WTF?! Couture Honors the Best of the Worst

RAPAPORT... Taking a break from the self-adulation typical of awards ceremonies, the Couture show has invited exhibitors to showcase the worst piece of jewelry they've ever designed. The WTF?! Awards will see applicants describe their designs with the opening sentence, "So what I was thinking was..."They have until May 15 to submit their designs, and the Couture community will vote on the winner through an online poll that will close on May 29, just before the trade show in Las Vegas. The winner will be announced at Couture's opening-night event on May 30, and will receive an intentionally gaudy WTF?! medallion, Couture said."The idea for this competition was born outof conversations that several of our veteran...designers had during the Tucsongem shows," said Gannon Brousseau, director of Couture and senior vice president of Emerald Expositions, the show's organizer. "We loved the idea and thought it was a great way to infuse somehumor into our event, as well as highlight how the creative process, even amongestablished designers, can have its ups and downs." The Couture show will take place from May 30 to June 3at the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Resort. It will run alongside the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show and the Premier exhibition.Image: The opening night of the Couture event from a previous year. (Couture)