GENTLEMEN’S GUIDE TO STYLISH (AND AFFORDABLE) JEWELLERY

Jewellery is one of those fashion accessories that transcends time and season. Unlike a wintry woollen scarf or summery Panama hat, a silver ring or metal bracelet are forever brillant – both in hot and cool climates. And for a variety of occasions: formal or streetwear.

Despite its versatility, men tend to undervalue jewellery’s worth in fashion. Or they relegate it to girls-only territory. Another major deterrent is price. Most gold rings and luxury-made bracelets cost more than a tailored jacket or handcrafted leather shoes. So, man’s do-without-it attitude toward jewellery prevails. But can we really afford that mentality?

Meeting the needs of the cheap and the skeptical, we’ve curated a complete guide to affordable and stylish men’s jewellery. ‘Cause a little bling is the very thing that an almost-there outfit needs this season. It’s time to shine, bud.

Metal Made

Occasionally, sterling silver jewellery will come for a bargain price but usually is the more common brass, zinc and steel which are the main metals used in cheap jewellery. Using cheaper metals, the finish of the ring or chain is very important. So look closely when shopping.

Want the look of gold jewellery without the massive price tag? Go gold plated. But caring for it can be tricky, so not to look cheap after a few wears. To help extend the life of the plating, remove your jewellery before bed and exercise; sweat and rubbing against the skin will wear the plating.

Plating is more delicate than pure metals such as solid gold and sterling silver so avoid chemical cleaners. But – plating aside, cleaning jewellery regular is best, using a damp cloth to rid pieces of dirt and dead skin. Follow up with a dry towel.

Keep your jewellery in a well-aired place at regular room temperature such as the bedroom. Bathrooms tend to be too humid after showers and so on, and the moisture could tarnish the plating or discolour the item. And remove rings when washing your hands. Always.

Trend Set

Like cheap leather jackets or more affordable jeans, the lower price tag means you’re free to stock up on statement, trend-led jewellery and wear them to death under the fad fades. Skulls, religious motifs and nautical references – fish hooks, anchors and boats- are big jewellery trends this season, coming as pendants or rings, or as ropey bracelets.

Meanwhile, tarnished and oxidised is a prominent style for plain cuffs and rings; similar to the appeal of distressed denim, care of vintage trends. Rhinestone (not like a cowboy) is a unique trend getting picked up by urban dudes too. But it’s only for the fashion brave. Shine bright like a diamond.

How To Rock It

Jewellery can be tweaked for every dress code: from the marrying of a signet ring and sleek tuxedo to the teaming of a silver metal cuff – simply and soundly with a basic t-shirt and jeans.

A brass signet ring – with an onyx stone or personal monogram – worn solo with your favourite wristwatch is a smooth touch to a blazer and trouser combo; a camel coat cloaked Pitti Uomo-style over the shoulder for winter.

Rhinestone rings are more overt and are best worn with a simple crew neck t-shirt, chino shorts and trainers, the bling-ring balanced for the casual cool.

Not a ring guy? Go for a plain chain. A subtle short length chain can replace a boring tie over a button-up to the neck shirt or fly solo over a plain tee á la Justin O’Shea. From rings to neck chains, the Munich-based fashion buyer is the perfect example of masculine jewellery style. And how to rock the basic t-shirt too.

Brands Doing It

Mister

Religious symbols, American Indian chiefs and Medusa heads are just some of the quirky motifs found on Mister‘s pendants and rings. Launched in 2010, the California jeweller is making big waves from its San Francisco shores; lapped up by urban street wear freaks thanks to stores like Hypebeast and Asos.

The brand ethos – “carved from the mind made straight in to material” – depicts the adventure found in the modernist cuffs, beaded bracelets and chunky rings. Each item comes offers several many colours and finishes – black, silver, gold or copper – to suit every taste.

Double U Frenk

Handcrafted in Italy, Double U Frenk started in 2013 as a jeweller to Modena’s club scene. Favouring the rustic and worn in – a finish achieved via ‘galvanizing’ elements of aluminium, magnesium and silver, Double U Frenk is stocked in 80 stores throughout Italy. Or you can pick up their trinkets from the brand’s very own outfitted caravan, stopping off and selling ring and chains at festivals and events.

Come here for bold and big glass stone rings; that pack a pack and look cool.

Chained & Able

British-bred, Chained & Able aims to represent homegrown UK design by supplying bespoke jewellery pieces to men worldwide. Bowing in 2012, the label’s aesthetic is raw – inspired by urban design and ‘street chic’ styling – taking timeless pieces and matching them with modernity. Come here for chains, from neck to wrist to waist. Jean chains, anyone?

