GENDER FLUID

17 May 2019

2.33k

Admit it, Magpie. Have you ever borrowed a big warm sweater or a cozy sweatshirt from your boyfriend or husband? There’s nothing wrong with that! Borrowing from a man’s closet is a proven way to create an impressive look. Just consider a feminine take on the man’s suit or the boyfriend cut jeans, so comfortable and stylish. Here’s a surprise though: don’t just stop at clothes. Their jewelry boxes can jazz up your looks, too. And the other way around, because unisex jewelry is a trend that is just getting started.

‘Jewelry for men that girlfriends will steal’ is the concept promoting London’s Hannah Martin brand. The designer proves that beautiful, richly decorated jewelry is not unmanly at all. Martin challenges stereotypes and through jewelry she discusses the fluidity of gender definition that we come across today. The primary intention behind the items she creates is to make them unique. She aims to create jewelry that is universally beautiful and will be passed on from generation to generation. Most certainly, there is nothing trivial about it. Martin adds a little edge to it. Her fascination with androgenic aesthetics is also evident. Just take a look at the ‘It’s only Rock ‘n’ Roll!’ collection. The studs and the peculiar spur add a predatory quality, but the soft curves and the abundancy of gems, such as sapphires, rubies or black pearls, are uncommon in men’s jewelry items. We wholeheartedly agree with the brand’s design concept: it is jewelry for men that we would be happy to steal!

pics: hannahmartinlondon.com

Liberté, Égalité, Feminité

Anissa Kermiche found inspiration in the French Revolution to create jewelry that pays tribute to strong women who are not afraid to be active in the men’s world. Chokers, earrings or necklaces have been inspired by the French women who stood out during the revolution, showing the courageous face of feminism. The jewelry commemorates Olympia de Gouges, Madame de Concordet, Luiza d’Or and Paulina Léon, to name a few. Everything is enveloped in yellow, 18-carat gold, rubies, diamonds and pearls, as well as sometimes very bold shapes. As the collection tells the story of women who have gone beyond their gender roles, the designer does not confine her work in a strict gender framework. Instead, both male and female models feature the sparkles in the campaign. According to Kermiche, anyone can celebrate Liberté, Égalité, Feminité, regardless of their gender.

pics: anissakermiche.com

Nature over borders

What if the shapes of some of the most beautiful places on Earth could be captured in gold and silver? With that in mind, the Swedish brand of Louis Abel created the Mother Earth jewelry collection. It depicts the graceful curves of Antelope Canyon in Arizona or the quiet beauty of the Cork Coast. It seeks strength and delicacy in natural forms and shapes. The jewelry has been stripped of unnecessary adornments. The focus is on a form which is so universal that it would be difficult to attribute it to a masculine or feminine style. And so, in the collection we find a bracelet resembling a Japanese maple, a ring as ethereal as a cloud, and a necklace praising the beauty of a volcano. Louis Abel stresses that the Mother Earth collection is more than just interesting shapes. He encourages both men and women to explore the collection in search of stories on the world that surrounds us.

Intrigued? These are just a few campaigns showing that enclosing jewelry in tight gender frames is simply boring today. After all, men too want to go crazy from time to time and reach for something shiny. Women, in turn, appreciate robust forms and the beauty of simplicity. And above all, everyone wants to show their personality through jewelry. With no restraints.