Today we are going to look at the popular TV show Parenthood. This TV series, now in its second season, is about a family tree with a wide variety of branches. Each of the female characters on the show has a distinct style and Celebrity Icing has taken on the challenge of selecting jewelry for each of them:

Jasmine Trussell

Jasmine is Crosby Braverman’s girlfriend, fiance, or ex-girlfriend (depending on which episode you are watching). She is a professional dancer and the mother of his son. She is also extremely independent, to the point of stubborn – but she is trying to allow Crosby into her and her son’s life (his behaviour is not helping).

Sarah Braverman

Played by Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls), Sarah Braverman is a single mom who has moved herself and her kids back in to her parent’s house. Her years of marriage to an alcoholic rock musician have left their mark on her style and on her confidence. She is working hard to leave an unstable past behind. At the same time, she is rediscovering her own talent and strength as she moves forward.

Once Sarah Braverman has had some time to herself, it would be wonderful to see her fall in love and get married to a supportive, stable man:

Camille Braverman

Camille is the artsy matriarch of the family. She is the exact opposite of her insensitive, and sometimes unkind, husband- yet she proves to be just as strong as he is when it comes to fighting for her happiness.

Julia Braverman

Julia Braverman-Graham is a successful lawyer and type-A mom who struggles to balance her career with her family. She is one of my favorite TV female characters because we see her faults and her struggles, yet at the same time we are shown that she is a good person who is trying to do her best in challenging circumstances. Sometimes her attempts to be a good mother, good wife, and good lawyer backfire- but her good intentions and her big heart are always there.

What do you think? Did we pick the right jewelry for your favorite Parenthood character? Which Parenthood female character are you like?

This week, Celebrity Icing takes a look at some of our favorite female comedians and their style.

Carol Burnett

I spent a big chunk of my childhood watching television and the Carol Burnett show was definitely a highlight. I remember laughing and laughing during the Gone With The Wind skit even though I hadn’t even seen the movie. A black turtleneck with gold hoops are further proof that Carol Burnett knows exactly how far to take something – I wouldn’t like to see bigger hoop earrings on her, but these ones suit her perfectly.

Gilda Radner

I used to sneak out of bed and watch Saturday Night Live when I was eight years old. In fact I re-enacted the Cheeseburger – Pepsi skit during show-and-tell in class. I remember my teacher laughing along – I’m pretty sure she was the only one in the room who had watched the episode, too. In the picture below, Gilda is wearing timeless pearl earrings- an example of jewelry that never goes out of style (time has not been so kind to her hair accessories – check out that scrunchy in her hair).

Shelley Duvall

Shelley Duvall has such a unique look – she had the perfect look for the 70′s – a decade that seemed full of super skinny and super funny women (Gilda Radner, Jane Curtain, Katherine O’Hara, Lily Tomlin, etc).

Lucille Ball

One of my very favorites! In fact, I am just introducing my daughters to episodes of I Love Lucy for the first time and they love them, too. Her hijinx, her facial expressions, her friendship, and her unsinkable determination appeal to all ages. I also love her wardrobe on the show – the cigarette pants, ballet flats, crisp-looking day dresses, and elegant evening wear and jewelry.

Ever notice how the TV show Parenthood is actually just a more middle class version of the cancelled (but awesome) TV show Dirty Sexy Money? Let’s compare shall we? And while we are at it, we can compare the character’s styles as well…

Dirty Sexy Money

The Darling family look to sensible, reliable family man Nick George (played by Peter Krause) to solve all of their problems. He has his own problems but then shrugs his shoulders and/or rolls his eyes and then dives in to their drama and straightens their lives out. The demands on his time and his emotional reserves by this family are a source of stress on his own marriage and his relationships with his children.

Parenthood

The Braveman family look to sensible, reliable family man Adam Braverman (played by Peter Krause) to solve all of their problems. He has his own problems but then shrugs his shoulders and/or rolls his eyes and then dives in to their drama and straightens their lives out. The demands on his time and his emotional reserves by his extended family are a source of stress on his own marriage and his relationships with his children.

