The red carpet has long been synonymous with opulence, extravagance, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Celebrities, stylists, and designers work tirelessly to create iconic looks that not only turn heads but also set trends for years to come. Here, we delve into the world of luxury and spotlight with the top 10 most expensive red carpet looks that left us in awe.
10. Gwyneth Paltrow at the Oscars (2012) — Estimated Cost: $1 Million
Gwyneth Paltrow’s unforgettable appearance at the 2012 Oscars left a lasting impression. Draped in a mesmerizing white Tom Ford gown, Paltrow captivated onlookers with her timeless elegance and sophistication.
However, it was her choice of accessories that truly elevated her look to the next level. On her wrist was the dazzling Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie «Hearts of Winter» cuff bracelet, a masterpiece studded with a staggering 2,368 brilliant diamonds. Valued at an astonishing $1 million, this exquisite accessory added an extra layer of opulence and glamour to Paltrow’s red carpet-look.
9. Blake Lively at the Met Gala (2018) — Estimated Cost: $2 Million
Blake Lively stunned in a custom Versace gown featuring intricate embroidery and a cascading train that took 600 hours to make. Paired with Lorraine Schwartz jewels, including a pair of emerald earrings worth $2 million, Lively’s glamorous look epitomized modern Hollywood glamour.
8. Rihanna at the Met Gala (2015) — Estimated Cost: $3.97 million
Rihanna’s iconic Guo Pei look from the 2015 Met Gala has transcended mere fashion statements to become a cultural phenomenon. The extravagant yellow gown, with its voluminous train and intricate embroidery, captured the imaginations of millions worldwide. Its reported price tag of $3.97 million only added to its mystique.
7. Jennifer Lopez at the Met Gala (2019) — Estimated Cost: $9 Million
Jennifer Lopez made a memorable statement at the Met Gala in a custom Versace gown adorned with intricate beading and featuring a dramatic train. Paired with luxurious accessories, including a bejeweled headpiece and bold jewelry worth $8.8 million, Lopez commanded attention on the red carpet.
6. Anne Hathaway at the Oscars (2011) — Estimated Cost: $10.1 million
Anne Hathaway made a striking statement at the 2011 Oscars in a vibrant red Valentino gown that radiated sophistication and glamour, with an estimated value of $106,075. Adorning her neck was the breathtaking Lucida Star diamond necklace from Tiffany and Co., a masterpiece valued at a staggering $10 million.
5. Amy Adams at the The Golden Globes (2014) — Estimated Cost: $10.6 million
Amy Adams graced the Golden Globes red carpet in 2014 with an ethereal presence that captured the essence of Hollywood glamour. Her gown, a custom creation from Valentino, draped her silhouette in layers of delicate chiffon and intricate lace. However, it was the breathtaking necklace dripping with rare gemstones and diamonds that took everyone’s breath away.
4. Beyoncé’s at the Grammy (2017) — Estimated Cost: $12 Million
Beyoncé radiated glamour in a custom Peter Dundas sequined gown, accentuated by its plunging neckline. However, it was the mesmerizing sparkle of the $12-million worth of diamonds adorning her, courtesy of her dear friend Lorraine Schwartz, that truly stole the spotlight. From the diamond rings on her fingers to the breathtaking 400-carat gems cascading down her neck in a long necklace, every facet of Beyoncé’s look emanated opulence and sophistication.
3. Cate Blanchett at the Oscars (2014) — Estimated Cost: $18 Million
Cate Blanchett graced the Oscars red carpet in a breathtaking Armani Privé gown embellished with hundreds of Swarovski crystals. Paired with Chopard diamond earrings and a stunning bracelet, this ensemble elevated Blanchett to the ranks of Hollywood royalty.
2. Lady Gaga at the Oscars (2019) — Estimated Cost: $30 Million
Lady Gaga made a grand entrance at the 2019 Oscars in a black Alexander McQueen gown, accessorized with the iconic Tiffany Yellow Diamond. This is one of the largest yellow diamonds in the world. With a price tag of $30 million, this show-stopping accessory perfectly complemented Gaga’s avant-garde style.
