TALKING ABOUT TURQUOISE

The look of Native American--inspired jewelryespecially turquoise belts, earrings and chokers, leftfirst returned to fashion on Ralph Lauren's fall 2004 runway. Now designers like Michael Kors are picking up on the trend and using the colorful stone to adorn everything from pendants to stiletto sandals. On Oct. 30, the American Museum of Natural History in New York City will exhibit more than 500 pieces of contemporary and historic Native American jewelry and artifacts in "Totems to Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts of the Northwest and Southwest."