‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’ was the theme for the 2019 Met Gala in New York. Combining outrageous gowns, the inevitable rhinestones, marabou feathers and sequins with red carpet jewels was never going to be easy. But stylists rose to the challenge and showed us some canny jewellery and couture combinations that catapulted high jewellery from the realm of the predictable into the shining stars of in some highly creative ensembles as ably demonstrated by Winnie Harlow in Chopard (top).
One of the most stunning jewellery moments of the Met Gala 2019 was Jennifer Lopez wearing the Harry Winston Purple Dragon Necklace set with a 65.32 carat purple sapphire and the 1972 platinum chandelier earrings with 29.59 carats of diamonds and another 120 or so carats of diamond bracelets. GettyImages
The best jewel-couture balance was courtesy of Jennifer Lopez (above). The signer managed to pull off with pizzaz the Harry Winston Purple Dragon Necklace set with a stunning 65.32 carat purple sapphire as well as the 1972 platinum chandelier earrings with 29.59 carats of diamonds and oh another 120 or so carats of diamond bracelets. All this while wearing a plunging Versace sequinned gown and a vedette-style bugle bead wig. Credit to the stylist as the look was sleek and pulled together, right down to her eye shadow matching the purple sapphire around her neck. Check out more of Jennifer Lopez's jewel choices here.
Lupita Nyong’O stole the show with her colourful Versace dress that cleverly incorporated some serious Bulgari vintage jewels including a necklace featuring a 41-carat emerald and amethysts at the Met Gala 2019
Lupita Nyong’O (above) was star of the show with her rainbow Versace dress that cleverly incorporated vintage Bulgari jewels and most notably a 41-carat emerald and amethyst necklace. The stand-out green of the emerald assured that the jewellery masterpiece was not lost amongst the ruffles and riot colours in Versace’s carnival-worthy creation.
Taking the ‘camp’ theme seriously, Naomi Campbell wore all-pink Valentino with that drag-queen staple: a marabou feather cape along with enviable wrist stacks of vintage Bulgari ruby and diamond bracelets. The standout diamond heritage bracelet (circa 1959) has been worn before by Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner and Julia Roberts.
In the same spirit, Naomi Campbell’s (above) Versace pink feather, tulle and lace ensemble was the perfect backdrop to a clutch of impressive 1950’s Bulgari vintage bracelets. Not content with one bracelet, Naomi racked up two diamond and ruby bracelet stacks with a pair of matching ruby and diamond bracelets and a standout 1959 diamond bracelet. So stunning is this out-sized bracelet that is has also been worn by Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner and Julia Roberts.
American musician and actress Awkwafina of Crazy Rich Asians fame cleverly combined a high-sheen gold Altuzarra dress with Bulgari Serpenti chandelier earrings without letting the dress overpower the jewels.
I also like how American musician and actress Awkwafina (above) - of Crazy Rich Asians fame - cleverly combined a high-sheen gold Altuzarra dress with Bulgari Serpenti chandelier earrings without letting the dress overpower the jewels.
Showing how balance can be achieved even in the most ornate outfits, Victoria’s Secret Angel Josephine Skriver (below) wore vintage Bulgari earrings and a fistful of Serpenti rings with her elaborately flower-embroidered dress by Jonathan Simkhaim complete with a long, billowing tail.
Victoria’s Secret Angel Josephine Skriver wore vintage Bulgari earrings and a fistful of Serpenti rings with her elaborately flower-embroidered dress by Jonathan Simkhaim complete with a long, billowing tail.
Josephine’s bare necklace-free shoulders, arms and décolletage kept the focus on the clip earrings and rings. Likewise Lily Aldridge (below) – another Victoria’s Secret Angel presented a vision of feminine power by pairing 27 carats of emerald and diamond Bulgari rings with a Richard Quinn skin-clinging black and embroidery dress. With her hair tightly pulled back, make-up minimal and no other jewels in sight the look was goddess and miles away from the Christmas tree disaster that a ‘camp’ theme would so readliy elicit.
Bouncing back from giving birth, Lily Aldridge, Bulgari ambassador and model, wore a Richard Quinn skin-clinging black dress with over 27 carats of emerald and diamond Bulgari rings. The pared down look of just rings with no earrings or necklace or vice versa is a trend we are increasingly seeing on the red carpet.
The pared down look of just rings with no earrings or necklace or vice versa is a trend we are increasingly seeing on the red carpet. Hailey Beiber may not have been fully in-theme with her chic and simple soft pink Alexander Wang gown but she wore three celebrity-sized Bulgari diamond studs in each ear that worked well with her look. Candice Swanepoel opted for a similar stark look with her de GRISOGONO diamond and aquamarine hoop earrings against bare skin.