(Yes, I know that the TV show Parenthood is supposed to be based on the popular movie starring Steve Martin and Keanu Reeves. Other than having a star-studded cast, the two productions don’t strike me as similar. In fact, I’ve seen the movie a few times but did not even make the connection at first. The character names have been revised from the 80′s Karen, Frank, and Larry Buckman to more contemporary names like Sarah, Crosby, and Max Braverman.Ron Howard directed the movie and he is Executive Producer for 2 episodes of the TV series so far.)

The Characters

You can spot many parallels between the characters in both shows, from the Alpha and treacherous Patriarch, strong yet somewhat spaced out Matriarch, irresponsible (but growing) brother, the list goes on – just look at the two cast photos above and compare (they are like mirror reflections of each other).

In the meantime, here at Celebrity Icing we will just look at a few characters (and their style).

The Flaky Sister

Natalie Zea in Dirty Sexy Money

Lauren Graham in Parenthood

The Ambitious Career Woman

Lucy Liu in Dirty Sexy Money

Erika Christensen in Parenthood

Other similarities

William Baldwin

William Baldwin appears in both shows. In Dirty Sexy Money, Baldwin plays Senator Patrick Darling IV. In Parenthood, he plays Adam Braverman’s boss Gordon Flint.

It’s hot outside, so it’s time to turn up the temperature and get your style sizzling!

Who Says You Can’t Wear Black in Summer?

Not Serena Williams who looks very cool in this black bikini.

Her bikini says, “It’s all about me” (literally).

Tips

If you are going to wear black during the hot days of summer just be aware of the fabric you select. Try natural fabrics like cotton, or my favorite – bamboo. A small percentage of synthetic fibre (rayon, spandex, etc) will help your clothes keep their shape and also prevent them from wrinkling.

When it comes to wearing black in the summer, think ‘less is more’. You don’t want to wear black clothing from head to toe, a black bikini or short summer slip dress will be more comfortable than a long sleeved shift or a full length skirt. Black and white are the ultimate high contrast combination for the intense light of a summer day and work well with most skin tones.

I love black straw sun hats with huge rims (think Audrey Hepburn) but they are not very practical for summer. You are not only wearing a hat to protect your hair and head from the sun, you are wearing it to keep cool and protect yourself from sun stroke as well – therefore black is not the best color choice. Wear a white hat or natural straw color instead.

Little Black (Summer) Dress

The LBD works year round -as seen by this pretty example from BCBG.

Black Diamonds

Accessorize with some black ice, like this diamond ring with black and white diamonds.

Wear this bracelet made out of glass beads at your next summer party – the perfect accessory for a fancy cocktail.

Hot to Trot

Keep your feet cool this summer with cute black sandals from Nine West.

It’s classier (and more convienient) when your jewelry is kept in one of these boxes. I have a few different spots for my jewelry, but it always tends to spread around the house eventually. I’ve found that it’s easy to hang on to my valuables when I have a spot for them in almost every room in my house. I tried just getting into the habit of always putting my jewelry in one spot, but I had to give up. Instead, I now have several places to look when I’m wondering where my wedding ring disappeared to. At least I know it’s in a safe place and not just resting on a kitchen windowsill or the fireplace mantle, where it could easily be dusted away into oblivion.

It’s easier to accessorize with star style when you stay organized!

Jewelry boxes are great for your every day accessories, but I’d continue to keep your special occasion jewelry, heirlooms, and diamonds locked up for safe-keeping (or at least tucked into an old sock at the back of one of your drawers).If you’re lucky enough to only own solid gold and sterling silver jewelry, then you can keep your hair accessories inside instead!

Ornate

A smaller, silver jewelry box on your nightstand is a great place to keep your earrings safe if you’re in the habit of removing them right before you sleep. If you’re in the habit of sleeping with your cell phone nearby, but don’t want the visual reminder of your work responsibilities, you can also tuck your phone inside as well.

Romance on a Budget

You can glam up your bedroom for less than you think. This silver mirrored jewelry box is only $4.99.

Time Travel

You can transport almost any North American girl back to her bobby socks days, by giving her one of these.

Treasure Chest

This antique carved wooden jewelry box is the perfect stash for your treasures.

Here are some ideas for new additions to your accessory collection!

White gold earrings with diamonds.

