— A record 26.8 million people tuned into the 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards Jan. 25, not only to see who the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) selected as the best in film and television, but also to see who was wearing what! The Globes are considered the precursor to the Oscars, not only in nominations and winners, but also in fashion. And this year, the Red Carpet wasn’t the only element of color at this black tie affair as celebrities dressed to the nines in romantic, soft and shapely styles like spring in bloom.

Trends are for glamorous short dresses or full skirts with fitted bodices that are conservatively sexy with plunging neck or back lines in floating chiffon, silk tulles or cascading charmeuse satin. Goddess gowns and glam maternity frocks were most talked about. Popular colors, from pastel to jewel tones, include gold, peach, tangerine, lemon yellow, powder blue, periwinkle, and ruby. Not only are fashions classic and colorful so are accessories — as many attendees flashed big gem and pearl jewels with vintage flare. There were lots of chokers and long roped gems, gem-encrusted bracelets, and big gemmy dangle earrings.

Style watchers couldn’t help but notice fashionista Joan Rivers for E! Entertainment and host of its Red Carpet Fashion Police in a very rare and large 19th century Fred Leighton peridot and diamond necklace and earrings parure.

Also a Leighton fan, Hope Davis, best supporting actress for American Splendor, wore emerald drop earrings totaling 30 carats (that she claimed her husband wanted to mug her for) and stacked bangle bracelets — two diamond, two emerald and diamond.

And Gwen Stefani, singer and star of the upcoming film Aviator, flaunted a 1930s ruby and diamond orchid bracelet, 1920s pearl and diamond hair clip, and pink diamond ring — all platinum, all Leighton.

Among the many gem intense jewels at the Globes was an earrings, bracelet and ring suite in amethyst, pink tourmaline and smoky quartz by H. Stern, worn by actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.



Also in H. Stern was Frances Conroy, best actress for the HBO series Six Feet Under, in a smoky topaz necklace, and Jennifer Garner of the television series Alias in an Art Deco style pink sapphire bracelet. Garner also wore kunzite and diamond platinum “thorn” earrings, and three diamond platinum rings with semi-precious accents by West Coast designer Cathy Waterman. Other Waterman fans like Freaky Friday nominee Jamie Lee Curtis wore a green tourmaline and diamond “thorn” ring; and Marg Helgenberger of the television series CSI sported a Burmese ruby and diamond “underwater” necklace and four ruby and diamond bracelets, all in platinum.

Stockard Channing of the television series The West Wing sparkled in a gorgeous drop cabochon peridot (157.55 carats) and sapphire (95.25 carats) necklace and earrings parure by Bvlgari.

Other celebrities in color include Cate Blanchett (nominated for Veronica Guerin) in ruby chandelier earrings; actress Brittany Murphy in a green moonstone, cat’s eye and diamond bracelet ala Harry Winston; Diane Lane (nominated for Under the Tuscan Sun) in gemmy briolette drops, and Renee Zellweger (best supporting actress for Cold Mountain) in a pair of sapphire and diamond brooches.

According to Leon Hall, E! Entertainment fashion expert, colored gemstones are fresh to Hollywood celebs looking for new bling bling. “Color will have a bright spot in this year’s awards season,” he says. But that’s not to say the stars have thrown away their diamonds — they’ve just added some color, like Conroy in cognac diamond earrings by H.Stern. Or, actress Susan Sarandon in chocolate, cognac, yellow, and white diamond waterfall earrings in 18-karat yellow gold, and Reiko Aylesworth, star of the television series 24, with pink and white pave diamond earclips in platinum and pink gold — both by Harry Winston.

Although actress Scarlett Johansson, nominated for the Girl with a Pearl Earring was not wearing pearls on the Red Carpet many other stars accessorized in these cultured beauties. Best actress Diane Keaton for Something’s Gotta Give, wore a long opera length strand of Australian South Sea pearls by Autore. Maria Bello, nominated for The Cooler, was draped in ropes of pearl strands of various types and lengths. And on the ears Uma Thurman, nominated for Kill Bill, dangled Fred Leighton pearl and diamond tassels, and Jessica Simpson of the reality show, Newlywed, swayed classic pearl drops with every toss of her head.

The Golden Globes offer a golden opportunity to see what’s hot now in fashion styles, fabrics and colors. Although many of us will not be wearing a couture Valentino gown and vintage Fred Leighton jewels to our next affair, remember, you can get the look. And this year more than ever, the look is all about color!