KEY POINTS:
There was a trend sweeping Manhattan a few years ago dubbed the Right-Hand Ring phenomenon in which high-earning independent women with money to spend raced to the Diamond District to splurge on digit jewellery for themselves - specifically their right hands - in an effort to display an
"I deserve it" mentality.
Cynics scoffed that the right-hand rock was nothing more than a lady-in-waiting purchase, because a man had yet to buy them one, which was, of course, their desired wish.
The fact this trend was fostered by diamond conglomerate DeBeers in a sensational marketing scheme to invent a reason to buy more rings, seemed to be lost on various fashion mags and social observers who heavily promoted this sociological trend of independent-women-happily-buying-diamond-rings-for-themselves-for-no-real-occasion.
Celebrities Minnie Driver and Eve were seen flashing right-hand diamond rings. So too were other single gals around America whose right-hand rocks were heralded as a win for womankind.
Though, as far as I could see, instead of fostering true independence, it just seemed to enhance the concept of the traditional marriage shackle, albeit on the wrong hand. These women didn't appear to be adhering to new a role of freedom. The fact that a diamond ring was the object of affection meant they were merely altering the role until the role they were waiting for came along on bended knee and said "marry me."
Now a new cultural trend has surfaced in society: non-married men wearing rings on their wedding finger given to them by their girlfriends. We've Spy-ed the odd bloke brandishing them in our social page piccies.
Never before has the ring signified so much.
For men it's not an engagement ring; it's not a wedding ring; it's not a friendship ring. It is, let's be honest, a commitment ring... a ring that says in girlfriend speak: with-this-ring-will-you-hurry-up-and-make-a-proper-commitment-to-me-and-if-you-won't-anytime-soon-at-least-you'll-appear-to-be-off-the-market-to-any-other-women-on-the-prowl.
In other words, it's a man ring that marks a woman's territory.
But will a ring on a bloke's wedding finger - married or not - stop prowling women from flirting? Will it make the girlfriend giver feel like her boyfriend has proven his commitment to her? Is it a sign of true love or a symbol of obsession? Who knows? Each relationship can only be judged by the people in it, but it does seem to me that a ring can say less about the person wearing it and more about the person giving it. What do you think?
Boh on baubles, babies and her next album
I met Boh Runga at The Grove last week over champagne and chit chat. Leggy Boh Runga strides in wearing short shorts, killer heels and pigtails. Think Pippy Long-Stocking, but hot. The men at the front table cast knowing looks, others aren't so subtle, craning their necks around to cop an eyeful as the singer-turned-jewellery-designer sashays past.
Earlier in the morning, James Coleman had gotten so flummoxed while interviewing Runga on his show Sunrise (it was announced the following morning he was leaving effective immediately), he blurted: "Can I take your clothes off?" when Runga complained of being hot. He meant jacket, but the Freudian slip illustrated what was on his mind. Filthy bugger.Unless it was a cunning ratings ploy. God knows the TV3 brekkie show needs help in that department.
Runga is back from her adopted home town of Los Angeles, to launch her much-anticipated second jewellery collection with the NZ Mint. This range, dubbed Messenger Stories, "is inspired by Maori myths," Runga says, with an emphasis on bird wings and delicate feathers.
The range is set in sterling silver and the Mint plans to extend sales beyond New Zealand and take it around the world. Jewellery design has become Boh's newfound passion, but music is her love. She's currently recording her latest album in Los Angeles, and plans to return to New Zealand in November to release it here.
She has more plans for the jewellery range too - a children's collection, would you believe. And Runga has been using her nephew Joseph (Bic's baby boy) for inspiration. Though she doubts he will do any promotional modelling for the range.
"We couldn't afford him!" she laughs. At the sound of Joseph's name, Runga gets clucky. So, any kids in the future then? "No," she says shaking her head emphatically, though you get the impression if she sets her mind to motherhood there'd be nothing stop her - much like writing songs and designing jewellery.
Mother and daughter team
Move over Sophia and Elizabeth Hawthorne; and Miranda and Kate Harcourt. There's a new mother and daughter thespian team in town and making waves.
Louise Wallace and her 17-year-old daughter Ashley are starring in The Kidnap Game currently running at the Dolphin Theatre in Onehunga. The last time they both starred in the same production was in local TV show Street Legal. Wallace the elder told Spy, "Ashley has been in a stash of school productions, but I haven't done any for over 20 years." Check them out.
Go Red for Women
The Heart Foundation hosted a cocktail party recently at the Auckland Museum with a fashion show called 'Go Red for Women'. Click here for photos by Norrie Montgomery
Rachel Glucina