Yellow gold bracelet with diamonds.

Born between November 22 and December 21?

If so, then you are in good company!

Words used to describe people born under the sign of Sagittarius… flirty and fun, you like to have a good time. This, combined with your optimism, can get you into a world of trouble but at least you’ll look good on your way!

Extrovert

The ultimate example of lead singer-itis – Jim Morrison of the Doors. He had amazing stage presence but got carried away when he took all of his clothes off on stage (and got arrested for indecency). Get inspired by Jim’s original rock and roll style and get yourself some leather pants (or reasonable facsimile) – nothing says rock n roll more than black leather! (Warning: advice is not for anyone over 40 years old unless you were already a rock star when the Doors were still touring.)

Prove your are legit and get your leather at a shop that caters to bikers rather than a boutique.

motorcycle-superstore.com

Partier

Here’s a sagittarius who really nose how to party – Keith Richards actually snorted part of his cremated father according to merryswankster.com. Sagittarians love freedom and they love to have a good time, but they can also have gambling problems when they get out of control…

Check out cool Keith’s belt – it sends the message you can be pretty wasted and still be pretty at the same time! Like Keith Richards, the belt buckle below is a 100% original piece of work. They will also design a custom motif for you so you could even ask them to make you a belt buckle inspired by Keith’s buckle shown above.

garyscustomsaddleryandsilver.com

Energetic

If you have big hair, strong pipes, and great legs like Tina Turner, you don’t need flashy jewelry to get anyone’s attention. Note her simple bracelet that sends a message that she isn’t a flash-in-the-pan… she’s solid gold.

Stylish

Katie Holmes’ name doesn’t pop into my head when I think of the words ‘flirt’ or ‘party girl’. However she must have two key traits of Sagittarius; she must be optimistic and a gambler or she wouldn’t have agreed to marry you-know-who…

Katie’s smart, pulled together style hints that she must know what she is doing (or she has a very good stylist). Check out the elegant dress and earrings below.

This week we continue our features on star sign inspired style.

Scorpios are born between October 24 and November 21.

According to circles of light.com, Scorpios have “piercing eyes, sexual magnetism” and are “secretive… and exciting”. They are also “great leaders… well spoken and charming.”

Julia Roberts

At first impression Julia Roberts seems like a nice person (and she probably is) but there is something else in her eyes and her mannerisms that hints that there is a lot more going on behind the scenes. She is either much smarter than she seems or a lot more ruthless – definitely, she is more mysterious than popular opinion gives her credit for.

Hammered fine silver and crystal earrings at etsy.com.

Chris Noth

Perhaps Chris Noth is more like Mr. Big than we think? Sexual magnetism and charm are both traits of the scorpio…

18K yellow gold wedding ring with blue sapphires. Masculine yet luxurious – just like Chris Noth’s suits.

Lisa Bonet

Lisa Bonet is definitely a mystery – she seems to resurface every few years in movies alongside big names such as Mickey Rourke (in 1987 Rourke was considered a big name), Will Smith, and John Cusack – only to disappear again – drawing some conjecture that she is perhaps difficult to work with?

Yet, if you grew up watching her as Denise Huxtable like I did, you can’t help but like Lisa Bonet – she seems like an old friend or cool older sister.

Most recently she appeared in two episodes of the TV series Life on Mars.

20 mm Hoops 14K Yellow Gold

Joaquin Phoenix

The epitome of a scorpio.

Theo Fennell scorpion ring – the perfect gift for a scorpio if you have around $8,600 British pounds…

theofennell.com

We continue our series on style inspired by the star signs this week with a feature on Libras (September 23 – October 22).

Libra’s love to dress up. They also love art and public service. They do not like to be rushed and they also dislike sloppiness and dirtiness.

Let’s look at some famous Libra stars while celebrityicing points you in the right style direction.

Helen Hayes

Helen Hayes (1900 – 1993) is nicknamed “The First Lady of American Theatre” and is one of only ten people to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. She was also a “generous donor of time and money to a number of causes and organizations.” (wikipedia.org).

