I've Fallen for the Thirst Trap of Famous Men in Jewelry

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Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images

WHO: A$AP Rocky

WHAT: Loewe Paris Fashion Week SS20

WEAR: Choker and pearls

No one quite champions men’s jewelry quite like A$AP Rocky. As someone that’s always been a “fashion killa,” he jumped on the jewelry bandwagon long before anyone else. Rocky embraces all jewelry like it’s no problem on the red carpet or at a runway presentation.

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Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

WHO: Timotheé Chalamet

WHAT: Little Women Premiere in Paris, 2019

WEAR: Rings and a keychain

If you thought I forgot about the time Timotheé Chalamet showed up to the premiere of Little Women wearing a chain, rings and carrying a single Eiffel Tower keychain, then think again. Does a keychain technically count as jewelry? Not really, but seeing accessories of all kinds being worn as such is something that we can get behind thoroughly.

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Jose Mendez/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

WHO: Bad Bunny

WHAT: Spotify Awards, 2020  

WEAR: Pearl necklaces, gold chains, and pendant necklaces

Latin pop sensation Bad Bunny is never afraid to serve a look or layer on the jewels. From wearing a full diamond face mask to layering on pearls and chains from some of our favorite demi-fine jewelry brands, Bad Bunny continuously challenges gender norms through his approach to personal style, one necklace at a time.

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Rich Fury/MTV VMAs 2020/Getty Images for MTV

WHO: Machine Gun Kelly 

WHAT: 2020 MTV Video Music Awards

WEAR: Pearl necklace with silver hardware

If Avril Lavigne’s famous song, Sk8er Boi, had a physical manifestation, it would be in the form of a string of pearls on Machine Gun Kelly’s neck. There are many iconic MTV Video Music Awards looks, but the artist’s pink head-to-toe outfit with a single string of pearls shook the internet in a way that ensures its place in history books. Whoever said boys don’t wear pink or pearls never met MGK.

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Mike Marsland/WireImage

WHO: Aubrey Drake Graham

WHAT: Top Boy UK Premiere, 2019

WEAR: Diamond necklace. 

I’ve always been a serious Drake fan, but for me, it goes beyond his music. No other male artist has been able to elevate the cause of men’s jewelry quite like Champagne Papi. You can always find Drake dancing in some diamonds somewhere. And while he may be championing OVO’s first F/W 2020 women’s collection, one thing we can always thank Drake for his love for big rings.

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Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

WHO: Charles Melton

WHAT: Bad Boys for Life film premiere, 2020

WEAR: Single chain

We here at Who What Wear have always been fans of Charles Melton and his style. Can you blame us? Take his look above for an example; styling a classic cut suit with a single chain is too much to handle. All we know is that while his relationship status may be TBD, the star’s ability to make us thirsty for more men in jewelry is a given.

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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

WHO: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II 

WHAT: 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards

WEAR: Brooch and chain

Confession: Ever since spotting actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in HBO’s Watchmen series, my friends and I have been somewhat obsessed with him. It’s not just the fact he unabashedly posts things on Instagram that would be considered a “trap,” or even that he recently won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor; it’s a fact he knows how to serve a look. I mean, what other man can wear a pink suit with a brooch and chain and still make a girl swoon? Yes, I’ve fallen, and no, I really can’t get over this.

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Jeff Kravitz/MTV VMAs 2020/Getty Images for MTV

WHO: Maluma 

WHAT: 2020 MTV Video Music Awards 

WEAR: Oversize chunky choker necklace

Despite the fact we’re in the middle of a pandemic, the men of Hollywood did not fail to bring the heat when it came to serving up some of the spiciest jewelry looks this year. One of those men was the Colombian singer Maluma. Pairing suits with on-trend jewelry pieces such as oversized statement chunky chokers burned down the notion of an otherwise boring suit.

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Gotham/GC Images

WHO: Justin Bieber 

WHAT: SNL Rehearsals, 2020

WEAR: Beaded necklace

While we’ve spent copious amounts of time obsessing over Hailey Bieber’s style, it should be stated on the record that we shouldn’t ignore Justin Bieber himself. Not only does he know how to serve a street-style look (and even has his line of merchandise), but he’s a great example of how to style men’s jewelry for everyday use. Pairing kitschy beaded pieces with a jumper is only one example of the down-right yummy jewelry looks he’s able to cook up.

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Randy Holmes via Getty Images

WHO: Lakeith Stanfield 

WHAT: ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live

WEAR: Long pendant necklace

The first time I saw Lakeith Stanfield on screen, it was in FX’s breakout show Atlanta. Since that moment, I’ve remained intrigued. Not just because he always plays rather eccentric and dark characters (aside from starring alongside Issa Rae in the romantic film The Photograph), but also because his style is eclectic. He’s never afraid to layer on the rings or the pendant necklaces, and for that, I have the utmost respect.

