No matter what color carpet she walks, Zendaya never has a fashion miss with her glamorous looks.
She, along with a multitude of other stars, were out in full force for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, but they didn’t pose for photos on a red carpet. Instead, the color of the carpet for the evening was peacock blue to celebrate NBC’s 100th anniversary.
While the carpet color amplified some of the shades worn, Zendaya needed no help in that department as she debuted a new pixie cut and dazzled in a semi-sheer, crystal-covered custom Prada gown with a plunging V-neck and a mini train. She accessorized with Mikimoto pearl jewelry.
Zendaya rocked Mikimoto’s Les Pétales Place Vendôme White South Sea Cultured Pearl earrings with almost 10 carats of diamonds. The Odyssey actress’s look proved that pearls are back, but a perfectly matched necklace is no longer the default.
Jewelry expert and Managing Director at Angelic Diamonds, Neil Dutta, explained how we wear pearls is changing, plus a few ways to recreate the looks without a celebrity jewelry budget.
Dutta told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “Zendaya’s look is a great example of how differently we’re wearing pearls now. Her Mikimoto earrings paired White South Sea cultured pearls with 4.40 carats of diamonds, while her two pearl rings added another 5.26 carats between them. That’s almost 10 carats of diamonds across just three pieces, but the pearls still hold their own.
“You obviously don’t need Zendaya’s jewelry budget to recreate it. If you already have a pair of pearl earrings, try wearing them with the diamond or crystal jewelry you normally reach for rather than treating pearls as something that needs to be worn on their own.”
He added, “Zendaya also wore mismatched pearl rings, while comedian Ayo Edebiri stacked different pearl and diamond pieces together. For a long time, pearl jewelry was all about uniformity, but you don’t need perfectly matched pearls to make them work. Try different sizes, shapes, or even just one pearl piece alongside the jewelry you already wear. It immediately makes them feel less formal than wearing a matching pearl necklace, earrings and bracelet together.
“Beatrice Grannò went in a completely different direction with a chunky pearl necklace, showing that pearls don’t always have to be small and delicate. If classic pearl studs or a simple necklace aren’t your style, try going in the opposite direction. One oversized pearl piece can become the focus of an otherwise simple outfit, so you don’t need to add much else.”
Dutta also noted that “Sarah Pidgeon and Linda Cardellini showed that pearls don’t necessarily have to be jewelry at all. Sarah had strands of pearls draped across her Chanel gown, while Linda wore a dress covered in square mother-of-pearl tiles. For everyday wear, look for pearl details on bags, hair accessories, shoes or clothing. It’s an easy way to wear the trend if traditional pearl jewelry still doesn’t feel like you.”
He concluded, “Pearls never really went away, but the way designers and celebrities are wearing them has changed considerably. What stood out at the Emmys was that there wasn’t one particular way to wear them. Zendaya mixed hers with diamonds, Ayo layered hers, Beatrice went oversized, and Sarah and Linda took pearls beyond jewelry altogether.
“For decades, pearl jewelry was associated with everything matching perfectly. What we’re seeing now is almost the opposite. I think that’s why they’re appealing to more people again. You don’t need to suddenly start wearing a perfectly matched pearl necklace. The easiest way to make pearls feel current is to wear them with things you already own and in a way that actually suits your style.”
