Bracelets and men. A couple cuffed together crashing fashion trends since the early era of 2500 BC. From the trendsetting Sumerians of Southern Mesopotamia right into the modern appendages and Hip Hop ‘bling’, sporting a bracelet can be an extension of your individuality, class, and cause.
From home made hemp beads all the way into sophisticated precious metals, choosing the right wrist piece can at be a little daunting at times. So with that being said, we’ve assembled a quick list of styles and tips for you to consider to help you.
Leather is Better
If you want a rugged, versatile and affordable bracelet, leather is a perfect material. Popular amongst men who aim to be ‘edgy’ or ‘grunge’, leather provides you with a certain rebellious fashion versatility. Leather is low maintenance, inexpensive, and can literally be worn from the office to the mosh pit.
The key to leather is that you wear it with subtlety, and avoid mixing it with other colors of leather you might be wearing. Also, avoid getting it wet, or sweating on it, because both these will lead this natural material to look shabby pretty quickly.
Leather is low maintenance, inexpensive, and can literally be worn from the office to the mosh pit
Magnetic Bracelets
Known to be one of the hottest fashion accessories of recent years, magnetic bracelets claim to provide their wearers with far-reaching health benefits. They say a magnetic field over and around a point of pain increases blood flow to the affected area. These purported medical benefits are why you see so many athletes donning them.
The jury, and science are still out on the actual effectiveness of these items, and the bracelets are otherwise pretty unpleasant looking in terms of being fashionable. So unless you have a multi-million dollar contract that’s based on your ability to perform highly athletic tasks, you can steer clear of these.
Magnetic bracelets claim to provide their wearers with far-reaching health benefits
Stainless Steel
For a more polished, semi-formal appeal, slip on some stainless steel. Inexpensive and a go-to material for pretty much any style, stainless steel can be a durable and tasteful option for many men. If you’re unsure of the more polished ‘jewelry’ quality of this material, look for bracelets that combine materials like leather, or cording to break up the look, and heft of the piece.
Look for bracelets that combine materials like leather, or cording to break up the look, and heft of a piece
Precious Metals
For the man that knows a bracelet speaks to who he is, investing in pieces made of precious metals can be a satisfying, stylish, and timely endeavor. Since you’re looking at spending a decent amount of money for anything from Sterling Silver to Gold, or Platinum, look for minimal, classic pieces that have an overall look that appeals to you and is in line with your wardrobe.
Sterling Silver and Platinum offer more durability, so if your everyday life isn’t all private jets and kid gloves, gold will eventually show a fair amount of wear-and-tear. Remember, a bracelet accessorizes a part of your body that takes a see’s its share of contact and movement, so durability needs to be a realistic consideration.
If you’re younger, spending a great deal of money on a bracelet like this might be ill-advised, since undoubtedly your style will change with years to come, and you probably can’t afford to lose a more costly piece.
Look for minimal, classic pieces with an overall look that appeals to you and is in line with your wardrobe
Silicone
This is contentious ground in the bracelet world, since no one wants to seem like their against what are surely noble and worthwhile causes. But a man has to be realistic about wearing a rubber band on his wrist 24/7. Our recommendation? Wear it at the gym, on the weekend, and in casual settings. Offices have their fair share of politics to navigate already without your explicit style statements.
And remember, you can’t feign awareness according to your favorite color or what matches your outfit. You want to take this as an opportunity to educate yourself on a cause that effects you or your loved ones. Insincerity is an accessory that flatters no one.
You can’t feign awareness according to your favorite color or what matches your outfit
Summary
Anybody can steal an ensemble off a mannequin and call it style. It’s the accessories we add that separate the minor trendsetters from the major. Bracelets have always been a part of men’s fashion on some level, and although trends ebb and flow; smart minimal gestures never fall out of fashion.Your ultimate goal is to find a bracelet that accents your look and personality without making a statement.
- A bracelet needs to accessorize and not overpower. It’s an accent piece, so select and wear accordingly
- Go leather if you want low-maintenance, rugged and rebellious.
- Stainless Steel provides durability and economy
- Play it conservative when investing your hard-earned money in precious metals
- Silicon equals support for a cause, but it doesn’t always equal ‘office attire’
Comments?
Got an off the cuff bracelet tip? Have a magnetic bracelet success story? Let your wrist go and start typing!
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Should a bracelet be worn on the same arm as a timepiece, and if so above or below?? Thanks!
Ideally, a watch should be the only accessory on that wrist, particularly if it is a substantial one or one of high quality. Having any additional bracelets will likely look cluttered (depending on the bracelet, that is), and simply putting them on the other wrist will help to balance out your look. Ultimately,it’s up to you and what you feel you can pull off, a bracelet with a watch isn’t an explicit faux-pas, but it is generally uncommon.