Style experts have noted that during times of a recession, while millions of Americans will cut back their spending and tone down displays of wealth, Hollywood’s luminaries typically look the other way, playing out their roles as movies stars and amping up the glamour, especially at awards shows. And that was just the case at last night's 81st Annual Academy Awards, where Old Hollywood elegance swept the red carpet, noted www.nationaljewelernetwork.com.
Pulled-back hair, fishtail-style gowns and classic diamond jewelry were among the style hallmarks of movie's biggest night, with Hollywood's leading ladies forgoing potential fashion risks and instead turning to elegant, sophisticated looks. In terms of jewelry, the most popular combination appeared to be diamond stud or drop earrings paired with a diamond ring and diamond bracelets at the wrist.
Kate Winslet, who not only snagged last night's Best Actress award, but also proved her acting prowess at the Golden Globe and Screen Actor's Guild Awards earlier this year, accepted her Oscar in a Chopard bracelet featuring 117 carats of multi-cut diamonds, which she paired with pear-shaped diamond cluster earrings in platinum and a diamond ring.
Best Actress nominee Anne Hathaway, who surprised in a song-and-dance number with host Hugh Jackman, was just one among a sea of actresses choosing white or neutral-colored gowns for the event. To complement her Armani Prive gown, Hathaway chose a Cartier diamond watch bracelet from the company's private archive collection, a double- and triple-row diamond bracelet, diamond and white gold earrings, a diamond pave ring and diamond brooch worn in her hair.
Best Supporting Actress nominees Taraji P. Henson and Penelope Cruz each went with cream-colored gowns and classic diamond pieces, with Henson pulling off one of the night's most talked about jewelry looks: a 19th-century diamond-flower necklace from Fred Leighton. The vintage design was paired with diamond pendant earrings featuring 6-carat cushion-cut drops. And Cruz, who scooped up an Oscar for her fiery Vicky Cristina Barcelona performance, chose a Chopard platinum necklace featuring 69 carats of cushion-cut diamonds, paired with diamond bracelets, stud earrings, rings and a diamond arrow pin in her hair.
Actresses Evan Rachel Wood and Diane Lane channeled vintage looks through darkened diamond and platinum pieces from Neil Lane, with Wood choosing chandelier earrings, a bracelet and ring, and Lane choosing an eye-catching fringe necklace, plus earrings and rings.
While monochrome looks proliferated on the red carpet, bursts of color were seen here and there, including Fred Leighton platinum and green drop earrings on Frozen River actress Melissa Leo, Lorraine Schwartz emerald drops and a ring on Angelina Jolie, and Van Cleef and Arpels lapis lazuli and yellow gold earrings on Marisa Tomei. Tomei also wore blue at her wrist, choosing Van Cleef's signature "Ludo" diamond and sapphire bracelet set in 18-karat white and yellow gold. Meanwhile, Amy Adams, like fellow Best Supporting Actress nominee Henson, went the statement-necklace route, donning a Fred Leighton jeweled collar necklace featuring green, red and blue stones.
Presenter Natalie Portman was just one among a handful of actresses who chose to embrace color in her gown, as did Adams in a red Carolina Herrera, Heidi Klum in a red Roland Mouret and Slumdog Millionaire's Freida Pinto in a blue John Galliano. Fashion critics routinely called out Portman as a style favorite for 2009. The actress donned a lavender Rodarte number paired with Kwiat diamond drops, a vintage diamond cluster ring and diamond hair pins and combs.
The stars attended a bevy of bashes post-Oscar, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation party, Fox Searchlight's celebration and, of course, the always A-list Vanity Fair soiree, reported in its turn jewelry01.blogspot.com.
Many of Hollywood’s biggest stars skipped the ceremony altogether, making their first appearance on the Vanity Fair red carpet, including Madonna who was wearing over $1 million in Neil Lane diamond jewels, including layers of black and white diamond beads (500 carats in all), a 50 carat diamond and onyx bracelet, 20 carat pear-shaped diamond earrings and a large cocktail ring.
