A Sustainable Vision For Oscars Style

A brand new champagne carpet notwithstanding, the statement on the Oscar’s 2023 carpet was that what is old is new again. Whether it was antique jewellery, vintage fashion, or reworked pieces from the archives, it is clear that Hollywood has embraced the sustainable movement. Both the starting point and the finishing touch for every look was natural diamonds.  

While Lady Gaga’s gown may only be a few days old, having walked at the Versace show in Los Angeles a mere thirty-six hours before the Oscars, the archive platinum and diamond necklace from Tiffany’s was completed in 1965.  Zoe Saldaña paired her Cartier earrings from 2007 with a Fendi gown and espoused the values to E! saying, “I am wearing vintage Cartier jewellery.  I am advocating for sustainability, and we forget that sustainability is also recycling, wearing pieces from other times.”  Leading up to Sunday night, Ms. Saldaña partnered with the Academy as an ambassador for the Red Carpet Green Dress Global and created a bespoke sustainable style guide. 

Beyond the antique masterpiece on Gaga, antique brooches sparkled on almost every lapel.  From John Cho in celestial Fred Leighton to the piece from Platt Boutique on Brendan Fraser, the brooch is now expected, not the exception.  Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan’s emotional acceptance speech was punctuated by not just a c.1900 diamond and velvet brooch but an additional antique diamond lapel pin, both from the storied Fred Leighton.

While every look contained a conscious eco message, the stars did not seem to feel their style limited by the vintage or antiques.  Elizabeth Olsen’s 90s minimal look from Givenchy was perfectly realized by Cartier earrings from the same time period. 

Presenter Julia Louis-Dreyfus pinned a Victorian era starburst pendant from Briony Raymond to the belt of her Lanvin gown while still also supporting independent jeweller Nikos Koulis with his earrings and ring on the Oscar’s 2023 red carpet. Sandra Oh and Marlee Matlin also turned to Ms. Raymond, sporting both estate jewellery as well as natural diamond pieces from the designer’s impeccable bespoke creations.

Vintage fashion also ruled the night with presenter Vanessa Hudgens in Chanel from 1961 but her diamond jewellery from Roberto Coin already telegraphed the message of timelessness.  When not vintage, it often wasn’t quite new either.  Superstylist Elizabeth Stewart (who also created Elizabeth Olsen’s look), reinforced her green values working with Cate Blanchett and Louis Vuitton on a look made from archival fabric paired with natural diamond earrings from the maison’s high jewellery collection.  

Diamonds are the oldest thing these stars will ever touch, even older than the stars in the sky.  However, this modern interpretation underscores that natural diamonds are hotter than ever.  Only natural diamonds last forever, for every occasion, for every generation.