My favorite Helen Hayes quote is “If you rest, you rust” but, a wise and observant person, she has many others. For example, “From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot in front of the other. But when books are opened you discover you have wings.”

condenaststore.com

Flat Edge Knot Design Band

Catherine Zeta Jones

Catherine Zeta Jones’ beauty and style is an attention-stealer where ever she goes. She manages to combine elegance and sophistication with a healthy vibrance, not easy to pull off successfully.

Load up on silver necklaces and accentuate with a diamond pendant for this look.

Silver Multi Chain Necklace

Diamond Cluster Pendant

Naomi Watts

I just saw Naomi Watts in ‘The International’ which I really liked (I was disappointed to see that it didn’t get very good reviews). Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman are reportedly best friends and they have a similar style and look (although Naomi is more natural; while Nicole is perhaps more polished).

Dangle Disc Bracelet

The fourth installment in a series about

how your accessories can have some star power!

Born between June 21 and July 22? Then you are a Cancer just like Drew Barrymore, Jessica Simpson, Courtney Love, Meryl Streep, and Pamela Anderson.

There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very good indeed,
But when she was bad she was horrid.

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Cancer Star Style: Drew Barrymore

One characteristic of a cancerian is their loony sense of humor. They also find themselves saying, “well, it seemed like a good idea at the time…”. A lot. Drew Barrymore has experienced some ups and downs in the relationship department but she does shine with good taste in the jewelry department. Her engagement ring to Tom Green was from Tiffany’s and her most recent ex, Justin Long, was seen shopping for engagement rings for her at Cartiers (she reportedly dumped him recently).

Here’s the perfect wedding ring for a cancer: it’s fun, yet it is inspired by a classic Tiffany’s design (Cancers also love tradition and dependability). Cancerian Drew Barrymore seems to favor the simpler, less showy designs – so this would fit right in.

tiffany inspired ring

Lost Love: Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain

wikipedia.com

Two other famous Cancers and an undisputed part of rock n roll history, Cobain gave Love a 5 karat diamond and ruby engagement ring (tragically for Love, it was then stolen on Valentine’s Day one year after his death). I couldn’t find any pictures of the original ring, but here is a 2 karat diamond and ruby ring that I would personally love!

True Love

Rock And Roll Beauty

Happy Birthday Cancerians Everywhere!

Here are some gift ideas for the weird yet wonderfully dependable Cancerians in your life…

Grey Pearls

Grey pearl studs with diamond accents – $359.99…

sears.com

This version is cubic zirconia with grey pearls and is only $25.

unique pearls

The birthstone for Cancers is the ruby (one of my favorite gemstones of all time). And the symbol for cancer is the crab…

ebay.com

The third installment in a series about how your accessories can have some star power!

Born between May 21 and June 20? Then you are a Gemini just like Johnny Depp, Joan Rivers, Stevie Nicks, and Nicole Kidman.

Geminis are adventurers in life – they aren’t afraid to try new things and they are fun people to have around. Geminis are known as great communicators – they’re good talkers but also good listeners and are usually dialed in to all the dirt on their friends (famous gossip columnist Hedda Hopper was a Gemini). The Gemini, or two sisters, are also known for having two sides to their personalities.

Gemini Star Style: Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman’s adventurous spirit is seen in her very diverse choice of film roles: from chick flick Practical Magic, edgy comedy To Die For, experimental foreign film Dogville, to blah Hollywood flicks like Far and Away and Days of Thunder. Like all Geminis, Kidman has two sides to her character: she is a celebrity but she is also a humanitarian (recipient of the United Nations Citizen of the World Award). She has had two very different husbands. She is a dual citizen: American and Australian – she was born in Hawaii but has lived most of her life in Australia.

One of my best friends is a Gemini and all of these characteristics fit perfectly with her as well: she loves life and is a fantastic listener. She has her professional side, working in the corporate legal world, but also uses her connections and talents to contribute to local fundraising. Early years in California but living in Canada – she has enjoyed two very different childhoods. Happy Birthday, Kristine!

Gems for the Gemini

When a Gemini arrives in our world, Summer is just around the corner. Perhaps that is why they look great in anything that catches the light: sparkly stones, transparent gems, and silver or white gold.

Here are some great birthday gifts for Geminis:

Bulky Bracelet

Birthstone Moppet