Last night saw the ending of the 8th American Idol competition. Starting off with pretty poor ratings this year, Idol still managed to recieve the highest amount of votes than previous seasons.

The red carpet saw some pretty big named celebs – Fergie, Keith Urban, and a string of past Idol contestants like Justin Guarini and Kimberly Caldwell, who was wearing a very original black and teal dress that seemed a tad too much for this show – but I liked her gold bracelet.

I honestly have to say the Paula Abdul looked pretty stunning in her gold beaded gown – especially nestled between Adam Lambert and Kris Allen. Her hair was pulled nicely back to show off some cool gold chandelier earrings - and I loved her cool diamond and gold bracelet and bling cocktail ring - which seem to be a popular red carpet style for celebrity jewelry.

Other celeb styles on the red carpet last night were Chris Daughtry and his manly collection of sterling silver necklaces and stainless steel jewelry; pretty in pink Carrie Underwood with her pearl drop earrings; and Brooke white with an awful summer dress but cool gold bangle bracelets.

My favorite had to be Syesha Mercado – a great source for new celebrity style jewelry with her uber-tight black dress, funky high heeled shoes, and her cool clunky silver bangle bracelets and dangling earrings. This little songstress just has a great sense of fashion!

So, another season of bad singers, good singers, Paul Abdul gossip, and Simon Cowell comments…can’t wait till next year!

Time for another recap of American Idol! Tony Bennett lent his talent to the contestants, coaching them on ways to best portray the old torch songs. For the most part, the music was entertaining and allowed most performers to showcase their talent. Of course some didn’t hit the mark, but that’s to be expected. There are varying opinions over at the AI boards about who will be in the bottom three, but the consensus seems to be Haley will definitely be included in that category. As usual, Melinda gave my favorite performance and the boards seem to agree. The judges even commented that there’s nothing to criticize when she sings. Go Melinda! Sadly, Lakisha seems to be losing her edge. She was definitely off last night. Jordin and Gina both did fantastic jobs. Seems to me this season, it’s all about the girls.

Can we talk about the fashion? Nothing really jumped out last night unless you count Paula’s ridiculous black and white shirt. She looked like a referee! Jordin pulled off the same black/white theme, but she looked clean and stylish. Melinda’s dress was…well…boring. I liked Lakisha’s dress. Thought she looked elegant.

What I noticed most were the large rings everyone seemed to be wearing. Most were clever about it and kept the rest of their jewelry simple. It’s easy to overdo that look and cross into the tacky zone, but by wearing one carefully chosen cocktail ring you can perfectly accessorize your look. These rings come in all different styles and colors. Choose one in yellow, lavender, green, or pink to add a dash of color to your outfit. Personally, I like those that come in a champagne color. You can also go for big and bold with something like a designer-inspired rope ring or a ruby red enamel ring. Worn correctly, cocktail rings can make even the worst singer shine!

~ The Silver Temptress

It’s Wednesday… time to talk about American Idol! Last night’s show was an improvement over last week and there were some outstanding performances. The contestants came out with different looks (No, I don’t want to discuss Sanjaya’s hair.) and a range of song choices. Lakisha and Melinda sang Donna Summer songs and based on the comments left on the AI boards, I’d say people seem to be getting a little bored with both girls. A common theme running through the discussions is that they both can sing, but play it too safe or aren’t being modern enough. Hmmm… I’m a bit undecided there. I absolutely enjoy watching Melinda. She comes to life when she sings and has a smooth, silky voice. After each performance, she does slip back into that shy mode. Cute but irritating at the same time.

Lots of mixed comments on Haley. People seem to love or hate her. I did like her bling though with those sparkly, dangle earrings and layered silver necklaces. Personally, I liked Jordin’s performance. She seemed like she was having a lot of fun up there. Her outfit suited her song choice with those big hoops and large pendant. Out of all the girls, last night’s show has to go to Gina. She was absolutely in her element. My guess is she’ll get the most votes. We’ll have to tune in tonight to see who goes home. Any guesses?

~ The Silver Temptress

She looked fabulous – dripping with diamonds to match her song “Diamonds are Forever.” With that much bling, how can you go wrong? Of course, we all can’t go around adorned with that many diamonds, but a little everyday sparkle is a must! There are so many ways to wear it, from glimmering starfish studs for those beach days to a little added color with a sapphire and cz tennis bracelet, to a really glam look with a silver cz bubbles necklace. It’s a necessity for every girl!

We’ll have to tune in tonight to see the results. Here’s hoping Lakisha is forever!

~ The Silver Temptress

On a brighter note, Melinda Doolittle and Lakisha Jones sparkled like true stars last night. Both conveyed emotion, and interpreted Diana’s songs in a way that I’m sure made her proud. Can we talk about their look last night? Let’s just say their outfits matched the performance. Each was stunning in her own way. I must admit I prefer Lakisha’s look. She looked like a diva in her own right.

Hmmmmm……have you fed your inner diva lately? That reminds me I’m due for another day of beauty and shopping. Maybe I’ll shop for a new necklace or bracelet, or spend theday at the spa. Why not both? Wish me luck!

~ The Silver Temptress