Hey, Quick Question: Why Aren’t Celebrities Wearing Necklaces on the Red Carpet Anymore?

Welcome to our “Hey, Quick Question” column, where we examine seemingly random occurrences in the fashion and beauty industries.

Awards season is always full of glitz, glamor and head-turning styling. But after Hollywood’s elite walked the red carpet at the Golden Globes on Jan. 10, one thing was noticeably missing from most show-goers’ looks: a necklace.

For as long as there have been red carpets, celebs have also glittered in the flashiest, most eye-catching necklaces. In fact, the jewelry rental business dates back to the 1930s and has become something of a phenomenon that has led to some of the most iconic moments in Hollywood fashion history.

Photo: Newsmaker/Getty ImagesPhoto: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Necklaces have also been the subject of some of the biggest headlines on the red carpet over the years. When Gwyneth Paltrow wore a $165,000 princess-cut diamond necklace to the 1999 Academy Awards, her father famously bought it for her after she won her category that night. 20 years later, Lady Gaga wore the reportedly $30 million Tiffany Diamond to the 2019 Oscars — last worn by Audrey Hepburn on the Breakfast at Tiffany’s press tour.

While stylists and jewelers once sought out the most eye-catching, expensive and sometimes controversial neck accessories, the tide seems to be turning in Hollywood. At recent awards shows, stars like Selena Gomez, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Quinta Brunson (to name a few) have been spotted with a completely nude cleavage.

Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesPhoto: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

When it came to styling rising star Madelyn Cline for the 2023 Critics Choice Awards, Mimi Cuttrell says the feathered Givenchy dress the actor wore was a statement in itself: “I wanted it to be more about that Dress goes and thought the earrings would be the perfect complement to it. I didn’t want the jewelry to overpower or compete with the look, and a bare neck keeps it feeling youthful and clean.

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for the Critics Choice Association

This notion of youthfulness seems to be the common thread running through the decision-making process of most necklaceless stylists.

Mary Fellowes — who’s been embracing this trend for a number of years — tells Fashionista she’s relieved to see fewer necklaces on the red carpet. “I find that jewelry necklaces can age extremely,” she says. “Most of their designs haven’t changed much in a few centuries, so I rarely use them.”

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Fellowes also notes that high value statement necklaces can represent a sometimes vulgar display of wealth. In times of pandemic, war and living crises, “insane extravagance just feels so aloof and obsolete”.

Mickey Freeman, a New York-based stylist, also omits necklaces to avoid a sense of extravagance: “[A clear décolletage can help] create [another layer] of texture […] without crossing the threshold of coming off as just ostentatious display.”

Freeman also believes the current resurgence in the no-necklace trend dates back to Dior’s Spring 2022 haute couture collection. Not a single necklace was shown on the catwalk – instead, bare collarbone cutouts were hit.

Photo: Imaxtree

Freeman reiterated the preference for youthful portrayal, saying: “[the female collarbone], always means beauty and youth in my quasi-biological opinion.”

The bare neck might not be new, but this current trend on the red carpet has many people voicing their concerns about what we’re seeing (or not seeing) this awards season.

How do celebrities balance the lack of ornaments? Stylists opt for statement earrings to add a touch of sparkle without compromising the cleanliness of a flawless neck.

Laura Sophie Cox – who styles ‘The Bear’ actor (and rising fashion queen) Ayo Edebiri – tells Fashionista that a “simple […] Diamond tip earring [can] add a twist to the tailoring within the look.”

Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Though the lack of jewelry has caught the attention of fashion commentators everywhere, as with any trend, it’s only a matter of time before oversized pendants reclaim the limelight.

Meanwhile, adopting the “less is more” mentality seems to be the key to a classy, ​​effortless look. As stylist Holly White says, “Don’t be afraid to show off your cleavage. It can empower and give you confidence.”

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