2022’s biggest Oscars jewellery trends

By Kim Parker

While the red carpet has had a dash of added drama this awards season (no, we don’t mean that Will Smith moment. We’re talking about the sheer variety of cut-out gowns, hot pants and floor-sweeping fuchsia looks), it has, so far, been dominated by one sparkling jewellery trend above all overs: the short necklace. More specifically, the collar-length necklace, with the odd choker thrown in for good measure, has emerged as the defining red carpet jewellery trend of 2022.

No matter what outfits they have worn, celebrities have been almost universal in their love of using a gemstone collar as a final flourish. At the Oscars, Ariana DeBose’s hot red pantsuit looked sensational with a diamond collar from De Beers. So did Downton Abbey-star Lily James’ pale pink strapless gown, and Caitriona Balfe’s white Louis Vuitton dress with its ruffled train. A sleek Bulgari diamond collar was even the perfect accompaniment to Zendaya’s cropped menswear-style silk shirt and floor-length sequinned skirt. 

Everywhere the camera turned, glittering collars were on display. Zoe Kravitz, Tiffany Haddish, Nicole Kidman and H.E.R all opted for collar styles to accessorise their Academy Awards looks. The short necklace also dominated the after-party scene. Jessica Chastain changed out of her cotton candy-pink gown into a metallic green Gucci number, complete with a matching high jewellery collar. Annabelle Wallis gave her prom-style gown added bite in the form of a crocodile shaped collar from Cartier, and Anya Taylor-Joy leavened her gothic Dior gown and face veil with a diamond rivière. 

It wasn’t just the ladies who opted to go short and sweet with their necklaces. Both Timothée Chalamet and Kodi Smit-Mcphee chose to wear diamond-studded collar necklaces as from Cartier as part of their red carpet jewellery – the former deciding to forgo a shirt altogether and let his necklaces do all the talking. At the Grammy Awards, rocker Travis Barker also went bare beneath his waistcoat, save for a sterling silver chain-link necklace from Tiffany & Co., which he looped into a short choker style. 

Indeed, the musical awards show was awash with short necklaces, too. Everyone from Saweetie to Lady Gaga and Halsey to Dua Lipa chose a collar-length necklace to go with their gowns. As if to highlight their statuses as the ultimate must-haves, Olivia Rodridgo, one of the night’s biggest winners, sported both a collar and a choker necklace with her black Vivienne Westwood gown.   

“A collar length is perfect for awards season, because it nods to old school glamour but it’s much more flattering and modern,” says jeweller Anabela Chan, whose Diamond Leaf Collar necklace was worn by Zooey Deschanel to Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party. “It gives structure to your whole look and it works with every neckline, both high and low cut, so it’s a great option for stylists. It also shows off your collarbones and, crucially, because it sits high up on the body it photographs really well, which is important in the age of social media.” 

Scroll through for some of our favourite collar necklaces of awards season so far.

Like this piece on red carpet jewellery? Check out the Tiffany & Co. jewels at the 2022 Grammy Awards