As someone who spent most of their pocket money on mood rings, tattoo necklaces and plastic bangles during the late ’90s and early ‘00s, I’m here to tell you that most of those trends are back thanks to Gen Z. The Y2K trends that have made a comeback among 20-somethings and teens are often nostalgic and sometimes scary for those of us who experienced these trends the first time around. But I think I might be missing the point. After carefully examining the Gen Z jewellery trends currently booming, I realised that they all have one major component in common: joy.
That’s right—in the face of quite a weird 18 months, these jewellery trends so loved by the younger generation are actually incredibly fun, which is exactly what we need right now. And I’m more than happy to embrace the nostalgia coming my way. Think the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, especially Willow and Buffy’s preferred jewellery trends; Gabrielle Union-Wade wearing a stretchy plastic necklace and matching bracelet on the red carpet; as well as shows such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Blossom. The pieces are bright, colourful and inexpensive-looking.
Today, these looks are much loved by the likes of Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid as well as some key influencers. Keep scrolling to see some of the original styles, how the A-list is wearing them now, and the five specific styles I’ve identified as being huge.
