A Look Back at the Best Oscar Looks of All Time

Get the champagne ready, because the 85th Annual Academy Awards are almost here!

To get excited for Sunday’s show, Stephanie Schaefer decided to take a look back at her favorite jewelry statements throughout the years. I decided to add my own colorful commentary before I tied my bow tie and brushed off my tuxedo. Be sure to check out the jewelry fashions our Twitter followers want to see most on the red carpet. Don’t be shy about sharing your own opinions.

Don’t forget @JCKMagazine will be live-tweeting the Oscars starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday night. Tweet us your own Oscar fashion and I’ll feature you in my blog on Monday!

Elizabeth Taylor, 1970


SS: In 1970, the queen of diamonds, Liz Taylor, dazzled the red carpet wearing a nearly 70 ct. diamond necklace gifted to her by Richard Burton. Taylor later sold the diamond to charity to help build a hospital in Botswana.

DF: Seriously, has any celebrity (or human for that matter) looked this good since this moment? It was as if that diamond was put on this earth to be on her neck.

Madonna, 1991


SS: Madonna channeled her inner Marilyn Monroe at the 1991 Oscars, accessorizing within $20 million worth of diamonds (loaned by Harry Winston). During her performance of “Sooner or Later” she tossed her earring into the crowd. Ronald Winston, the then-chairmen of the diamond company, was appalled until he realized Madonna had replaced his expensive diamonds with imitation jewels before her performance.

DF: I’ll preface my comment by saying I was a Dick Tracy fanatic as a kid. I had a yellow rain jacket and hat I used to run around in. I adored that movie and still do. If 7-year-old Daniel Ford had been allowed to stay up late enough to see this performance, it would have turned his mind to jelly. It’s an impressive use of $20 million worth of diamonds, but still not as sexy as Elizabeth Taylor.

Gloria Stewart, 1998

SS: Although she dropped the “Heart of the Ocean” necklace in the water at Titanic’s conclusion, Harry Winston lent Stewart a 15 ct. blue diamond necklace to wear to the 1998 Academy Awards. At $20 million, the bauble is the most expense single jewelry piece ever to be worn at the Oscars. Talk about some major ice(berg)!

DF: I really can’t follow up that iceberg joke.

Hilary Swank, 2000

SS: Hilary Swank graced the 2000 Oscars with a necklace fit for royalty-literally speaking. Swank (who won Best Actress for Boys Don’t Cry) accessorized her Randolph Duke gown with a diamond chocker created for one of Queen Victoria’s daughters. Asprey & Garrard reacquired the $250,000 necklace a few weeks before the Oscars and lent it to her—now that’s the definition of swanky jewels!

DF: Hilary Swank defines classy to me. Great look for her. But I need 20 more minutes of Billy Crystal chasing Roberto Benigni with a giant net.

Jennifer Lopez, 2003

SS: In 2003, Lopez dazzled in a mint green Valentino dress completed with gorgeous chandelier earrings. Although her relationship with Ben Affleck didn’t last, her Harry Winston diamond earrings were truly forever.

Nicole Kidman, 2008

SS: In 2008, Kidman walked the red carpet decked out in a 1,399-carat diamond necklace by L’Wren Scott. While her black Balenciaga gown was elegant, the diamond strands certainly stole the show.

Amy Adams, 2009 & 2011


SS: Adams looked enchanting at both the 2009 and 2011 Academy Awards. In 2009 she sparkled with a Fred Leighton statement necklace made out of 630 carats of emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. Two years later she dazzled us again wearing $1.35 million worth of Cartier emeralds. We can’t wait to see what she’ll wear this year!

DF: Now that Amy Adams is starring in The Man of Steel, she can do no wrong in my eyes.

Mila Kunis, 2011

SS: In 2011, Mila Kunis proved she has come along way since That 70’s Show. She added sparkle to her Elie Saab Haute Couture lavender dress by wearing a Neil Lane bracelet and earrings. Kunis’ look showed us that jewelry doesn’t always have to steal the show, but can also be the frosting atop a gorgeous gown.

DF: Since editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky couldn’t find a way to slip Ms. Kunis my number when she was unveiled at the Gemfields brand ambassador, I guess this YouTube video will have to do.

Miss Piggy, 2012

SS: The award for the most stylish Muppet goes to Miss Piggy who showed up to last year’s Oscars wearing a 55 ct. Fred Leighton diamond and platinum necklace, with a matching 40 ct. bracelet and amethyst ring. Kermit couldn’t take his eyes off of her!

DF: I can’t put anyone alive or animated above Miss Piggy.

Uggie, 2012

SS: Not to be upstaged by Ms. Piggy, the canine from The Artist looked dapper in a black bow tie with an 18 karat gold custom-designed Chopard charm during the 2012 Academy Awards. Uggie takes the cake (or doggie biscuit) for the most polished puppy, and there’s no bones about that!

DF: I stand corrected. This pooch knows how to bring his A-game to the red carpet.

Here are the red carpet fashions our Twitter followers most want to see on Sunday:

 

 

 

 

 

 

For last year’s Academy Awards coverage, check out:

For the rest of our award season coverage, check out:

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