FASHION'S LATEST FETISH: BODY PIERCING-INSPIRED JEWELRY
If you run in a style-oriented crowd, you’ve likely spotted a few more piercings than usual lately. You wouldn't be wrong. From motherlode labels such as Burberry to independent designers like Sonya Lee or Lado Bokuchava, all types of brands are experimenting with body hardware in their garments and accessories. As proof, we collected every freshly-pierced piece for your shopping convenience, ahead.
It’s no surprise that Balenciaga has reigned supreme over the past two seasons thanks to Kim Kardashian’s viral campaign (her first solo gig since Kanye ceased creative directing her life) back in February. However, the sudden supremacy began slowly (but not so subtly) near the end of 2021 when Kim hard-launched her rebound relationship with Balenci-ussy by wearing her own shadow to the Met Gala.
As expected, this launched the insouciant brand to the top tier of celebrity. Instantly, the trend-setting crew decided Le Cagole was cool again before the brand even prepared to up their inventory. One of the countless redesigns that Le Cagole family has received this year was one that stopped edgy fashionistas right in their tracks: Le Cagole with piercings.
Balenciaga’s black leather shoulder bag is riddled with enough hardware to make any piercer or body modifier jealous. The heavily pierced style struck a cord for fashion fans, as proven by my DIY Tik Tok in which I recreate it with a blatantly inspired-by bag from Public Desire and Amazon body piercings (it’s my most-saved video to date).
Courtesy of Dezi
Dezi’s sold-out Cuffed frames get a restock, plus a new gold color-way.
In July, MUA and guru Desi Perkins launched her own sunglasses line, Dezi, (independently from best-selling collaborator, Quay) including a pierced frame dubbed ‘Cuffed’. The style sold-out within 24 hours of its initial drop but, don’t fret, you can get on the waitlist. And as of September 15, the brand will launch the same style in gold metal.
The Pierced Trend At New York Fashion Week 2022
Courtesy of Sonya Lee
To understand why the edgy body mod is trending, look to 2020’s multitude of theme-focused cores. From cyber-, grunge-, and gorp-core to the return of indie sleaze, a slew of decades-old trends have been revived in varying velocities to formulate 2022’s shopping dichotomy. The body piercing trend references ‘90s grunge and ‘70s punk for a combination of mass rebellion and angst. Those decades experienced stark societal shifts and immense distrust of leadership, not unlike what we’re experiencing now with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Fighting for change of social and societal norms with the use of off-putting fashions was and continues to be a peaceful protest.
Although times have changed and being #tatted may not jeopardize your career or reputation like it once did, piercings and tattoos still represent an act of rebellion disguised by personal style. It’s the carelessness and dedication to individuality that makes piercings so fascinating. A uniform with an agenda will always be cool but willingly undergoing some sadistic pain for said cause earns a special kind of respect.
Ahead, browse even more earring-embellished releases from some of our favorite designers, like JW Anderson, Ganni, Sandy Liang, MGN’s JWL’s, and more.
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