Think Positive

Born out of philanthropy, Antonio Marsocci is a life coach who’s partnered a passion for fashion with disciplesip launching a jewellery brand around optimistic thoughts. Crafted in Italy, Think Positive is more than nice thoughts with a range of necklaces, bracelets and cuff links in a variety of hues and textures.

Each sterling silver chains or brown leather cuffs comes with a physical reminder of Marsocci’s mentorship. Now that’s some true inspiration for wearing men’s jewellery.

6 MEN’S JEWELLERY BRANDS WE ARE LOVING AT THE MOMENT

The popularity of men’s jewellery has seen plenty of highs and lows over the course of fashion history, but we’re happy to report that we seem to be in the midst of a high point right now. Our favourite brands of the moment are producing a diverse assortment of pieces, ranging from the stylishly ornate to the stunningly simple. If you’re looking for something cheesy or poorly made, look elsewhere – these men’s jewellery brands are producing some of the coolest, well-executed pieces around.

Johnny Ramli

Johnny Ramli’s jewellery is handmade from materials like oxidized silver, copper, gold, bone, horn and precious stones. The pieces combine rock ‘n’ roll charm with rustic metalwork and the designer’s signature religious imagery, sitting comfortably at the intersection between spiritual influences, Asian design and Western fashion. Johnny Ramli’s statement-making jewellery can be found online and in 12 countries around the world, including America, Japan, Israel, Italy, the UK and France.

Ugo Cacciatori

Ugo Cacciatori started out designing women’s clothing in the late 90s, but ventured into jewellery in 2001 and has never looked back. By 2003, his pieces could be found for sale at Harvey Nichols in London, Barneys in New York and Antonia Antonioli in Milan. Ugo Cacciatori’s silver creations are romantic and adventurous, full of skulls, stones and shells, like something that came from a dreamy fantasy world. Gents like Karl Lagerfeld, Jay Z and Keith Richards are fans.

Thomas Sabo

The Rebel At Heart collection from Thomas Sabo is designed for both the renegade and the dandy. Any man who prefers accessories that are confident, cutting-edge and full of attitude will find something to love about Rebel At Heart. The collection’s signature piece is the enigmatic skull mask, with its elaborately designed cut-out look and black pavé Zirconia. In addition to the assortment of skulls, the range incorporates leather, obsidian, silver, rosary-style beads, dragons and crosses.

Luis Morais

Luis Morais’ jewellery-making career began in 1998 in Miami Beach, when he saw a bracelet he liked in a magazine and made his own DIY version. More than a decade later, the brand still carries that spirit in its unique and locally handmade pieces. Morais’ casual rock ‘n’ roll vibe means plenty of skulls and crosses, but they’re always accompanied by chic touches of gold, diamonds, gems and crocodile skin or bright pops of colour. Some even feature recycled vinyl from old records.

Miansai

A single bracelet started it all. That one bracelet, created in Miami in 2008, spawned Miansai, and more than five years later, founder and creative director Michael Saiger has turned his vision into a timeless and tasteful jewellery brand. Over 30 skilled craftsmen and artisans use fine metals and exotic skins to craft Miansai’s pieces, which range from necklaces to bracelets to belts and often feature anchors or fish hooks.

Le Gramme

Le Gramme borrows its name from the universal measure of unit. The jewellery is contemporary, minimalist and masculine, with clean lines and no details except for small, unobtrusive engravings. Each bracelet is made from recycled silver and named after its density: Le 7g, Le 15g, Le 21g, Le 27g, Le 33g and Le 41g. The collection comes in 3 sizes / 6 widths / 6 basis weights, so you can mix and match to create a personalised statement.

ESSENTIAL CLASSICS: THE CHELSEA BOOT

Think of the Chelsea boot and one iconic image comes to mind: four young men in matching suits with skinny ties and unrepentant bowl cuts. Though John, Paul, George and Ringo made the style famous, and even had their own “Beatle boots” commissioned, the look goes back far beyond the Swingin’ 60s. Before becoming a must-have for stylish men, the Chelsea boot was a functional item of Victorian footwear.

History

There are varying stories of the Chelsea boot’s origin. Some say they were originally used by both men and women for horse riding, hence also being known as paddock or jodhpur boots. Others say riding breeches were designed to be worn with tall boots at the time, while ankle boots were considered daytime footwear. Whether the Chelsea boot was worn for walking or riding, one thing is not in dispute: the men who made it happen.

The first is J. Sparkes-Hall, shoemaker to Queen Victoria. He patented the design in 1851, going as far as to claim that the Queen herself wore them daily. His unofficial partner in footwear crime was Charles Goodyear, an American inventor who developed a process to vulcanise rubber in 1839. Though the two men and their inventions had no connection to each other, one could not have happened without the other. It was Goodyear’s vulcanisation process that allowed the Chelsea boot to have its distinctive elastic panel.

The Chelsea boot remained a popular style until WWI, after which it remained dormant until undergoing a spectacular mid-century revival. During the 1950s, a group of young artists, film directors, and socialites frequented the King’s Road area in west London. Their uber-hip crowd was dubbed the ‘Chelsea Set’ by the media, and the Chelsea name became synonymous with cool – including, of course, the boots they all sported.

Then came the 1960s, the Fab Four, and their influential reinterpretation of the style. The Beatle boot was tight-fitting and slim, with a tapered toe and a higher Cuban heel. With their endorsement, the Chelsea boot was officially inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fashion Hall of Fame (which, side note, should be a real thing) and adopted by style-conscious Mods everywhere.

In Popular Culture

The Chelsea boot goes far beyond the Beatles. Today the boot is still a popular look with celebrities and hip, fashion-forward dressers on the street. You’ll find them on everyone who’s anyone, from Kanye, to Beckham, to young Mr. Styles. You’ll even find them on the feet of a band of infamous sci-fi franchise villains. Believe it or not, Chelsea boots made appearances in all three original Star Warsfilms, stained white for a more futuristic look and worn as part of the Stormtroopers’ unforgettable costumes.

5 MEN’S SHOE BRANDS WE ARE LOVING AT THE MOMENT

Everybody knows that old idea that women judge you by your shoes. We’re loath to rely on clichés and stereotypes, but we’d be lying if we said there isn’t some truth to it. In fact, it’s not just women judging you by your taste in footwear – it’s everyone.

Even that friend who’s so close he’s practically family isn’t going to be thrilled if you show up to his wedding in sweat-soaked gym shoes. Wearing the right shoes at the right time counts – and you can’t go wrong with these 5 dress shoe brands.

Oak Street Bootmakers

Oak Street Bootmakers founder and designer George Vlagos was destined for shoemaking glory. The son of a cobbler, he learned the tricks of the trade at an early age while apprenticing at his father’s shop. Today, he carries on the traditions of fine shoemaking learned in his childhood with thoughtfully designed and carefully crafted footwear from his own label. All Oak Street shoes and boots are handcrafted in the US to the highest standards by shoemakers with over 20 years of experience.

ETS Callatay

ETS Callatay could be your favourite footwear brand you haven’t heard of yet. It takes 25 hours of work to make a single pair of ETS Callatay shoes, which are completed by hand from start to finish – design, pattern, prototype, manufacturing – from Joachim De Callatay’s workroom in Paris. The components are all sourced in France, too. Say what you will about the French, they know how to blend traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design.

Saint Crispin’s

Based in Brasov, Romania, Saint Crispin’s employs only 22 people to produce its beautiful dress shoes. Those 22 highly trained craftsmen are responsible for only 1,500 pairs of shoes every year, each of which is practically a work of art. Because of its limited output, Saint Crispin’s works with only a few international partners, is sold only in select shops, and bases its business on single-pair orders. The company offers ready to wear, made to order and completely bespoke shoes.

Zonkey Boot

Zonkey Boot – named after the rare cross between a zebra and a donkey – was founded in 2010 in Vienna. With its business and design roots in Austria, Zonkey Boot found its production home in the Veneto province of northern Italy. There, the company’s understated but elegant shoes are carefully crafted by master engineers who complete much of the process by hand. What sets Zonkey Boot footwear apart is its design ethos – decoration is kept to a minimum, but shape and form are maximised.

Cole Haan

Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan launched their brand in Chicago, Illinois in 1928. Almost a century later, Cole Haan has perfected the art of shoemaking and become a worldwide leader in the market. Stylish and innovative, Cole Haan footwear has something for everyone. Today its collection spans many products, including gloves, sunglasses, belts, bags, hats and outerwear, but our favourites are what started it all: the dress shoes.

HOW TO WEAR A BLAZER WITH JEANS

The sports jacket. Oh, that’s just a posh way of saying ‘blazer’ or ‘suit coat’, right?

Originally known as the ‘rich man’s coat’, the sports jacket was purchased by men who had excessive bank accounts in the Twenties, investing in the relaxed blazer – on top of their suit expenditure – so to stand out as style connoisseurs – be it, on the hunt or attending a sporting event.

Fast-track almost one hundred years, and the sports jacket still has its place in contemporary men’s wear. And one of the most unlikely yet brilliant pairings with the tailored coat? Denim. Let’s take a look at how to wear the common rugged jean with the historically pompous sports jacket. Because opposites attract.

