Jewelry

For those who follow the Chinese zodiac, the year of the snake begins Feb. 10. People born under this sign are thought to be more likely to be seductive, gregarious, charming, smart, good with money and, at times, a little jealous. The reptiles themselves are beautiful, sometimes dangerous, creatures that have inspired countless designers over the years. Here are some ways to incorporate the symbol of the year into your wardrobe, with no harm done to any living creature. It's hard not to turn heads in Equipment's Sloane crewneck cashmere sweater, $298 from Nordstrom, with its snakeskin print in neon yellow.

He dragged a woman from a burning building, went on food stamps to be one with his poorest constituents, and has made a couple of "sexiest" lists, but Newark Mayor Cory Booker isn't resting on his leading-man laurels. Now he's diving into the effort to combat gun violence with the extra oomph his followers have come to expect: by plugging jewelry made from the metal of guns seized by Newark police. Booker heralded the Caliber Collection, created by jewelry designer Jessica P. Mindich, during an appearance Wednesday night on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show," a few hours after President Obama urged Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and toughen background checks for gun buyers.

Jennifer Meyer wears her jewelry in the shower. And she's built a business on that idea. "I don't want you to take your jewelry off. I want it to become a part of you," says the designer over lunch, sweeping her hand across the subtle gold pieces on her wrists, neck and earlobes. "All of these have been in the shower with me this morning - it's 18-karat gold, it's diamonds and it's an investment, and if it turns color, then someone's ripping me off. " Meyer is holding forth on a weekday, in the less hectic garden room of L.A.'s Soho House - down a long hallway, away from the see-and-be-seen power dining center.

Luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. has struck a deal to continue selling the designs of famed Italian jewelry designer Elsa Peretti, which make up about 10% of its total sales. Under the agreement, New York-based Tiffany retains exclusive rights to Peretti's designs, which include best-selling pieces such as the teardrop necklace and thumbprint vase. Peretti, who has also created items for high-end designers such as Halston, will get royalties and also a $47-million payment, the company said in a Wednesday regulatory filing.

Gold earrings, diamond studs, wedding rings and designer watches sparkled like a jeweler's cabinet at a shopping mall - and there's more where that came from, police said. On Tuesday, Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Matt Plugge displayed more than 11,000 stolen items at the Valley Bureau headquarters, showing them off more like a high-end jeweler than a law enforcement official. Plugge said he is now seeking to reunite some pieces with their rightful owners. "They come from hundreds of homes," Plugge said.

For fragrance lovers, it's the season of opulent choices. L'Objet's champagne-scented candle is decked out in a malachite vessel with 24-karat gold and amethyst quartz cabochon detailing that can double as a treasure box later. Diptyque's limited-edition candles spread holiday cheer with the rich aromas of frankincense, frosty fir tree and warm oud wood mixed with amber. Los Angeles' Royal Apothic offers another festive possibility: "Distillation of a Victorian Fir," with notes of cranberry, holly, apricot and cinnamon.

Upcycled fashion is no longer just for hard-core environmentalists. The idea of wearing items made from cast-off skateboards, inner tubes, plastic trash bags, car seat belts - even wartime bombs and bullets - is no longer considered bizarre but beautiful, as consumers pick up today's conservationist zeitgeist. "Upcycling" means taking something disposable and creating something of higher value with it - making a purse from a tire, for instance. (Recycling, on the other hand, decomposes items into materials that can then be used to create something else, such as turning wood chips into paper.)

Forever 21 has launched its second Hello Kitty Sanrio collaboration with Hello Kitty Forever. The collection marks the clothing store's first attempt at offering home products -- the kitty and fellow Sanrio friends appear on items such as bath rugs,  waste baskets and decorative pillows as well as apparel and accessories. Bleeker blogger Alexandra Spencer stars as the face of the 110-piece collection, which ranges in price from $4.80 to $29.80.  It includes lingerie, swim, shoes, handbags, jewelry and travel accessories along with the home items and apparel.

Narciso Rodriguez's limited-edition collection for Kohl's DesigNation has arrived in stores and online, as of Wednesday. The collection was inspired by a trip to Turkey and features misses' outerwear, dresses, skirts, pants and shirts with prices ranging from $30 to $150. There are more than 100 pieces, and 30 of the styles will be available only on Kohls.com. This is the inaugural offering in Kohl's DesigNation series. Events Toni & Guy in Newport Beach plans an evening of beauty beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday featuring cosmetic surgeon Dr. Robert Kessler . Speakers will discuss fall hair, beauty trends and plastic surgery options.

As a designer of custom jewelry, Amanda Keidan sometimes takes delicate vintage pieces and reworks them into intricately sculptured, modern collections. The same could be said for her sunny, art-filled Venice home, where gold accents blend with sparkling glass, and vintage barrel chairs share the living room floor with new Ikea ottomans and a cool lamp bought off the flash sales site Gilt . “Everything is very specific,” Keidan said of her decorating style. “I want your eye to look at something.