Piercings are no longer underground, now they are also luxury pieces. Together with ear cuffs, these new “earrings” promise to revolutionize the concept of High Jewelry.
Piercings are no longer underground, now they are also luxury pieces. Together with ear cuffs, these new “earrings” promise to revolutionize the concept of High Jewelry.
We could even blame the return of the Y2K aesthetic. After all, it was around the 2000s that piercings exploded, particularly among the younger generation, with half the world piercing their bellies, noses, ears, and other “sensitive” areas such as breasts or genitals. However, this is not exactly why piercings - or this specific type of piercing, if you will - became relevant. In the last decade, several jewelry brands have started to invest in a new type of earring, which until then had been relegated to the most secluded tattoo parlors or accessory stores in shopping malls. From ear cuffs to clips, both painless and therefore perfect for a trompe-l'oeil effect, there are several options that now adults - a public that for too long looked with suspicion to this type of adornment - have at their disposal. From Italian Repossi to Spanish Tous and Aristocrazy, to names like Eéra (Dua Lipa's favorite), Melissa Kaye or Robinson Pelham, almost all the big names in modern jewelry have added piercings or ear cuffs to their collections. But why has the world suddenly woken up to this trend? The answer is simple: piercing is, along with tattooing, an act of personal statement. And the 21st century, despite its many faults, has been able to celebrate individualism and the empowerment of the individual. If piercing the cartilage is a way to underline this sense of autonomy and emancipation - and, at the same time, to break certain stereotypes and canons of beauty - then long live piercings!
There is more. There is always more. Of course, it is not only the “signs of the times” that have caused this sudden interest in a trend (wrongly) associated with underworld tribes. Lust plays an important role here, because it is different to wear a metal piercing than a piercing made of diamonds, tsavorites or any other material that justifies a price tag in excess of three figures. This is where man's vanity - and his eternal desire to “beautify himself” - comes in. Since the dawn of mankind, human beings have had the impulse (primordial, let us emphasize) to adorn their bodies. Maria Tash, the woman behind the piercing brand of the same name, sees it as something “instinctive.” Her pieces are the ultimate in luxury jewelry, with prices ranging from 44 to 24,000 euros. In an interview with an American publication, Tash said that a piercing (similar to a tattoo, for example), can also be a way to honor nature. That's why, she explains, “many feathers were used to honor local birds, particularly if you look at Africa, where you could pierce a lip and put a plate on it to honor some bird or other form of wildlife.” Adding something new to an age-old tradition presents considerable challenges, but that's what Tash has done since launching her eponymous brand in New York's East Village in 1993. In her case, we are talking about jewelry composed of precious stones, gold, diamonds, and everything that the imagination (and the wallet) can reach. A revolution that helped move piercings from the bangs of popular culture, placing them firmly in the sphere of luxury.
Translated from the original on "The Velvet Touch" issue of Vogue Portugal, published december 2022.Full stories and credits on the print issue.
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