1. Carrie Underwood at the The Grammys (2013) — Estimated Cost: $41 million
Carrie Underwood’s appearance at the 2013 Grammys was nothing short of a mesmerizing spectacle of luxury and elegance. The custom-designed creation by Roberto Cavalli was adorned with intricate beadwork and delicate embroidery. She also wore a breathtaking necklace featuring 381 carats of oval, pear, marquise, and round brilliant white diamonds. The necklace alone cost $31 million.
These ten unforgettable red carpet moments prove the power of fashion to captivate, inspire, and leave us in admiration. From the intricate craftsmanship of couture gowns to the dazzling sparkle of rare jewels, these celebrities spared no expense in creating unforgettable fashion moments that continue to shape the landscape of red-carpet glamour.
Matt Heath: My parting message: Enjoy things while they are around
A lot of big, tragic and important things have happened to this wonderful country of ours since April 2014. None of which I have covered. I was too busy writing about hungover parenting, ancient philosophy and my dog Colin.
Out of the 536 columns I have written, 27 were about that guy. Far too few. He is such a good boy, he deserves an article a week.
Today is the end of an era for me, and whenever these final events pop up in our lives, we can’t help but think about the ultimate end.
Everything we do, we will one day do for the last time. That’s why you have to enjoy things while they are around. It’s not just big events like leaving a job, house or loved one either. Whatever moment you happen to be in now, you will never get it back, and you don’t know how many more you have.
Everything we do in life, from eating pizza to spending time with the people we love, to driving, writing, drinking or breathing, we will one day experience for the final time. It might happen tomorrow. This can be either a depressing or an inspiring thought, depending on how you look at it.
A few years back in this column, I interviewed professor of philosophy William B Irvine, of Wright State University, Ohio, on this very topic. He put it this way on a Zoom call: “Recognition of the impermanence of everything in life can invest the things we do with a significance and intensity that would otherwise be absent. The only way we can be truly alive is if we make it our business periodically to entertain thoughts of the end.”
Today’s column is very meaningful to me because it is my last. Like the last night with a lover before she goes overseas. And just like a lover, there have been some half-arsed efforts put in from me over the years. Last week, for example, I spent 750 words moaning about how bad my cricket team is. But the truth is that any of my columns could have been the final. If I had reminded myself every week for the past 10 years that the end is inevitable, I may have been more grateful for having a column and appreciated writing them all as much as I am this one.
While everything we do could have more meaning with a focus on finitude, some things are inherently more worthwhile than others. There is no doubt my column “The pros and cons of wearing Speedos” from November 2022 was less meaningful than most things in this world. That was a waste of everyone’s time. So, if we only have so much time, how do we pick the best things to do?
Well, Oliver Burkeman, the author of Four Thousand Weeks – Time Management For Mortals, suggested this to me in a 2022 column: “Ask yourself, does this choice enlarge me? You usually know on some unspoken level if it does. That’s a good way to distinguish between options.”
With that in mind, I don’t feel great about my 2018 article on “New Zealand’s best hole”. That didn’t enlarge anyone.
There will be people reading this column right now who have loved my writing in the Herald and are sad to see it end. Others will have hated it and are glad to see me go. Many won’t have any opinion at all. But for those in the first camp, I have good news. I have a book coming out on May 28 called A Life Less Punishing – 13 Ways To Love The Life You Got (Allen and Unwin Book Publishers). It’s a deep dive into the history, philosophy and science of not wasting our time lost in anger, loneliness, humiliation, stress, fear, boredom and all the other ways we find to not enjoy perfectly good lives. It’s available for pre-order right now (google it if you’re interested).
A Life Less Punishing took me two years to write and is equivalent in words to 100 of these columns. Which would be a complete nightmare for those in the hate camp, but as I say, great news for those who want more.
Anyway, thanks to the Herald for having me, thanks to the lovely people who make an effort to say nice things to me about my column nearly every day and thanks to the universe for every single second we get.
Bless!
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