The fanciest evening of the year went down last night at the 2014 Met Gala. All manner of designers, models, actresses, socialites and reality stars graced the red carpet in amazing fashion confections. This year’s theme, honoring the OG 20th century couturier Charles James. Everything was very satiny, very feminine, very 50′s glam in his honor. It was oodles better than last year’s hot mess of a Punk theme. Unsurprisingly, Oscar de la Renta’s & Zac Posen‘s ladies looked the most fittingly femme (Posen was BORN to design for this.) But everyone did bring out the fanciness. This year’s gala was doubly fab, in my opinion, thanks to The Costume Institute’s re-christening as The Anna Wintour Costume Center. All the realm of fashion & fame came out to honor the Queen. Even Queen Bey paid homage with approx. 17billion Lorraine Schwartz black diamonds (this is how Beyonce does subtle. Note the black & modest head covering.) But one can only take so much satin & poof. We need to give credit where it’s due, because nothing says glamour like a hefty helping of diamonds. The stars did not disappoint. Here are my favorite jewelry looks from the 2014 Met Gala.
Karolina Kurkova in harry Winston
via Fashionista & Karolina’s Instagram
Playing off the large scale digital floral print on her Marchesa gown, Karolina’s jewels also ran with a May flowers theme. KK rocked $1 million plus in HW jewels, including the 55 carat Guipure Diamond Necklace and Queen ring.
Selena Gomez in Lorraine Schwartz
via LS Facebook
Selena’s dress left much to be desired, but her earrings were awesome. Even if they were a year late for Punk & Chaos. Chandeliers of spiky triangles paved in diamonds dangled from the recovering-B**ber-addict’s lobes. Other notable accessory of the evening: reconciled BFFE Taylor Swift.
Anne Hathaway in Vhernier
via JJ
Annie wore some very cool chain link shoulder dusters covered in microwave – the links look like rose gold (I’ll update if I can find a release from Vhernier) that start and end with pave white gold studs. They are lovely, unique, and fit with the clean lines of her minimalist Calvin Klein ensemble.
Rosie Huntington Whitely in Balmain
via JJ
BAM! Rosie looked like some sort of alien gladiator goddess (totally off theme but hey, it’s fashion, they’re supposed to be creative.) I love how she’s posing – so strong, so symmetrical, everything the dress is begging for (probably a nudge in the right direction from the designer). It nearly makes up for the fact that a certain reality star wore this dress in a different color previously. But this is a jewelry blog, my knowledge of good fashion is limited to “it should sparkle.” Her earrings were the amazingly bold gold bamboo hoops shown in Balmain’s Fall 2014 RTW collection and they are my new everything.
Bee Schaeffer in Fred Leighton
via Perez
Anna Wintour’s daughter looked every inch the 50′s deb, so it makes sense she went with the same theme for her jewelry. The beauty of Fred Leighton’s jewelry is the history it signifies & the timeless glamour it represents. Bee could’ve been sent back in time, wearing this McQueen dress, wearing these jewels that look like they’re borrowed from her favorite Great Aunt. That’s the beauty of antique jewelry, and this platinum, crystal, diamond & sapphire combo doesn’t disappoint.
Beyonce in Lorraine Schwartz
via LS Facebook
Did I really just have to type that? Clearly she’s on my best list. Clearly she’s wearing Lorraine Schwartz. Lorraine created these stunning 200+ carat black diamond earrings for Queen Bey. The black diamonds were the perfect complement to her Phillip Treacy mask & all over studded bodysuit/gown. I also thoroughly enjoy the fact that Kanye West’s fiancé very obviously had to wear Lanvin when her first choice would have been Givenchy, but I feel like Bey was like “No, Riccardo, I will be the only person there wearing Givenchy.”
Dita Von Teese in Van Cleef & Arpels
Now that is a fun phrase to say. Dita embodied the theme in Zac Posen (and one of my favorite dresses.) Her VCA jewels were pitch perfect as well. DVT wore an estate necklace circa 1946 with topaz, enamel & diamonds in 18kt yellow gold, a pair of Three Leaves two tone 18kt gold & platinum earrings with diamonds and Oiseaux de Paradis ring featuring diamonds and pink sapphires set in 18K rose gold. Perfection.
Giovanna Battaglia in Dolce & Gabbana(?)
Ok guys, I scoured the web – no one is crediting anything about this ensemble to anyone but D&G. So, given that the over the top enameled butterfly pieces wouldn’t be too far fetched from Stefano & Domenico…I’m rolling with it? Regardless, I love it.
Honorable Mentions: Ugh, Kard-ian. Those $10 million Lorraine Schwartz earrings were killer. Rihanna’s rings (loved ‘em, and she was surprisingly covered up last night.) Allison Williams’ Fred Leighton necklace. Giselle’s Fred Leighton earrings. Jessica Pare’s entire look.