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Steve Granitz/WireImage

WHO: Shawn Mendes 

WHAT: 62nd Annual Grammy Awards 

WEAR: Precious gemstone and diamond necklace

Another artist leading the way when it comes to wearing men’s jewelry on and off the red carpet? None other than Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes. Maybe it’s the music, or perhaps it’s the fact he wears gemstone and diamond necklaces with ease that causes us to be weak in the knees. How will we ever know?

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Rich Fury/MTV VMAs 2020/Getty Images for MTV

WHO: Jaden Smith 

WHAT: 2020 MTV Video Music Awards

WEAR: Colorful pearls and layered on chain bracelets

Long before it was popular or socially “acceptable,” Jaden Smith used style to challenge gender norms around what’s considered apropos dressing for men. His ability to pull off everything from skirts to layered on pearls has made him a style icon in his own right.

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SplashNews.com

WHO: Brad Pitt

WHAT: 76th Venice Film Festival 

WEAR: Layered long necklaces

If you thought that this list only included the newer faces to Hollywood, you guessed wrong. Jewelry isn’t just for the “younger” or female-identifying—it is universal, people. And no one quite makes a case for men’s jewelry better for it than veteran star Brad Pitt. If Pitt approves, then everyone else needs to get in line.

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Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images

WHO: Michael B. Jordan 

WHAT: ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live

WEAR: A pinky ring

It’s not a roundup of men who can make a girl drool without the one and only Michael B. Jordan. Aside from being named People’s sexiest man alive or starring in some of the most beloved films, Jordan knows how to rock some jewels (I’m not talking about wedding bands, either). He’s regularly spotted wearing a pinky ring, and that, my friends, is male chicness.

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Steve Granitz/WireImage

WHO: Jason Momoa 

WHAT: 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards 

WEAR: Brooch, oversize jade pendant necklace

Some men can wear the hell out of some gemstones. Jason Moma is one of them. If you’re worried that a men’s jewelry piece with stones such as jade or turquoise may feel too bohemian, then we highly recommend taking a cue from Momoa and pairing it with a suit for a look that may have earthy vibes but is downright heavenly.

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Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie

WHO: Alexander Hodge

WHAT: Sundance Film Festival, 2020

WEAR: Small hoop earrings, silver cuff, turquoise bracelet

Insecure fans know that the breakout bae of the last season of the show was actor Alexander Hodge. And while his role as Andrew is worth watching, his style is something that deserves to be on your radar as well. He's never afraid to shy away from studs, a long chain, or layered bracelets. 

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Steve Granitz/WireImage

WHO: Lil Nas X

WHAT: Tom Ford A/W 20 Show

WEAR: Single hoop earring

Music genres aren’t the only thing that Lil Nas X has crossed since rising to fame—his approach to style knows no bounds. From serving up head-to-toe sequin looks at the 2019 MTV VMAs to never being afraid to shying away from wearing a single earring, Lil Nas X is the rapper proving both that men can sparkle just as much as women.

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Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

WHO: Jacob Elordi

WHAT: Napa Valley Film Festival, 2020

WEAR: Minimal silver pieces

While most people would say Jacob Elordi’s breakout performance in HBO’s Euphoria is what caught their attention, for me, it’s his ability to rock some jewelry. What’s noteworthy about his approach to styling jewelry is that he opts for minimal layering pieces that aren’t overtly attention-grabbing but are intriguing enough to give the newcomer a second glance.

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Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for dcp

WHO: Suga (Min Yoon-gi) of BTS 

WHAT: 2019 Billboard Music Awards 

WEAR: Small hoops

Please do not come after me, but I’m fully aware that there are other members of the wildly popular Korean band BTS that wear jewelry like pros. But I’m quite obsessed with the fact Suga always is wearing hoops. He’ll pair them with everything from cropped sweaters to bedazzled suits, really solidifying the point that jewelry looks just as good on the boys as the girls.

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Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

WHO: Harry Styles

WHAT: The BRIT Awards 2020 

WEAR: Single pearl 

You’ve made it to the end, and if your will is strong, then you’re not fully dehydrated from the full thirst-trap this story is meant to be. But don’t count your blessings yet because we still haven’t taken a moment to recognize our favorite British pop star, Harry Styles. Many celebrities have championed men’s jewelry, but none have quite been able to captivate the conversation around men in pearls, quite like Styles. After all, who else had a plethora of stars—including Timotheé Chalamet himself—make a nod to his iconic style on Saturday Niight Live? Whether you’re for or against men’s jewelry, it doesn’t matter because Harry Styles had made it here to stay.

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Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock

WHO: Dev Patel 

WHAT: The Personal History of David Copperfield premiere, 2019

WEAR: Watch 

When all else fails and you’ve reached the end of a story about men’s jewelry and still aren’t sold, you turn to the one and only: Dev Patel. Embracing jewelry is a journey, and if you even can’t wrap your head around the idea of you (or your favorite man) stepping out in some pearls, then start simply with a good watch. I promise it’s something the most jewelry-adverse men can get behind.