Trophy Lives: 2017’s Best of the Red Carpet

We combed the red carpet for the celebrity fashion and jewels that made us swoon (so far!) in 2017

Ruth Negga

We could have made this entire feature about Ruth Negga, the Academy Award–
nominated Loving actress who has quietly emerged as 2017’s mega-style star. (Her stylist, Karla Welch, uses the hashtag #meganegga on her Instagram pics.) At the Oscars, we adored Negga’s high-necked scarlet lace Valentino gown, but we were equally captivated by this after-party look: an embellished Oscar de la Renta dress with a high-low hem and a playful paint-splatter pattern, finished with Verdura x Gemfields drop earrings. Now that’s mega.

ON NEGGA
(Above) Verdura earrings in 18k white gold with Gemfields Zambian emeralds and diamonds; $497,500; Gemfields; 646-930-0471; gemfields.co.uk

UNDER $250
Dripstone earring with CZ, enamel, and pearl accents in black rhodium–plated silver; $179; Cristina Sabatini; 212-335-0774; cristinasabatini.com

UNDER $250,000
18k white gold earrings with 16.68 cts. t.w. diamonds and 32.07 cts. t.w. emeralds; $210,000; Butani; info@butani.com; butani.com

Rihanna

The Grammys are usually about lung-crushing body-con gowns, dangerously high hemlines, and necklines that are wardrobe malfunctions just waiting to happen. (Just how did Gaga keep that leather “jacket” in place anyway?) That’s why RiRi’s bikini-meets-ballgown Armani Privé ensemble was so perfect: It was sexy but playful—couture with a kick. High jewelry from her fave, Chopard, gave the look an extra dose of glam. Not pictured: the bedazzled flask from which she sipped throughout the telecast.

ON RIHANNA
Rihanna Loves Chopard collection earrings with aquamarine, pastel yellow and pastel pink sapphires, rubellites, rubies, tsavorite garnets, topaz, beryl, sapphires, paraiba tourmalines, lazulites, amethysts, and diamonds in 18k white gold and titanium; price on request; Chopard; 800-CHOPARD; chopard.com/us

UNDER $75,000
18k black rhodium gold earrings with aquamarines, opals, rubies, sapphires, and tsavorites; €52,000 ($56,101); Lydia Courteille; 33-14-261-1171; lydiacourteille.com

UNDER $750
Crystal Flower earrings in gold-plated pewter; $395; Oscar de la Renta; 888-782-6357; oscardelarenta.com

Amy Adams

Though she was widely touted as the victim of a double Oscar snub—the five-time nominee was overlooked for her star turns in 2016’s Nocturnal Animals and Arrival—Adams opted to accept the Academy’s standard consolation prize: serving as a presenter. As expected, she absolutely slayed in a bugle-beaded gown by her Animals director, Tom Ford, whose designs she’s been wearing throughout awards season. Well, who needs an Oscar when you can look like one?

ON ADAMS
Four Seasons collection Branches earrings with 20 cts. t.w. Asscher-cut diamonds and 4.13 cts. t.w. diamonds in 18k white gold; price on request; Cindy Chao the Art Jewel; info@cindychao.com; cindychao.com

UNDER $5,000
18k rose gold earrings with 0.82 ct. t.w. champagne and 0.2 ct. t.w. white diamonds with quartz over white mother-of-pearl; $4,225; Doves by Doron Paloma; 888-663-6837; dovesjewelry.com

UNDER $7,500
Grand Ascension earrings with 1.42 cts. t.w. diamonds in 18k white gold; $6,499; Graziela Gems; 773-619-3999; grazielagems.com

Viola Davis

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again (in fact, we’re saying it on page 132 in “The Big Thrill”): This is the year of the statement piece. Clearly, Davis got the memo. Every time she showed up to collect a well-deserved prize for her turn in Fences, she was wearing some stunning, sizable jewels—though perhaps none more stunning (or sizable) than this Nirav Modi diamond bib necklace at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Between the white diamonds and the white strapless Vivienne Westwood gown, Davis was positively red-hot.

ON DAVIS
Grand Celestial necklace with pear-shape solitaires in brilliant-cut diamond halos; price on request; Nirav Modi; 212-603-0000; niravmodi.com