Design Art and Photography

Los Angeles—Some of the biggest names in the nation’s music industry chose bold cuffs and black or gold dresses as the top look for the 2007 American Music Awards, held last night at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

Beyoncé Knowles sported both trends, upping the wattage on her golden gown with multicolored sapphire and diamond “Caviar” bangles, blackened carved sapphire and diamond earrings, and a blackened diamond ring, all by Lorraine Schwartz. Actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens followed suit in a sparkly gold dress and Amrapali of Jaipur bold gold cuff and gold earrings. Singer Avril Lavigne chose the golden touch too, wearing a metallic dress but keeping jewelry minimal to simple rings and earrings.

  Black ensembles were also popular. Favorite Female Pop/Rock Artist Fergie wore a flirty black mini, nicely contrasted with a gold cuff, while Favorite Female Soul/R and B Artist Rihanna decked out in a black and silver dress, opting to wear diamond studs to finish off the look. Singer Alicia Keys chose to keep her neck bare like Beyoncé, wearing instead a cuff and drop earrings against a glittery black dress.

Darkened metals made frequent appearances too. In addition to Beyoncé, presenter Christina Applegate wore darkened diamond and platinum ball jewels from Neil Lane’s “Hollywood” collection, including a ball bracelet, leaf earrings and ring.

  Diamonds, never to be outdone, were also out in force, as seen on singer Celine Dion, who wore a Lanvin dress paired with two Van Cleef and Arpels diamond clips—the “Camelia” (left) and a 160 “Tourbillion” estate clip—for the red carpet, and a white dress and Van Cleef diamond ribbon bracelet for her performance.