Pink gowns + diamonds: The best Marilyn Monroe inspo on this year’s red carpets

Shannon Adducci

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May 2, 2018

There have been countless imitations of Marilyn Monroe’s pink-gown-and-diamond-clad Lorelei Lee, her infamously gem-crazed character in 1953’s “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” by chanteuses including Madonna, Christina Aguilera and Ariana Grande.

This past award-show season saw updated homages on the red carpet, with gowns ranging from frothy nude numbers, on Margot Robbie and Pink, to various shades of blush, on Laura Linney and Danai Gurira.

They were all topped with diamonds, set in white gold or platinum, and arranged in midcentury-inspired motifs (like Chrissy Teigen’s elaborate open hoops from Hueb), or given an updated edge (Lana Del Rey’s star-studded crown).

But unlike Lorelei’s fistfuls of jewels, most of the dazzlers were decidedly demure, worn in delicate drops, thin cuffs and simple studs — a truly modern take on the classics.

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**DANAI GURIRA** Pairing Messika Paris' "Siren Song" 36.21-carat diamond choker (with a total of 67 diamonds) and a glittering scalp motif, the "Black Panther" star added sparkle to her ultra-feminine Oscars gown -- a blush satin Gabriela Hearst strapless number with a train.

**PINK** The singer tempered her tiered tulle Monsoori gown with diamond spike earrings by Joelle, a diamond double-finger ring by Borgioni and a simple pavé diamond band by Pasquale Bruni at the CMA Awards.

**LAURA LINNEY** The "Ozark" actress' pale-pink, caped and feather-motif J. Mendel gown was stately at the SAG Awards -- punctuated sparingly with Roberto Coin's "Cento" diamond studs and "Fantasia" diamond snake cuff.

**LANA DEL REY** Del Rey is known for vintage vibes, but her crepe silk gown, silver-and-crystal headpiece and crystal rope necklace -- all by Gucci -- struck the right balance of past and present at the Grammys.

**SAOIRSE RONAN** "Lady Bird" star Ronan showed off ladylike lobes at the Oscars, donning delicate diamond drops by Cartier.

**CHRISSY TEIGEN** The model (turned queen of Twitter) rocked Rio-inspired diamond open-hoop earrings by Hueb for Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party.

**MARGOT ROBBIE** Recently anointed a Chanel ambassador, the "I, Tonya" actress scored a fashion hat trick at the Oscars, wearing a feathered, off-the-shoulder Chanel Couture gown for the red carpet and a strappy, sheer, embellished sheath from the brand for the Vanity Fair after-party -- both paired with Chanel Fine Jewelry diamond stud earrings.

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