: We Pick The Winning Looks

The Oscars returned to the Dolby Theater on March 27, and people are still trying to puzzle them out. The powers that be presented a bunch of awards off-air, but the telecast was longer than ever. Megan Thee Stallion rapped a verse of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” from the Disney (!) animated movie Encanto. And the Best Actor winner assaulted a presenter/former Oscar host onstage.

As for the fashion, it was a night of red dresses and mostly white diamonds. Props to the stars (and stylists) who managed to put their own twists on some timeless looks, or come out with something really daring. And, of course, to the men who brought plenty of their own bling.

Ariana DeBose 2022 Oscars
Ariana DeBose (photo: Michael Baker/A.M.P.A.S.)

Best Red Dress/White Diamond Combo: Ariana DeBose in De Beers

De Beers diamond line necklace three row diamond bracelet
De Beers 41.29 cts. t.w. diamond line necklace in platinum; De Beers Arpeggia 9.5 cts. t.w. three-line diamond bracelet in 18k white gold
De Beers Drops of Light Earrings and Necklace
De Beers 20.73 cts. t.w. Drops of Light diamond necklace in platinum; De Beers 4.21 cts. t.w. Drops of Light diamond earrings in platinum
De Beers Reflections of Nature Elsemere Treasure ring Arpeggia one row diamond ring
(From top) De Beers Reflections of Nature Ellesmere Treasure 3.75 cts. t.w. diamond ring in 18k white gold; De Beers Arpeggia 1.05 cts. t.w. one-row diamond ring in 18k white gold

Okay, technically this isn’t a dress, but go with us here: Ariana DeBose—who’d won every major award leading up to the Oscars for her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake—looked every inch a winner in a hybrid tuxedo-gown look by Pierpaolo Piccioli for Valentino. And what goes better with red than white diamonds? Upping the classic quotient: the De Beers layered diamond tennis necklaces.

 

Marlee Matlin 2022 Oscars
Marlee Matlin (photo: Michael Baker/A.M.P.A.S.)

Best Red Dress/Colored Stone Combo: Marlee Matlin in Briony Raymond

1980s Harry Winston lapis via Briony Raymond
Early 1980s Harry Winston lapis lazuli and diamond earring and necklace suite from Briony Raymond New York
1950s Van Cleef and Arpels ring via Briony Raymond
1950s sapphire and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels ring from Briony Raymond New York

We love a red dress on a red carpet as much as anyone, but we love someone who mixes it up even more. Oscar winner Marlee Matlin—one of the stars of CODA, which won three Oscars, including Best Picture—made a bold and blue choice, and it paid off big-time: an early ’80s Harry Winston lapis lazuli and diamond necklace and earring suite, plus a 1950s Van Cleef & Arpels sapphire and diamond ring, all from Briony Raymond New York. Would that more actresses followed her lead when it came to jewelry selection.

 

Kodi Smit McPhee 2022 Oscars
Kodi Smit-McPhee (photo: Michael Baker/A.M.P.A.S.)

Best Watch (and more): Kodi Smit-McPhee in Cartier

Cartier Revelation dune Panthere Watch diamonds
Cartier Révélation d’Une Panthère watch, 37mm, in 18k white gold with diamonds and metal bracelet
Cartier high jewelry 18k white gold diamond necklace
Cartier High Jewelry necklace in 18k white gold with diamonds
Cartier 18k white gold diamond earrings
Cartier High Jewelry earrings in 18k white gold with diamonds
Etincelle de Cartier ring Cartier Juste un Clou ring
(From left) Étincelle de Cartier ring in 18k white gold with diamonds; Cartier Juste un Clou ring in 18k white gold with diamonds

You couldn’t miss it peeking out from underneath the sleeves of Smit-McPhee’s baby blue Bottega Veneta suit: a diamond, diamond, and more diamond Cartier Révélation d’Une Panthère watch. (Plus a diamond necklace, and a couple of rings for good measure.) The Power of the Dog supporting actor nominee may not have landed an Oscar, but he definitely landed on best-dressed lists worldwide.

 

Rita Moreno 2022 Oscars
Rita Moreno (photo: Mark Von Holden/A.M.P.A.S.)

Best Hoops: Rita Moreno in Verdura

Verdura Twisted Horn Earclips Platinum Diamond
Verdura Twisted Horn ear clips, a 1952 design in diamond and platinum

Normally you don’t notice a pair of hoop earrings on the red carpet. But the Verdura twisted horn ear clips worn by Rita Moreno, the Oscar-winning star of the original 1961 West Side Story, were so bold they even peeked through her feathered headpiece. The 90-year-old actress and OG Anita—stunning in a dramatic ruffled off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera gown—is also featured in the West Side remake as Valentina, the widow of drugstore owner Doc.

 

Lupita Nyongo 2022 Oscars
Lupita Nyong’o (photo: Mark Von Holden/A.M.P.A.S.)

