WHEN MEN STOPPED WEARING JEWELRY

Do you think that men's jewelry is a modern invention? No, not at all. There were times when men wore more jewelry than women, and it was not considered unmanly or deviating from social norms.

Jewelry has been a symbol of power, social status, and religion, but also simply an adornment for men. To see this for yourself, just visit a museum and look at paintings depicting men from centuries past, adorned with gold chains, numerous rings on their fingers, and even earrings (e.g., in England during the Elizabethan era). Speaking of male accessories that are considered unfeminine today, men also wore stockings and high-heeled shoes, and their outfits were often decorated with lots of bows and ribbons. They also wore long hair styled in elaborate hairstyles and even wore makeup. As you can see, when it comes to fashion, there are no universal truths.

What caused this change? The French Revolution and the social changes associated with it, as well as the rise of the bourgeoisie, who, unlike the aristocracy, had a different view of the roles of women and men in society. While in the 17th century, dressing up was more the domain of men, in the 18th century, everyone dressed up, and from the 19th century onwards, it became the domain of women. Men began to dress in a distinguished, simple, and subdued manner. There was a clear divide between women's and men's fashion. The younger generation of men broke with the old order. Wigs, stockings, and makeup were abandoned in favor of high boots for horse riding and an outfit that was the prototype of the suit: shirt, tie, vest, jacket, and trousers. In an instant, men changed from powdered dandies in embroidery and lace to the elegant Colin Firth from the famous film adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice." It was then that men stopped wearing jewelry, and the only adornments were a watch or medal and cufflinks.

This marked the beginning of the minimalist, elegant men's fashion we know today. The beginning of the man in a suit, whose only jewelry is a wedding ring, a watch, and cufflinks. This does not mean that men did not wear jewelry at all in the following decades. They did, but they were mainly representatives of various subcultures. However, adult men, especially in formal and business situations, limited themselves to the above-mentioned set.

Meanwhile, men's jewelry has been gaining popularity for some time now. It is increasingly worn with suits, and not only by very young men. Could it be that we are on the cusp of a new era in men's fashion?