By Reya Mehrotra
American model Bella Hadid made headlines, and heads turn, at last month’s Cannes Film Festival. Wearing a black deep-reduce Schiaparelli gown, she sported a enormous chunky chain-hyperlink necklace that branched out covering her bare breasts. In July, singer and actor Lady Gaga, as well, was seen pairing a belly chain-hyperlink design and style with a bikini. If one is a fan of model Hailey Bieber, her gold chains couldn’t have gone unnoticed. Be it a bikini, tank leading, pyjamas or dress, the model never ever leaves her gold chains behind. Most lately, singer Dua Lipa wore a chain-hyperlink anklet and posed for Instagram.
It was in the year 2019 that the design and style began to emerge prominently. Several celebrities have been seen sporting chain-hyperlink necklaces, bracelets, and so forth. The year, in truth, saw spring runways adorned with chain-hyperlink styles. From Bottega Veneta to Zimmermann and Brandon Maxwell, each and every style residence sent models sporting the look down the runway. But then came the pandemic, which confined the world indoors, resulting in a short-term halt to the trend. As the world gradually opens up once more, the trend is out and everywhere now. From Gigi Hadid, Jennifer Aniston and Emily Ratajkowski to Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, absolutely everyone has embraced it. American model Ashley Graham, who is all about embracing body forms and sizes, is a typical with chain-hyperlink necklaces on her Instagram feed. In one of her posts, she can be seen sporting the necklace with the initial ‘J’ for her husband, director and cinematographer Justin Ervin.
It’s clear that the chain-hyperlink design and style in jewellery has develop into a must-have for fashionistas about the world. From actors and models to working experts and even the widespread man, absolutely everyone is sporting the design and style, be it in the type of a multilayered gold chain or a plain chain-hyperlink accessory. The cause is easy: the design and style is trendy, bohemian and cool.
The chunk is actual
In the 1983 film Scarface, the character of Tony Montana, portrayed by actor Al Pacino, became a cultural icon. What made Montana stand out, even though, was his private style—gold chains, buttoned-down shirt, and so forth. Since then, dons on celluloid have usually sported gold chains. The look, in truth, has develop into a staple for the terrible boys onscreen. But today, it is no longer just the gangster’s accessory, as the chain-hyperlink style that Pacino sported in the film to add to the carefree and cool look of his character is becoming worn by absolutely everyone.
One of the initial significant designers to experiment with the design and style was Alexander Wang, who developed his debut jewellery line in 2015. His collection had only a handful of pieces, but it defined the trend in its entirety. It was inspired by industrial chains and consisted of chain earrings in each rhodium and rose-gold plating, chain-lock necklace and a lock cuff. The styles also featured in Wang’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection. The design and style, as per Wang, was “rooted in a sense of individuality, self-expressiveness and immediacy, with a DIY sensibility.”
In India, as well, there’s elevated interest in such pieces and so numerous jewellery brands are coming out with fashionable offerings for buyers. Watch brand Titan Raga, for one, has integrated chain-hyperlink straps in its collection. In 2020, the brand came up with its Moments of Joy collection featuring the design and style. The collection is an amalgamation of beauty and elegance, and connects with the lady of today, delivers Bengaluru-based Kalpana Rangamani, chief promoting officer, watches and wearables, Titan Company Limited.
Jaipur-based Rishita Sharma, co-founder of style jewellery label Soraya Jaipur, shares that there has been an elevated demand for chunky jewellery and accessories considering the fact that two years. These are each reasonably priced and trendy, and can be styled with unique accessories on a day-to-day basis, says Sharma. The design and style also goes properly with double or multilayered chains or even Cartier bracelets. Mumbai-based celebrity stylist Shaleena Nathani, who can be seen wearing the chain-hyperlink design and style herself, endorses it, as well, for her higher-profile celebrity customers actor Deepika Padukone.
“Chains are popular since ancient times and were sported by royalty. Even then, people wore thick chains that were inspired from ropes and looped rings,” says Kolkata-based Suvankar Sen, CEO, Senco Gold and Diamonds, a jewellery retail chain. “Such handmade and machine-made chains are one of the highest-selling categories now. We have the chain collection for men under our Aham collection and for women under the Everlite collection. There are traditional handmade chains (and these can) also be worn with saris.”
Mia by Tanishq is a further significant Indian jewellery brand that has adopted the trend. There was a period of minimalism through the lockdown, but now maximalism is trending as the world unlocks, wherein flaunting is the word of the hour, delivers Shyamala Ramanan, company head, Mia. “After staying in and dressing down for so long, the want for dressing up has triggered an obsession with everyday chains and bracelets paired with watches or bangles to brighten up the day, or help one feel dressed up for any last-minute virtual calls or quick outings. With chains, flexibility is the key word-they are light, comfortable, (can be) long or short, (one can) wear just one or add more, mix and match. One can layer already existing neck chains or bracelets, which one might have had for years, with new ones to put together a curated look that tells your story through jewellery,” says Ramanan, adding that Mia by Tanishq will be launching new chain collections for their Diwali edit later this year.
Unisex appeal
Not quite lengthy ago, guys embraced pearls and diamond jewellery. Harry Styles, for instance, is a typical with pearls. In India, Ranveer Singh has embraced each diamonds and pearls. But even though not numerous guys may well like the thought of diamonds or pearls, the chain-hyperlink design and style is one that caters to everyone’s taste irrespective of gender.
Louis Vuitton’s jewellery collection, for one, has chain styles for each guys and females. The similar goes for designers Pascale Monvoisin and Matthew Williams. Other international brands that have launched chain-hyperlink appears involve Swarovski, Paco Rabanne, Jool by Martha Calvo, Pomellato, David Webb, Walters Faith, Shay, Spinelli Kilcollin, Bauble Bar, All Blues and J Hannah. Italian designer Ilaria Icardi, who launched her jewellery collection last year, focused mainly on the chain design and style. Actor Robert Pattinson was also spotted wearing jewellery brand Alighieri’s chained design and style. American jewellery designer Ippolita Rostagno’s 18-carat gold necklace in chain-hyperlink style is priced at $4,995, even though Tiffany & Co’s 18-carat gold earrings in chain-hyperlink design and style are priced at $5,200.
In India, jewellery brands like Legend Amrapali, Kesya, Zariin Jewellery, Valliyan, Outhouse Jewellery, Misho, The Olio Stories, Jaipur-based Tanzire, The Slow Studio Jewellery, and so forth, have launched chain-hyperlink collections in bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings.
“Chains have always been a staple of men’s fashion and jewellery, and we have a truly unique, intricate and bold cycle-chain design neckpiece,” shares Delhi-based Armaan Narang, founder, AMYR, a fine jewellery brand for guys. “The inspiration for this was the bicycle, which revolutionised transportation and paved the way for the advancement of society and industry alike after it was invented in the 19th century. We paid a tribute to this marvel with a thick, bold neck chain, finished with intricate details and designed to mimic the chain used in bicycles.” Narang says that thick chains and minimalist modern pendants are the speak of the town for men’s jewellery this season, with the two usually becoming stacked collectively to full a bold however understated look.
Mihir Jain, brand development director, Shivin Jewellers, Jaipur, says that gold accessories are also becoming well-known in tri-colours—white, yellow and rose—and are in particular in trend amongst the workplace-going crowd and millennials. “The great deal here is that these are unisexual designs and can be sported by men and women both. They are chic and classy, and can be styled with both formal and casual looks,” says Jain.