a crush on you.

($100, AnnTaylor.com)

ANN! It's like you CREPT into my closet and KNEW I have the BEST orange suede vintage jacket that this would complement PERFECTLY! GAH! Ann, it's like you know me better than I know myself. You devil, you!

Hi! A whole Chanel-inspired outfit! Bar jacket and all! I ADORE YOU, ANN!

New Tournaire Engagement Rings

Check out these brand-new super-architectural (obviously), thoroughly modern-paradoxically-ancient-accented engagement rings by Phillipe Tournaire. They're inspired by the first-ever engagement rings from the Merovingian dynasty, which sounds cool because no one cut their hair.

And instead of a bloody bloody blood diamond, you get the loaded-with symbolic structural imagery of a united couple's new home and family. They're 18K gold, and if you simply MUST have a diamond, you can do that too. They start at $1,100, which isn't so bad for a really cool alt- engagement ring, you know? Jews, you should dig it too because they've got a very Jerusalem/ Havdallah spice box vibe too. And if you just like trends (guilty), the second ring is basically a glorified pyramid stud. Win!

Awesome Wedding Ring Alert: Avindy

Check up on these gorgeous rings I found by mother-daughter jewelry design duo Avindy. They'd both make super unusual wedding rings, and, even more unusual, they're both under $400. Yes, really.

($310, Avindy, Havensonline.com)

I always love the hammered metal -- this ring's also available in white gold, which I'm sure is really gorgeous.

($375, Avindy.com)

This ring's a twelve-diamond (so I'm assuming it goes halfway around, which is perfect for the recession, because who even sees the back of your hand? You don't NEED diamonds there!), and it's pave. Perfect starter ring.

ALSO, sorry for the lack of postage lately -- Me and Cat's been BRIDALING up a STORM, literally -- I was at an AWESOME wedding in the Finger Lakes, where it RAINED like woah, cleared up for 30 minutes, leaving just enough time for the bride and groom to do the damn thing, and then the second they kissed, there was a huge clap of thunder -- the heavens approved! Then, of course, it poured again, and there was a gorgeous rainbow. NICE WORK, R&D! AAAANNNND, Cat's OWN wedding is like FOUR SECONDS AWAY! GAHHH!

Michael C Fina Wedding & Engagement Ring Sample Sale! HOLLAR!

Dudefaces. Are y'awl in the market to be buying up a wedding ring or engagement ring? Yah? Mkay GREAAAAT because Michael C. Fina is having a sample sale in-store at 545 Fifth Avenue.
It's August 4 - 6, 11a.m.-8p.m, and the sitch is you get can save up to 70% off brands like Vera Wang, Scott Kay, Tacori, Jeff Cooper, Verragio, and several other brands I've never heard of because I don't sit around reading about wedding rings all day. But I do know what 70% off means, you know? Okay, that's as much as I know.

Bridal Binge: Ring-a-ling!

I'm now literally dreaming about the Piaget Possession ring, but this one is calling my name now, too....


Tiffany Frank Gehry Torque ring in 18k white gold, $650.

UPDATE: This ring is soooo not right. It was all square and mannish looking on my finger. Didn't fit with my engagement ring at all. The lady straight up told me not to do it, and that I should get a "classic" platinum ring and "leave the funky" for other areas of my wardrobe. However, none of the other Tiffany rings spoke to me. Le sigh.

Bridal Binge: Ring Edition, Vol. 3

With less than three months to go, I really need to get a wedding band up in this piece. I keep going to stores and finding things that would probably work but that I'm not 100% in love with. And oughtn't one to be entirely in love with the one piece of jewelry they'll wear forever? (Unless you're like my friend Alison, who keeps buying herself new engagement and wedding bands, which seems like a perfectly acceptable and fun option also.) Here's a few I'm thinking about right now, although I plan on hitting jewelry stores both at lunch and after work today. (I wore comfortable shoes.)

Oh, but first. So you know. Here is my engagement ring:



It's by Sholdt. I love its modern simplicity and feel so lucky that Carl got it so right.



Piaget mini "Possession" ring, $1,500 with diamonds in 18k white gold; $900 sans bling. That top part spins! I like this because it seems different but is still classic, with clean modern lines. And there are seven diamonds for good luck. And Eva Longoria has one!

Yesterday I went to one of Alison's favorite jewelry haunts, DVVS in Chelsea. The woman who helped me was very nice, and they had some nice rings for very reasonable prices. For the first time I think I had reverse sticker shock. This ring, for instance:



A modified version of this is currently a serious contender. I'd want it a lot slimmer, with the line centered, and maybe more and smaller diamonds more spread out. Or not. They do custom work so it's all up to me. This ring is only $450, looks great with my engagement ring, and is supercomfortable.



Kevin Plunkett organic twist band, $455. Now, I know this looks extremely "organic," as in it looks like the gold version of what a child might make with a snake of clay, but I swear it looked pretty good with my ring in the store. This picture is TERRIBLE and in person the ring really doesn't look anything like it does here. I liked that it had interesting lines and texture but didn't compete with my ring. It's still sort of in the running.



Links of London Triple Ring, $190. It's in sterling silver, though.



This Ritani eternity band is kinda cool, too.



I don't think this one is quite me (not so into mixing metals), but I wanted to point out that I think Nina Dinoff's alterna-eternity band is very cool. It's $195 for sterling silver and 18k gold dots.



Finally, I love the idea of this ring, Hearts On Fire's Felicity pointed wedding band. The pointed tip echoes the notched setting of my engagement ring. But there's a lotta bling there, and it would almost certainly compete with the e-ring. I think.

I'm almost afraid to say it, but what do YOU think?

Ariel Gordon: Not-Boring Wedding Rings For Not A Fortune

($1,240, Ariel Gordon)

Check out L.A. jewelry designer Ariel Gordon's wonderfully modern geometrical 14-karat gold "Hex" ring with diamond points. I'd definitely wear this as a wedding ring (except I'm going to try to uphold the Jewish tradition of wearing a solid, unbroken band with no ornamentation or stones.) Of course, I'd wear it ANYWAY as a REGULAR ring if someone would like to purchase it for me, say, as a gift for being an awesome blogger. The Hex ring also comes in 10-karat gold for $880.

I love how modern and clean it is but also quietly chic AND kind of looks like a nut. Not like a squirrel nut but like whatever people who use tools use for things.

Also, Ariel won Shopstyle's emerging designer competition, so if you enter "SHOPSTYLE" on Ariel Gordon's site, you can get 25% off your purchase!... Of the Hex ring... for me!

... Plus, check out Spike pendant:

($315, Ariel Gordon)

Which would look positively smart AND menancing with... EVERYTHING (on me!)

Target Has a Fine Jewelry Department?

Don't worry. I'm not getting this. But for a sec, I thought this would make kind of a cool, funky wedding ring, maybe for someone with a square-ish engagement ring. And hello! Seriously budget-friendly!



Target 10-karat white gold .25 carat diamond ring, on clearance for $83.99.

The quality is obviously not going to be great. You don't even need to read the review to know that. But I might get a real jeweler to do something like that, though. And hey, this one doesn't resemble any genital parts that I'm aware of!