Rocking a rock crystal perfume bottle by Harry Winston around her neck Demi Moore chose one of the coolest jewellery looks at the Met Gala. The hand-carved rock crystal vial is suspended on a necklace with 469 marquise, pear-shaped and round brilliant diamonds, all set in platinum. GettyImages
Demi Moore (above) chose Harry Winston but not as you would expect. The actress rocked a perfume bottle around her neck that tantalising swayed between her breasts for a self-confident look. The hand-carved rock crystal vial is suspended on a necklace with 469 marquise, pear-shaped and round brilliant diamonds, all set in platinum.
Wendy Yu, Met Gala Committee member and supporter of the Costume Institute as well as Founder of Yu Holdings, wears the New York-based Taiwanese Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie with a bespoke Giambattista Valli gown.
Representing jewellery talent from around the globe, Wendy Yu, Met Gala Committee member and supporter of the Costume Institute as well as Founder of Yu Holdings, wore Anna Hu’s Haute Joaillerie earrings and ring with her bespoke Giambattista Valli gown. The New York-based Taiwanese artist jeweller is making her name on the red carpet with celebrity wearers such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Uma Thurman, Emily Blunt and Hilary Swank.
Candice Swanepoel wore de GRISOGONO Doppia hoop earrings with 230 diamonds and 16 aquamarines for a fresh, clean look at the Met Gala 2019. She is also favouring the pared-back trend for either earrings or necklace – not both.
Model and wife of Justin, Hailey Bieber kept the look simple with a high pony tail and put a row of three celebrity-sized Bulgari diamond studs in each ear for the 71st Met Ball in New York.
One of the most stunning jewellery moments of the Met Gala 2019 was Jennifer Lopez wearing the Harry Winston Purple Dragon Necklace set with a 65.32 carat purple sapphire and the 1972 platinum chandelier earrings with 29.59 carats of diamonds and another 120 or so carats of diamond bracelets. GettyImages
Wendy Yu, Met Gala Committee member and supporter of the Costume Institute as well as Founder of Yu Holdings, wears the New York-based Taiwanese Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie with a bespoke Giambattista Valli gown.
American musician and actress Awkwafina of Crazy Rich Asians fame cleverly combined a high-sheen gold Altuzarra dress with Bulgari Serpenti chandelier earrings without letting the dress overpower the jewels.
Bouncing back from giving birth, Lily Aldridge, Bulgari ambassador and model, wore a Richard Quinn skin-clinging black dress with over 27 carats of emerald and diamond Bulgari rings. The pared down look of just rings with no earrings or necklace or vice versa is a trend we are increasingly seeing on the red carpet.
Taking the ‘camp’ theme seriously, Naomi Campbell wore all-pink Valentino with that drag-queen staple: a marabou feather cape along with enviable wrist stacks of vintage Bulgari ruby and diamond bracelets. The standout diamond heritage bracelet (circa 1959) has been worn before by Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner and Julia Roberts.
Victoria’s Secret Angel Josephine Skriver wore vintage Bulgari earrings and a fistful of Serpenti rings with her elaborately flower-embroidered dress by Jonathan Simkhaim complete with a long, billowing tail.
Lupita Nyong’O stole the show with her colourful Versace dress that cleverly incorporated some serious Bulgari vintage jewels including a necklace featuring a 41-carat emerald and amethysts at the Met Gala 2019
Rocking a rock crystal perfume bottle by Harry Winston around her neck Demi Moore chose one of the coolest jewellery looks at the Met Gala. The hand-carved rock crystal vial is suspended on a necklace with 469 marquise, pear-shaped and round brilliant diamonds, all set in platinum. GettyImages
Wendy Yu, Met Gala Committee member and supporter of the Costume Institute as well as Founder of Yu Holdings, wears the New York-based Taiwanese Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie with a bespoke Giambattista Valli gown.
Winnie Harlow wore a Chopard diamond jewels including a necklace with 49.99 carats of colored diamonds, earrings with 10 carats of colored diamond and a ring with three fancy yellow pear-shaped diamonds all from the Haute Joaillerie Collection as well as a ring from the Imperiale Collection with a 6-carat amethyst.
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After many years as a freelance journalist and editor specialising in watches and jewellery, together with Christine Pasquier, Maria founded The Jewellery Editor. Maria’s work appears in a wide variety of notable publications, including the Financial Times, Intelligent Life, Telegraph ...
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