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Silver Flake News
Men's jewelry: bring on the bling
Sunday, February 12, 2006
NANINE ALEXANDER
If the male is the showier sex in the animal kingdom, the
human male has been camping under a camouflage tent for a
long time.
But quietly, gradually, men are venturing out by wearing
more jewelry.
The trend, like many, has gathered momentum from A-list celebrities
who've been photographed sporting bracelets and necklaces
with amulets. Matthew McConaughey, Antonio Banderas, Orlando
Bloom and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson have all been
shown wearing bracelets. And does necklace/bracelet savvy
Johnny Depp need another mention?
Jewelry industry insiders estimate a 20 percent growth in
men's jewelry purchases in the last few years. Excluding watches,
the men's jewelry category was about 10 percent of the $48
billion jewelry market last year, according to a report in
The Wall Street Journal.
Portland men are among those buyers, and local menswear departments
have expanded their offerings beyond watches and cuff links
to meet the demand. So far, nothing suggests a return of the
gold chain, bare-chested disco look. Today's styles tend to
rugged-looking pieces that combine materials such as leather
or horn with silver or titanium.
"The Northwest is always more understated," says
Simon Chan, menswear buyer for Mario's, who spoke by phone
during a recent buying trip to New York.
Cole Murik, co-owner of the Pearl District menswear store
Finn, says the majority of men's jewelry is being bought by
men for themselves instead of gift purchases by significant
others.
Men shopping for themselves? That's got to make at least
some women happy.
http://www.oregonlive.com/O/fashion/index.ssf?/base/living/113928093527640.xml&coll=7
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