Everything is being Crystallized

Today is the age of individuality. Just being the person with the latest phone, iPod or other item is not good enough anymore. Now you must find a way to make it unique.

Enter in Swarovski crystallization! This has being exploding in 2004 and continues in 2005. From covering a shirt, pants, phones and other devices in crystals. Whether you have a message to display, want your name or favority sports team or just a cool colored pattern. There seems to be no end in the creativity being used.

This trend is only being pushed further into the hotter category by famous celeberties being photographed with their crystallized devices. There are even companies that have surfaced that will take your item and customize it for you. Kind of a pimp my ride or crystal my phone if you would.

Italy : Exclusive 'Maria Callas' Swarovski crystal exhibition at Florence, Italy on April 30-2005

An unique exhibition to commemorate the soprano to be held on Saturday April 30 - Wednesday June 01, 2005, at Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.Swarovski crystal has adorned stars for decades! A special travelling exhibition celebrates the famous opera singer Maria Callas and her love for Swarovski crystal.For her performances, the famous singer was known to favour the exclusive creations of the Marangoni Studios. She wore these Swarovski crystal jewels from 1940 until 1957. She performed Parsifal, Nabucco, La Traviata and her stunning 1954 United States debut wearing Swarovski jewellery exclusively created for her.Each showcase presents some rare gems, such as the tiara and the bracelet for Parcifal, the earrings and pendant of Traviata and many more. Along with the exceptional jewels, each case shows a large picture of her performance and the specific scene of the opera. With all of the collected jewels, anecdotes, pictures and background information, the exhibition promises to be a fantastic trip into the realms of a diva.

Don't blink — or this trend could be history

All that glitters isn't gold this season. It's silver and a rainbow of metallic shades — blues, greens, pinks, oranges. It's sequins on swirly skirts; rhinestones on girly shoes, bags and belts; beads on trendy tunics; Swarovski crystals on pricey jeans.

Is it just me, or are we drowning in shiny stuff? A shopper practically needs to wear sunglasses these days to avoid eye-burn. Shimmery merchandise beckons to us everywhere, at every price point, from the crammed racks at big-box retailers to the minimally stocked shelves at trendy boutiques.
A friend thinks I'm crazy for balking. "I LOVE the glitter!" she says. "It's fun!"
OK, I appreciate the lift a little faux glamour can bring as much as the next woman. I remember owning a pair of black velvet slippers with rhinestones, hmm-hmm years ago, when I was about 7. They made me feel like a Persian princess.
I've succumbed to glimmer's lure lately, too. On a recent hunting-and-gathering expedition, I bought a pair of bronze metallic thongs at the Gap. They were a harmless indulgence, only about $25. Within two weeks they were on sale for $14.99.
I'd intended to buy a decidedly flashier pair of silver rhinestone slide sandals that the company had promoted in its press materials. But they quickly appeared in all the shopping magazines. By the time I got to the store, all that were left in my size were the blue ones, and they weren't very comfortable. Full Story