Man jewelry – How much is too much?
Gabe Alonso A post on Rugby’s blog yesterday got me thinking about how men accessorize (if at all). Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot more guys rock bracelets, bands, and watches all on one wrist. How much are you willing to wear?
Photo courtesy of Rugby.com Blog
When I say bracelets or bands, I’m not talking about your Livestrong bands. If you’re still wearing one of those and aren’t A) a cancer survivor, B) personally affected by cancer, or C) know Lance Armstrong – please stop. Those things were cool in like 2005/2006, so you’re not trendy anymore. You just look lame. They’re almost as bad as those Silly Bandz the kids were all wearing (if you’re wearing these right now, you may want to re-evaluate some things). As with anything, there’s a right way to accessorize as a man and there’s a wrong way. Those rubber “Cause of the Month” bands are not the right way.
I think for a lot of men, the term accessory is unheard of. Mostly because we don’t think of our watches or sunglasses or cufflinks as accessories. We think of them as a necessary part of our attire. Well, gentlemen I’m sorry to say that these are indeed accessories, and many of your brethren have started going a little overboard with them.
Personally, I wear some wooden-beaded bracelets in the warmer months (in the Winter I only wear my watch because I can’t stand the bunching at the wrist with my sleeves). I rarely wear anything more than the beads and a watch. I like to keep it simple, but still show off a little bit of personality. Some guys, however, like to really go to town with their wrist ornaments. My friends at Street Etiquette are pros at making this look work. Not to mention they can rock turquoise rings without inducing images of pimps.
What these guys pull off is not for the faint of sartorial heart. Over at the Rugby blog, they note they’re all about a “more-is-more” mantra, which I must say I disagree with. We’re not all Johnny Depp and up for rocking 10 lbs. of jewelry on each arm. When men add personality to their attire, it should be complementary and not deter from the overall look. Sometimes it can be en masse (like above), but more often than not discretion is key.
Most men dress simply or more classically (chinos, shirt, jacket, tie), so the accessories should be the same. Try going for a sterling silver ID bracelet, a couple beaded bracelets or just a brightly colored NATO strap (or grosgrain strap) for your watch. Starting off small and keeping the watch as the centerpiece of what you put together is key. I used to tie brightly-colored pieces of string around my wrist in an effort to curb bad habits, an example of fashion = function. You can certainly have fun with it, but take it at your own pace. Leather straps can be really cool to wear, as well. They’ll age nicely as you wear it through the summer, developing an awesome patina that’ll be uniquely yours.
When it comes to rings, I say absolutely not unless it’s your wedding band. Your class ring should not be worn unless you’re at your 25+ year reunion. Those things are so unwieldy, they have no place in day-to-day wear. What are you trying to prove? That you went to college? Yeah. We know. Get over it. Leave the rock at home.
"With your powers combined...."
At the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong with wearing that friendship bracelet your girl made you as a symbol of her appreciation for you. She’ll appreciate it and you’ll be adding a little flair to your everyday wardrobe. It’s win/win. Make sure that what you wear is an expression of who you are and not what you think is cool or trendy. It’s already bad enough if you try and wear clothes that you don’t feel comfortable with in order to look “cool.” It’s even worse if you wear man jewelry to make a “statement.” It just won’t work. Do you, but don’t be afraid to take a chance with your accessories this summer.
Throughout this week, I’ll be showcasing various types of man accessories to help get you looking sharp this Spring/Summer. Hope you enjoy!
Embracing the Man Bracelet – [Rugby Blog]
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