Style Expert Michael O'Connor Shares This Season’s Dazzling Red Carpet Jewelry Trends

By Ket Lamb
January 25, 2011

Advising Amy Adams, Eva Longoria, Kate Flannery, and Randy Jackson about red carpet jewelry is all in a day's work for celebrity style expert Michael O’Connor. If Michael O'Connor looks familiar, you may have seen him covering the Academy Awards red carpet for TV Guide TV or caught his fashion segments for MTV and E!

Left: Celebrity Style Expert Michael O'Connor (photo courtesy of O'Connor)

The Inside Source caught up with Michael O’Connor at StyleLab’s Golden Globes Jewelry Suite, an only-in-Hollywood destination where top celebrities and celebrity stylists can borrow their choice from a total of $14m worth of red carpet jewelry.

With the Golden Globes behind us and several awards shows still ahead, we asked celebrity style expert Michael O'Connor what fashion jewelry trends we can expect to see glimmering on our screens.

“I always view clothing as the wrapping for a beautiful present, but the jewelry is the ribbon. You need to have that kind of sparkle,” explained Michael O’Connor. “This season, the red carpet is influenced by a couple of things. Number one: fashion designers are doing a lot of color, so jewelry designers are starting to add more colored diamonds and unusual colored gem stones.”

Inside StyleLab's Golden Globes Jewelry Suite (via YouTube)

Colored Gemstones

Kyra Sedgwick Rocks Gold and Turquoise Earrings (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; "Glee"'s Jessalyn Gilsig Shows Off Colorful Chopard Gems (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images); Angelina Jolie Goes Green (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Best Actress nominee, Kyra Sedgwick, spiced up her mango Emilio Pucci dress with outstanding gold and turquoise earrings at the Golden Globes

Pink sapphires were clearly evident when Jessalyn Gilsig, who plays Terri Schuester, the character people love to hate on episodes of "Glee," flashed a Chopard bracelet set in white and rose gold on the Golden Globes red carpet. Gilsig’s white gold teardrop Chopard diamond earrings also featured 53 carats of multi-colored sapphires.

Actress Angelina Jolie, whose been collaborating with Robert Procop on a fashion jewelry collection, wore a pair of Robert Procop’s sedate green earrings to accent her emerald Versace gown at the Golden Globes. A huge Robert Procop cocktail ring completed the look.

Colorful gems are also popular off the red carpet. You can find a range on eBay.

Pink Sapphire Tennis Bracelet

(buy it now price, $2,499)
Blue Sapphire and Diamond Earrings

(buy it now price, $1,203)
Vintage 14K Gold Turquoise Earrings

(buy it now price, $1,926)
18K Gold Ruby and Emerald Sapphire Heart Bracelet

(buy it now price, $2,935.94)
Emerald Stud Earrings

(buy it now price, $149)

Oversize Pieces

According to style expert Micahel O’Connor, “The other huge fashion jewelry trend is the proportion of the jewelry and the size. People are looking for larger pieces. Now that jewelry designers are pairing down beading, jewelry becomes the focal point.”

Catherine Zeta Jones Looks Regal With Van Kleef & Arplels Earrings (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images); Helen Mirren Is Captivating In Cartier (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images); Natalie Portman’s Eye-catching Tiffany Necklace (Photo credit ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Unlike most stars, who borrow their red carpet jewelry for red carpet events, Catherine Zeta Jones opted to wear her own stunning 26.8 carat diamond and platinum earrings from Van Kleef & Arpels at the Golden Globes. Catherine Zeta Jones was proud to tell viewers they were a gift from her husband, actor Michael Douglas.

You couldn’t miss the massive platinum and diamond 55.08 carat Cartier necklace Helen Mirren wore at the Golden Globes. This little gem is worth almost $2 million.

Actress Natalie Portman embodies this fashion jewelry trend in a beautiful platinum and diamond necklace from Tiffany. This statement piece was big enough to compete with the big red rose plastered across the Viktor & Rolf strapless gown she wore to the Golden Globes.

Whether it’s big, bold, or vintage, make your own statement with the jewelry you choose.

Vintage Colorful Glass Bib Necklace

(buy it now price, $198)
Huge Emerald and Diamond Victorian Bracelet

(buy it now price, $12,000)
24 Karat Gold Necklace With Lapis Stone

(buy it now price, $1,450)
Smokey Topaz Cocktail Ring

(buy it now price, $399)
Little Birds Brooch

(buy it now price, $850)

When he’s not advising celebrities, Michael O’Connor turns to eBay online auctions for things he can’t find elsewhere. His latest purchase? “My mother and father had a china pattern—Gladstone Apricot Rose—that had been discontinued. It was missing some cups and saucers. eBay was the only place I could find the pieces I needed. Hopefully, one day, I’ll have a complete set.”

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