"Pearls. Take, like an oyster, your irritations, your pain. Use these to create your masterpiece." – Jessica de la Davies
"Floating Bubbles" White South Sea Pearl and Diamond Necklace, 18K Gold & Platinum
Pure says: Delicate and Airy
Jewelry by Assael
GAZING AT GLAM - PEARLS SHINE AT THE MET GALA 2023
Pearls have been in the news in a VERY big way lately, making a lustrous splash at the Met Gala held annually at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Each year comes with its own theme and attendees are encouraged to arrive at the gala garbed in daring, unique attire paying homage to that theme.
This year's Gala was honoring the legacy of Karl Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld was a famous fashion designer who steered the creative direction of some of the most illustrious fashion houses in the world, Chanel and Fendi, before moving on to start his own line under his own name. He was known as a patron of the arts, and raised funds for The Met’s Costume Institute.
Lagerfeld's signature style that he was most known for was stark black and white combos which were bold, modern and striking, and is also credited with bringing the famous Chanel tweeds into fashion.
The A-list attendees at this year's Met Gala all turned out in style - many of them drenched in lustrous, large pearls!
There were SO many pearls featured at this year's event, that this newsletter literally doesn't have the data space to be able to showcase them all (unfortunately!), so I've decided to just focus on a few of my favorite looks featuring our favorite gem: Pearls.
Onto the show!
Anne Hathaway stole the show in a custom-designed Versace tweed gown adorned with faux pearl safety pins and Bulgari jewelry. I loved how she seemed to blend the bouffant 60's style hair and make-up with edgy 90's fashion.
Actress and Chanel ambassador Whitney Peak channeled Old Hollywood Glamour and also the total Pearlcore aesthetic by attending the Met in Chanel head to toe. Her gorgeous custom Chanel gown was studded with faux pearls, and the showstopping earrings are from Chanel's High Jewellery Collection.
She wore Rosée de Camelia earrings in white gold featuring cultured pearls and diamonds, the Révélation Diamant bracelet in white gold and diamonds, and the Diamant Evanescent ring in white gold and diamonds, all from Chanel High Jewellery.
“When I saw a picture of Whitney in this breathtaking couture dress,” celebrity make-up artist Tom Machhausen told Glamour magazine, “it felt very Old Hollywood, but the stunning beading and detail work reminded me of a delicate sea anemone, a gorgeous sea flower. I wanted the makeup to reflect that: glowy, lit-from-within skin with sculpted strong features and little soft elements reflecting the pearlescent, dreamy, underwater quality of the dress. A look that is effortless yet strong and modern. Qualities that I always admired in Karl Lagerfeld.”
Model Gigi Hadid attended the Met wrapped in a custom Givenchy sheer corset gown and showcasing a double-layered cultured pearl necklace undergirded by a sparkling lab-grown diamond necklace by Smiling Rocks featuring a stunning 6ct tear-drop pendant. A double-strand pearl bracelet also drapes on her wrist. Hadid is well known for her penchant for pearls!
Continuing the trend of men wearing pearls, actor Brian Tyree Henry channeled English Tudor royalty at the Met Gala, showing up in a custom Lagerfeld creation with voluminous flounces of fabrics and finished with multiple Baroque Black and White Freshwater Pearl Rope Necklaces tied together with strips of chiffon.
This was an incredibly regal look reminiscent of King Henry VIII - I admire the way that men are able to style pearl jewelry today while still maintaining a masculine appeal.
Actress Salma Hayak, who co-hosted the Met Gala this year, showed up in a spectacular fire-engine red Gucci gown made of shiny red leather and chiffon. Off-setting the incredibly bold color and style of the dress, delicate strands of pearls draped off each shoulder .. dare I say, swoon?? This entire ensemble was just such a showstopper.
Her luxuriously large White South Sea Baroque Pearl and Diamond Earrings and a Diamond Ring that she wore were designed by Lorraine Schwartz.
I'm looking forward to my next Celebrity Pearl Sightings post in a few weeks. I hope you enjoyed the glitz and the glam!
Until next time ...
XO,
Ashley M.
PUTTING ON THE RITZ
A beautiful pearl pendant with a gorgeous centerpiece! This remarkable 14K white gold pendant has a beautiful 11.5mm high quality White South Sea pearl with .05 of SI quality sparkling diamonds and is made up of 18K white gold. This pendant displays the true beauty of South Sea pearls without compromise.
The pendants come packaged in a beautiful jewelry gift box, perfect for gifting.
