Oprah loves the gold bangles she bought from jewelry designer Barbara Boz, a Blairsville native. Click photo for larger image.

The image of Oprah Winfrey on the cover of the August issue of her O magazine conjures images of an easy, breezy summer day. Hair blowing back as if swept by a breeze, the billionaire media mogul wears a fiery tunic cover-up. Adorning her left arm is a stack of hammered gold bangle bracelets -- designed by Blairsville native Barbara Boz.

Last November, Ms. Boz sent some of the bangles to O editors, who told her the pieces might be cover-worthy. In February, an editor phoned Ms. Boz, saying the magazine was shooting three covers at once and wanted 10 of the bracelets.

Ms. Boz overnighted them and later was told that the bangles were photographed in several images, and that editors liked them but could not guarantee that the photos would be published.

"It wasn't until three weeks before it hit the newsstands that I actually knew it was going to be on the cover," she said.

Editors told Ms. Boz that Oprah liked the bangles so much, she wanted to buy them. Ms. Boz offered them as a gift, but Oprah insisted on paying for them. A few weeks later, Ms. Boz received a check for $530 written from Winfrey's household account.

She cashed the check -- but not until after she had made a color copy of it.

Since the photo shoot, Oprah has worn the bracelets on the show numerous times. Ms. Boz said she liked their beauty and the reasonable price.

"Why does good design have to be expensive? I really wanted to develop a beautiful and affordable line."

The organic hammered gold bangles are from Ms. Boz's StyleNaturale line of 18-karat gold plate and silver plate jewelry, some of which includes semi-precious gems and crystals. The designer described her handcrafted-texture styles, priced $25 to $300, as bold, casual and classic.

"Timeless but chic," she said. "Life is busy. Jewelry must move from office to evening, from event to casual to travel. I want jewelry that can be worn and worn and worn."

Ms. Boz launched the original 12-piece StyleNaturale line on QVC last year and "did very well" with three shows, she said. She expanded the collection, which is now in 40 stores around the world -- including Barbados and Grand Cayman, but nowhere in Pittsburgh.

"I invite inquiries," she said. "I certainly want to be represented in my hometown."

Ms. Boz earned a bachelor's degree in interior design at La Roche College. Then she worked in interior architectural design and marketing and sales for two decades -- eventually becoming a corporate vice president -- before deciding to turn a love of jewelry into a career designing it.

Traffic to her Web site, www.stylenaturale.com, has increased since the O cover, she said, and so has "serious attention" from buyers at major trade shows.

Ms. Boz lives in a historic home near Detroit, working upward of 16 hours a day running the business with five employees. It's been "a long road," she said, but it's been eased somewhat by the encouragement of friends and her parents, George and Mary Plunkett of Blairsville.

The cover story of the September issue of Ebony magazine features black supermodels-turned-moguls Tyra Banks, left, Iman, Kimora Lee Simmons and Alek Wek. Click photo for larger image.

Second careers for models

Careers are short for most professional fashion models -- not even a decade -- so the smart ones begin planning how to become a brand and extend their bankability while they're still working models.

If the U.S. modeling industry is difficult for any young woman to break into and become successful, it has proven even more so for black women. The September issue Ebony magazine's cover story is about four black models who found fame in print and on the runway and have parlayed that success into viable business enterprises.

The oldest, Ethiopian-born Iman, heads a successful makeup brand.

The youngest, Sudanese-born Alek Wek, designs a handbag line and recently published a memoir.

The most controversial, St. Louis native Kimora Lee Simmons, runs the Baby Phat fashion and fragrance empire and her own cosmetics brand.

And perhaps the most famous, Los Angeles native Tyra Banks, hosts a syndicated TV talk show and is the host and producer of the successful CW reality show "America's Next Top Model."

"A lot of the time the fashion world doesn't give a lot of attention to American black girls from urban areas," Banks says in the article. "I don't mean to pat my own back, but 'America's Next Top Model' pulled down the curtain to this world that people thought they couldn't be a part of. Now, every girl is like, 'I want to be a model.' I feel like the [modeling] world is more accessible, but by no means is it less prestigious."

The magazine also has a feature on the 50th anniversary of the Ebony Fashion Fair, a style show that travels to more than 100 U.S. cities each year (including Pittsburgh) and has raised more than $55 million for charities.

Diana's gown auction

The gown is a sweeping, pale blue strapless chiffon designed by British couturier Catherine Walker. It has a draped, pleated bodice and swirling skirt. And it is stunning.

But the description is almost a minor detail. The dress is special to many people because it belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales. She wore it to the Cannes Film Festival in 1987 and the opening of "Miss Saigon" in 1989.

Last week, WE network put the dress on the auction block on WE.tv and eBay. WE, which purchased three of Diana's gowns from Christie's auction house in 1997, estimates the value at $300,000. The auction will end Wednesday. The other gowns, plus one bought later, will tour the United States.

Proceeds benefit America's Promise Alliance, a children's charity founded under the leadership of ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell and wife, Alma.

The auction marks the 10th anniversary Aug. 31 of Princess Diana's death.

-- Jackie White,
McClatchy Newspapers

Today through Saturday: Trunk show of Escada "femme fatale" fall apparel at Saks Fifth Avenue, 513 Smithfield St., Downtown. Informal modeling 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday.