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W hen it comes to red carpets, whether it’s the Academy Awards or the Met Gala, the objective of the night is to dress accordingly while also making an impact. Beyond a crisp suit, a spin on a tuxedo or an inventive gown, accessories like jewelry, watches and handbags can do some heavy lifting on a step-and-repeat. But what sorts of gems and accessories go into the “best celebrity outfits,” and how exactly can you elevate everyday attire into something fitting for a star-studded affair?
Three Sotheby’s specialists weigh in with their top tips to make an outfit a full-on occasion.
Personal taste is paramount when it comes to jewelry. Frank Everett, the Senior Vice President of Jewels at Sotheby’s, says that individual personality is important to remember, even while getting gussied up for a red carpet event. “If you’re not somebody who generally wears a lot of jewelry, I would stick to one stunning piece,” he recommends. But if maximalism fits with your fantasy, have at it.
In Everett’s view, ideally one would begin styling a red carpet ensemble with the jewels themselves, instead of using them merely as a final touch. They should be the piece de resistance. “Let the rest of the outfit – styling, the dress, the hair – be informed by the jewel,” he suggests. “So if you find a fabulous necklace,” for instance, then one can seek out a neckline that feels apt for the occasion. Think Keira Knightley at the 2006 Oscars: She was clad in an off-the-shoulder scarlet gown so that the 1960s-era Bulgari necklace around her collar, twinkling with sapphires, diamonds, rubies and emeralds, set her apart from everyone else.
Statement necklaces can be tricky; you don’t want a situation where “the necklace is wearing you,” as Everett puts it. But big, dramatic earrings are a classic go-to, especially fabulous Art Deco diamond chandelier earrings and 1970s-era turquoise or coral numbers from jewelers like Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Everett has also seen a return to matching suites of jewelry, such as necklace and earring sets that were trendy from the 1960s through the 1980s, that he says can also help tie a fit together.
For something like brooches, a more avant-garde approach can yield unexpectedly elegant results, too. “Wear brooches anywhere, everywhere in every different way besides the lapel,” he says, nodding towards Sarah Jessica Parker’s look for the 2014 Met Gala, where she festooned 19th-century starburst brooches on her elbow-length white gloves.
He offers one last practical pro tip: If you’re on a red carpet and have the potential to be photographed, and if you want to go with just a single show-stopping piece of jewelry, “it really is about necklaces and earrings,” he says. “Because your hands are not going to be so much the focal point. Either they’re not going to be in the picture, or they’ll be secondary.” But for those who prefer to express themselves via their wrists, an armful of Art Deco-era bracelets is never a bad look.
While we’re on the subject of hands: Watches can no doubt make an impact on a red carpet. When done right, these timepieces “don’t just tell time, they tell history,” says Vincent Brasesco, a specialist in watches for Sotheby’s. “They’re physical talismans of moments in time.”
As such, watches that historically have made appearances on the red carpet tend to fall into the category of tuxedo watches forged from precious metal like gold or platinum, bearing either two or three hands. Brasesco advises that these watches should also be ultra-thin because “there’s nothing worse than when you’re wearing a formal shirt, especially with a cufflink, and having this clanking thing moving around.” He also strongly suggests a simple and subtly elegant look for the occasion: “You don’t ever want it to distract away from whatever it is that you’re wearing,” he adds.
That said, one can’t go wrong sticking with a brand known for making classic dress watches, including Patek Philippe (nothing tops a Calatrava for the occasion) and Vacheron Constantin. Or consider a Reverso from Jaeger-LeCoultre – the “watchmakers’ watchmaker,” as Brasesco puts it. If one prefers, a gem-set piece, with a tasteful diamond or a ruby, can also make for a refined touch.
While traditional sports watches are typically seen as faux pas for starry events, “rules are also meant to be broken,” Brasesco adds. “James Bond very famously wore a Rolex Submariner with his tuxedo. So if it’s good enough for James Bond, it’s good enough for us.”
For Lucy Bishop, a handbags and fashion specialist at Sotheby’s, striking handbags on the red carpet usually tend to have one thing in common: they’re vintage. “You’re guaranteed to stand out,” with unique vintage pieces, she says. Moreover, vintage pieces tend to hold their value well. “The great thing about wearing vintage on the red carpet is that if you wear it, as long as you don’t damage it, you can probably resell it for the amount you paid,” Bishop adds. “If not more in years to come.”
On red carpets, Bishop has noticed that “the diamonds tend to be big, but the bags tend to be small.” She recommends seeking out vintage miniature bags, pochettes and clutches from a luxury brand like Hermès. Depending on the event, one might consider a diamond-encrusted item, for instance. Bishop also notes that jewelers such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels boast a wealth of idiosyncratic and elegant evening bags that can “elevate your accessory to a piece of fine jewelry.” These numbers also tend to cost a fraction of the price of their newer counterparts, she says.
But for something a little cheekier and whimsical, one might want to consider Chanel. In addition to creating timeless-looking black quilted satin clutches, the haute couture house is known for its wide range of bags in “interesting, eye-catching shapes and styles,” like pieces in the shape of bird cages, or minaudières done up in hammered gold metal bullion.
