Hoping to Cast Pearls
It’s not only fashion designers who are courting the stylists who dress Academy Awards attendees. For the first time, the Cultured Pearl Information Center has entered the “other Oscar race.” The nonprofit organization gave a dinner party and jewelry fashion show for Hollywood stylists Tuesday at the Argyle Hotel. The event was an effort to persuade stylists to put pearls on their celebrity clients for Oscar night, which has long been dominated by diamond accessories.
“It’s a tough sell,” said Devin Macnow, executive director of the center dedicated to promoting pearls. “Diamonds capture the light, but pearls are elegant and understated.”
The baubles worn at the awards may be valuable, but not nearly as valuable as the publicity that comes from a published photograph of a nominee or presenter wearing them. Placement on an “it girl” like Gwyneth Paltrow or Cameron Diaz is the ultimate achievement.
“It’s the most scrutinized and photographed television event of the year,” said L.A. jewelry designer Erica Courtney, who showed her pieces Tuesday.
Despite flowing champagne and compliments, most of the stylists seemed unfazed. The bereted Phillip Bloch, who is dressing Jim Carrey for the awards, dashed off to another party after the salad course. (Jewelry for men is hot, but we can’t see a string of pearls surviving one of the actor’s comedic fits.)
“Pearls are nice, but it all comes down to what goes with the dress,” said stylist Jeanne Yang, who dressed Calista Flockhart for the Golden Globes and will dress Sarah Michelle Gellar for Oscar night.
Fati Parsia is dressing a presenter for the March 21 event, though she can’t say who. A growing number of stars are requiring their stylists to sign confidentiality agreements not to discuss their clients before the big night. But Parsia had this to say: “I may not use any jewelry at all. It will be very clean.”
Still, the party wasn’t a total loss. “I don’t think you will see a lot of pearls at the Oscars. They are not flashy enough,” said Beverly Hills jeweler Mary Lou Yadegar. “But most of the designers do diamonds, too.”
