Men love jewellery and accessories too. Unfortunately, fashion has not always served them particularly well. Outdated chains that feel lifted from another era, styles ill-suited to anyone looking for modernity and — at the opposite end of the spectrum — pointless excesses that leave the wearer looking perhaps a touch too eccentric.
There is, however, one fashion house that has made meaning and significance within men’s jewellery part of its very identity. That house is Vivienne Westwood, whose latest men’s necklace collection offers a remarkably broad selection of pieces designed precisely for those who approach jewellery in a non-conformist, personal and entirely individual way.
For anyone who has followed the movements of this legendary British brand, none of this will come as a surprise. Over the decades, Vivienne Westwood has embodied character, disruption — not of the past itself, but of boredom and repetition — alongside the courage to express new ideas and defend them precisely because they are different.
The entire history of the house revolves around the idea that jewellery should never exist merely to “complete” an outfit, just as clothing exists for far more than simply covering the body. Everything contributes to personality. We project that personality outward through details as well — even through a necklace that perhaps only a few people will notice, while we remain perfectly aware of wearing it.
Then again, “only a few people” may be slightly optimistic. Because even without resorting to gratuitous excess, the necklaces in the latest collection certainly attract attention. Great themes return, naturally — including the orb, one of the most iconic symbols of our time — alongside a wonderfully playful balance between historic motifs and newer ideas, from shark teeth pendants to whistles. There is also the return of the skulls that have accompanied Vivienne Westwood collections for decades.
The selection is extensive, and not purely in terms of design. There is genuine attention paid to finishes and colourways — the majolica-inspired tones are particularly extraordinary, though naturally we would never try to influence your decision — alongside the return of gold finishes across several models, as well as keys and boldly symbolic details that somehow remain striking without ever tipping into banality.
Sixty items for sixty personalities
We may be slightly embarrassed to admit it publicly, but everyone contains more than one personality. The sixty pieces in the latest Vivienne Westwood collection seem fully aware of this fact, which is precisely why they offer something for each version of ourselves — allowing us to wear only what feels right for who we happen to be on any given day.
The collection is expansive. It works around a relatively small number of recurring themes, yet every one of them carries personality and depth. Even the most demanding man searching for jewellery will almost certainly find something here that feels entirely his own.
And the result speaks for itself. One only needs to spend a few minutes browsing the Vivienne Westwood website to realise it: you will, we suspect, end up completely captivated. Because although we have followed the evolution of the British house for years, we are not entirely sure we have ever been quite this fascinated by necklaces for men before this collection.
