Jewellery is a tough one to get right for most men. There are few men that get away with layering on beaded necklaced (well, one. Johhny Depp. And that’s only because he’s Johnny Depp). The humble friendship bracelet has been making a steady and stylish comeback over the past few years – think braided leather with raw metal clasps, not tatty frayed neon numbers that have slowly faded over the summer. It’s time to rethink your accessorising past your time piece, so here’s a few dos and don’ts from jewellery British designer Monica Vinader, who’s debut men’s collection is launching at Boutique 1 in August.
We tend to steer away from wearing jewellery, what advice would you give to the novice jewellery wearer?
Start slowly with just one piece, like a bracelet with your watch, or if you’re a suit wearer, experiment with colour by adding some gemstone cufflinks. As you get more courage, you can start to layer and vary your jewellery day to day.
Are there any rules we should stick to when wearing jewellery?
I don’t believe in rules. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution. Jewellery is all about expressing your individual style, and bracelets can be dressed up or down, so just go for it.
What should we avoid?
I like to think that our designs have a quiet luxury; they’re understated. Stick to simple pieces so it’s harder to overdo it.
Should we still be wearing friendship bracelets?
Well my father, who is in his 70s, wears seven or eight friendship bracelets every day, so I’d say you can never be too old! They’re all personalised designs, given to him by me and my daughter, so they have meaning, and sentimental pieces will always transcend fashion or age.
Any cuff link advice?
A good tailored shirt is the best starting point, it’s the key to every man’s wardrobe. After that, cufflinks are the perfect way to add personality to your look. For that reason, I think a man can have as big a collection of cufflinks in his closet as a woman can earrings. We also invite you to add individual touches like a hand engraved monogram, so you can really make the designs your own.
Necklaces are notably missing from the collection, is this a big no no?
Not at all, in fact, we plan to launch men’s necklaces next year. We’re currently designing more pieces, experimenting with different colours and stones so keep on eye out for them.
Monica Vinader is available at Boutique 1