The 2018 Oscars will be taking place this Sunday, prompting a battery of West Coast publicists and showroom managers to kick into overdrive, doubling and tripling their efforts to help stylists select red carpet jewelry for their A-list celebrity clients. From curation to procurement to securing that coveted placement on such-and-such marquee name, this is no small task.
As Ginnina D’Orazio of D’Orazio & Associates explains, “Oscars weekend is the culmination of awards show season. Apart from being one of the biggest award shows in the world, with the highest-profile red carpet, there are also tons of surrounding events, viewing parties, and after-parties.”
All of which require round-the-clock jewelry pulls.
Not everyone is aware of the many steps involved in order for a piece of jewelry to have its moment in the spotlight.
“You’re constantly tethered to your email and cell phone, but during Oscar week everything is taken up a notch,” says Deanna Russo Clark of Luxury Brand Group. “Follow-up is essential, as is the ability to weigh decisions quickly, and the need to keep inventory constantly circulating is key. Our showroom will be open through Friday, and we’re staying prepared for some really great last-minute appointments.”
We asked Los Angeles’ top red carpet jewelry gatekeepers—D’Orazio, Clark, and Rebecca Raskind of CLD PR—to describe what the weekend ahead has in store for them, and to select the one or two items they’d be wearing to the festivities. That is, if they weren’t so busy working behind the scenes.
Deanna Russo Clark, Jewelry PR Showroom Manager, Luxury Brand Group
This weekend I’ll be…
“Glued to the television devouring every ounce of red carpet fashion to keep my eye out for any placements. I’ll have my cell phone by my side to make myself available to stylists who are texting me to confirm designer credits and social media tags. I’ll be constantly refreshing my Getty Images app and Instagram for real-time images or stories that might clue me into a placement even before it hits the carpet. Also, as soon as I know a placement has come through, I like to be in touch with the stylist or talent to say thank you as well as give the jewelry designer a heads-up.”
If I weren’t working, I’d be wearing…
Diamond and emerald chandelier earrings in 14k white gold, price upon request, Cirari
“The moment I laid eyes on these statement diamond and emerald chandelier earrings I knew they would be one of the showroom’s most coveted Oscar pieces this year. Stylists are looking for jewelry to not only make a statement, but also to complement a red carpet look that can be seen 10 years from now and still be considered timeless. A pop of color, especially emerald, has been very big this awards season. Personally, I’m obsessed with the attention to design details and variation of stone shapes.”
Ginnina D’Orazio, President, D’Orazio & Associates
This weekend I’ll be…
“Working diligently with my team loaning and facilitating requests. We coordinate with guards to get the safe return of jewels that have been edited out of one stylist’s selection, so that they can then be considered by someone else. It’s a hectic weekend running from fitting to fitting, doing all we can to secure our clients the most worthwhile results, while assisting stylists in the making of these legendary red carpet moments. Throughout the day and evening we are scouring for images of placements and alerting the press and our clients in a timely manner, so that our placements get the exposure they deserve.”
If I weren’t working, I’d be wearing…
Bling Triple Illusion earrings with emerald-cut diamonds in 18k white gold, $26,100; AS29
Ring featuring 19 ct. emerald-cut diamond with 0.6 ct. tw. diamond melee and pavé wire in platinum, $928,550; Harry Kotlar
“If there was ever a time to wear a magnificent piece of jewelry it would be to the Academy Awards—the clean lines and simplicity of design keep these two timeless pieces modern.”
Rebecca Raskind, Senior VP, CLD PR
This weekend I’ll be…
“Coordinating last-minute pulls with stylists (accessories are often pulled last minute once the gown fittings are complete); triple-confirming red carpet looks pulled from our showroom; keeping close watch over the Academy Awards red carpet and other events in order to immediately hit ‘send’ on media alerts; and eyeballing red carpet trends for story pitches over the next several months.”
If I weren’t working, I’d be wearing…
Dia ring with aquamarine, Paraiba tourmaline, tsavorites, and diamonds in 18k white gold, $44,000; Jared Lehr
“This ultra-luxurious, one-of-a-kind piece is truly wearable art created to be seen at the most glamorous events in the world. If I weren’t working and able to attend the Oscars, I’d absolutely choose this gorgeous cocktail ring to complete my look. It would be unequivocally eye-catching on the red carpet!”
Starburst Drop earrings with diamonds in 14k white gold, $5,305; Sydney Evan
“As soon as I saw Pink wearing these earrings at the Super Bowl (which we placed through our showroom), I knew they would be the perfect red carpet earring. I believe they would beautifully complement, rather than compete with, the rest of a sophisticated red carpet look.”
Top: Jared Lehr
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