Breaking It Down

Historically, the sports jacket has always been paired with a contrast trouser. Naturally, chinos or wool trousers come to mind. But with the denim renaissance of late, men are taking jeans with their tailored pieces too, and pairing the indigo-hued, cotton pants with the sophisticated sports coat.

The sports jacket, however, has undergone some changes since the era of the flapper, becoming far more streamline and unstructured – and for summer – for more lightweight; mixing up traditional fabrics and colours to reflect the climate.

The Jean

The slim-cut jean is the in thing for men. Not too skinny, not too wide, this just-right jean is man’s best friend and pairs seamlessly with the sports jacket.

When shopping for a pair – or perusing the darker nooks of your closet – choose clean, mid-to-dark denim in a slim-fit silhouette or trouser-ish shape.

Snub heavily distressed denim or washed out, faded jeans, and say (absolutely) no to baggy, bootcut jeans. Light denim can work for day time or spring looks with pastels but if we’re being picky (which is always good) stick to dark blue. Just to be safe.

The Jacket

The sports jacket generally has a more soft-shouldered fit compared to a suit jacket separate or a more conventional blazer. Essentially, it’s designed for layers to be worn underneath in cooler months – think knit or roll neck and shirt – or slim and smoothly over an unbuttoned shirt or basic t-shirt.

In some instances, elbow patches on the arms may feature on the common sports jacket, as well as a slit and pleats in the back; functional attributes that helped last century men be more agile on the hunt. But these signatures are more decorative these days (although they do provide increased mobility for modern guys on the go).

Finally, the sports jacket is often made from sturdy materials steeped in English heritage (herringbone, hounds or dog tooth, flannel, and tweed). Since its debut, the Italians have lent themselves to more summer ready versions, made from linens and wool/cotton/silk blends – perfect for the Aussie climate too.

Whatever the fabric, the sports jacket is big on textural patterns (made from the weave of the yarn), letting the depth of the jacket speed louder than vibrant colours or boisterous prints.

How To Wear Them

Suave Traveller

The sports jacket is a great travel companion for the frequent flyer. With a plain black tee and luxury sneakers, a grey, tweedy sports jacket offers a sharp, monochrome look with a buttery, leather carryall (also in black) and aviator shades. Keep the tee untucked (even though you’re wearing jacket) and always leave the sports jacket unbuttoned.

Other times, the weekend traveller welcomes a micro-print button shirt, under a Seventies-brown woollen jacket. Keeping the denim super dark (and not distressed) gives the jean a chino look; letting the button-down sit in the nonchalant half-tuck, casually cool so to step into a night soiree once you’ve landed.

Heritage Gent

For a look to make Ralph Lauren gush, take a preppy woollen jacket in smokey brown and place it over an olive cashmere cardigan and paisley long tie. Raw denim emphasises clean lines in a slim-cut (like trousers), tapered in with a tan belt and matching document holder. The denim shirt complements the neutral colour palette and naturalness of the fabric.

For a modern professor look, a herringbone jacket in black-and-white weave lets the waist coat feature in navy corduroy; the melange of texture between the two ramped up even more by a tonal blue woven tie and mid-blue denim shirt. It’s a rustic take on the three-piece suit and – with addition of silk woven tie – is wildly sophisticated for the heritage gent.

Summertime Sharp

Starting with a tweed sports jacket, layer a formal shirt (in a pastel hue like pink to match the brown) and tailored denim jeans in dark blue; ensuring the jacket top button is done-up for the look of a suit. A pocket square and chocolate monk shoes add fanciful formalities to the summer tailoring, before a garden party relaxedness sallies on in with the absence of socks and the quirkiness of a polka dot tie.

With heat’s peak, a light cotton sports jacket in taupe is a summer staple. A light blue button shirt (also cotton) is a sharp layer easy tucked into a chocolate belt – the graininess of the brown working well with the natural marks and lines of washed-up denim jeans.

A navy pocket square complements indigo’s hue, under metallic silver aviators.

Casual Fridays

A casual office environment is where the jean-and-sports-jacket affair truly heats up.

Summer looks like light-ish jeans and loafers (if your office permits) with a business blue shirt, under a navy cotton sports jacket and tastefully spotted long tie – sans weave.

For winter months, play around with a grey, flannel jacket and mid-blue jeans; keeping the shirting quasi-corporate with a cutaway collar and white cotton. Fire up the romance with studious, striped socks, brown leather shoes and spotted pocket square – showing colleagues your Friday fashion sense is just as creative as your boardroom ideas.