You don’t have to look at many fall bridal magazines to notice all the wrist action. In fact, after you see couple dozen of these blushing brides with big bracelets, the bride who goes without almost starts to look like a featherless bird.
Where does all this come from? Well, giant-sized jewelry (even paste will do) has fashion directors enthralled. Rings that loom over three fingers? It’s laughable. And yet … charming.
And while most brides aren’t going to don a 2-inch diameter costume ring to be in step with the times, the cuff’s another matter. For one thing, it seems like the missing piece we’ve always needed to set off those sleek, toned-down silhouettes of today’s more minimalistic strapless gowns.
There’s an 80s throwback feel to it, too. These aren’t dainty little straps around the wrist: these are punk princess baubles. Sure, they might be comprised of precious metals or more, but their aesthetic is hardly nostalgic or demure. In fact, for all the sparkle, it’s practically industrial. Bonus: a chunky cuff slenderizes the arm.
Playbook for This Look
Be Discreet. Chunky means lots of volume, not big beads. This is not the place for dangly charms, hunks of rose crystal or beautifully chaotic nests of silver wire that detract from your dress. On the other hand, seed pearls, crystals, and silver and gold are perfect, as long as they’re arranged simply. Let the materials take a step back, while the overall shape steps forward.
Go Wide. Skip the girlish little chain around the wrist and go for cuffs or many-stranded bangles. Or: pile two substantial bracelets on top of each other. They don’t have to match!
Hello, Handsome. You want classic, repetitive metallics or monochromes: a bracelet tailor-made for today’s revised menswear craze. Avoid floral inlays or distracting flashes of color … but just plain flash is more than fine.