Best Colored Diamonds: Lupita Nyong’o in De Beers

De Beers Reflections of Nature Motlatse Marvel Earrings
De Beers Reflections of Nature Motlatse Marvel earrings with 5.48 cts. t.w. fancy deep orange, pink, and white diamonds in 18k white, yellow, and rose gold
De Beers Reflections of Nature Landers Radiance Cluster Ring
De Beers Reflections of Nature Landers Radiance cluster ring with 7.24 cts. t.w. fancy brown orange, yellow, pink, and white diamonds in 18k white, yellow, and rose gold
De Beers Alchemist of Light Light Rays Crown Ring
De Beers The Alchemist of Light Light Rays crown ring with 2.93 cts. t.w. fancy vivid orange and white diamonds in titanium and 18k white and rose gold

With its pink and gold embellishments and streamers, that Prada dress is almost a jewel in itself, so Nyong’o didn’t need much more sparkle. (Did we really say that?) But her longtime stylist Micaela Erlanger made some smart, subtle choices: earrings and a ring from De Beers’ 2021 Reflections of Nature high jewelry collection, plus an art deco–inspired statement ring from the brand’s 2022 Alchemist of Light high jewelry collection. Nyong’o never goes wrong with jewelry.

 

Jessica Chastain 2022 Oscars
Jessica Chastain (photo: Michael Baker/A.M.P.A.S.)

Best Colored Stones: Jessica Chastain in Gucci

Gucci high jewelry pink lilac light blue spinel earrings
Gucci earrings with 13.32 cts. t.w. pink, lilac, and light blue spinels and diamonds in white gold
Gucci high jewelry spinel diamond bracelet
Gucci bracelet with 22.76 cts. t.w. pink spinels and diamonds in white gold
Gucci high jewelry spinel diamond rings
(From left) Gucci solitaire ring with 7.74 cts. t.w. pink spinel and diamonds in white gold; Gucci ring with 6.1 cts. t.w. lilac spinel and diamonds in white gold

The third time was indeed the charm for Chastain, who finally won an Oscar for her sensational, sympathetic portrayal of singer-evangelist–TV personality Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye. For her golden moment, the actress wore a custom Gucci tulle gown with ombré bronze and lilac sequins and Gucci high jewelry in pink, lilac, and light blue spinel. All-diamond jewelry would have been lovely, but the spinel choice was terrifically unexpected.

 

Jessica Chastain 2022 VF party
Jessica Chastain (photo courtesy of Getty Images)
Bonus: Jessica Chastain in Gucci at the Vanity Fair afterparty
Gucci high jewelry opal tanzanite diamond nekclace
Gucci necklace with 58.38 cts. t.w. opal, tanzanites, and diamonds in white gold

Chastain changed into yet another Gucci gown—an emerald silk lamé strapless number—after the ceremony, and added a spectacular Gucci statement necklace to boot.

 

Timothee Chalamet 2022 Oscars
Timothée Chalamet (photo: Mark Von Holden/A.M.P.A.S.)

Best Necklaces (and more): Timothée Chalamet in Cartier

Cartier diamond necklace Panthere necklace
Cartier Geometry & Contrast necklace in 18k white gold with diamonds; Panthère de Cartier necklace in 18k white gold with emeralds, diamonds, and onyx
Clash de Cartier ring Cartier high jewelry ring
(From left) Clash de Cartier ring, medium model, in 18k white gold; Cartier high jewelry ring in 18k white gold with emeralds, onyx, and diamonds
Panthere de Cartier rings
(From left) Panthère de Cartier ring in 18k white gold with diamonds, emeralds, and onyx; Panthère de Cartier ring in 18k white gold with tsavorite garnets and onyx
Cartier Clash bracelet onyx diamonds
Cartier Clash bracelet in 18k white gold with onyx and diamonds
Panthere de Cartier bracelet
Panthère de Cartier bracelet in 18k white gold with emeralds, onyx, and diamonds

No shirt, no problem! Chalamet—who starred in Dune, the evening’s winningest movie—sparked many a chest-in-show headline with his Nicolas Ghesquière for Louis Vuitton sequined suit. (Perhaps a reaction to all that body armor he wore in Dune.) Hey, all the better to show off those Cartier necklaces! And he didn’t stop there: He also added a mess of rings and two bracelets. Who else can’t wait to see what he wears to the Met Gala?

 

Venus Williams 2022 Oscars
Venus Williams (photo: Mark Von Holden/A.M.P.A.S.)

Best Silver (Yes, Silver!): Venus Williams in Elsa Peretti

Elsa Peretti large Bone cuffs
Elsa Peretti large left and right wrist Bone cuffs in sterling silver; Tiffany & Co.

Tennis legend Venus Williams served up some serious style in a plunging silver-trimmed Elie Saab gown and silver jewelry that was instantly recognizable to JCK readers: large Elsa Peretti Bone cuffs on both wrists. She also wore a sculptural silver ring and earrings by the late designer. Don’t be surprised if you see a run on Peretti pieces at Tiffany & Co. this week. Williams proved they’re absolutely black-tie ready—but as we all know, they’re perfect everyday pieces too.

 

Gaga and Liza 2022 Oscars
Lady Gaga and Liza Minnelli (photo: Blaine Ohigashi/A.M.P.A.S.)

Best Silver (Part 2): Liza Minnelli in Elsa Peretti

Did anyone else catch Minnelli—who was presenting Best Picture with Lady Gaga—wearing Elsa Peretti cuffs on both of her wrists as well? We suspect the cuffs were Minnelli’s own; she’s been photographed numerous times over the years wearing them. Let’s hope she managed to get a Wonder Twins–style backstage pic with Williams!

Top: We think Zendaya is smiling because she’s wearing so much Bulgari jewelry. We certainly would be! (photo: Michael Baker/A.M.P.A.S.)

(All jewelry photos courtesy of the brands)