BOTH KATE HUDSON and Anya Taylor-Joy stole the spotlight in white at recent events, each complemented by different approaches to the luster of pearls and sparkle of diamonds.
At the 2025 Gotham Awards, Hudson was a vision in a high-necked, silky, slinky gown from Ralph Lauren and went for a more spare approach to bejeweling with master goldsmith Adam Neeley’s Echo Earrings of golden South Sea and Akoya pearls in yellow and white gold, accented with diamonds and his Avalon ring of South Sea pearl, SpectraGold and white to canary diamonds. Neeley is best known for merging old-world craftsmanship and cutting-edge techniques such as his invention of proprietary gold alloys. SpectraGold™ is a gradient alloy that transitions from rich yellow gold into the purest white gold. Each individual piece is hand-fused and forged, which requires more than 80 hours to produce. He is a groundbreaker in the modern design space. The pieces added a contemporary feel to Hudson’s “Hollywood in its heyday” look.
Adam Neeley’s Eco earrings
Adam Neeley’s Avalon ring
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During the 13th Annual Governor’s Awards, Taylor-Joy went for a flowing caped look by Maison Margiela. A mix of romantic and futuristic, the near-sheer white gown provided the perfect backdrop for a stunner of a Tiffany & Co. statement-making necklace in platinum with Akoya pearls and diamonds, Tiffany & Co. earrings in platinum with diamonds and a Tiffany & Co. Soleste ring.
To further emphasize the importance of white in clothes and jewelry, Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201) — an ethereal hue was recently named Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year. But the selection has received criticism from some corners as creatively uninspiring and as being culturally insensitive in the current political environment.
However, pearls, particularly South Sea, Akoya and Tahitian versions continue to move forward. They witnessed a revival several years ago in ultra-modern, futuristic interpretations as well as pieces that are authentically antique or vintage, or in looks inspired by the past. While there are mixed feelings about Pantone’s 2026 color choice, there is nothing uninspiring about the ongoing trend towards both classic and contemporary pearl designs. Hudson and Taylor-Joy depicted how enchanting one can look while wearing distinctively different pearl styles.
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