Why Did Men Stop Wearing Jewelry?

About this video

The Gazette team explores the historical decline of jewelry in Western menswear, tracing how men’s jewelry evolved from ubiquitous in the Golden Age (1920s-1960s) to largely abandoned by mainstream culture. They identify six key reasons for this shift—including gendered perceptions, implied compensation, distraction concerns, perceived inconvenience, market quality issues, and lack of knowledge—while arguing that jewelry remains a valuable accessory in contemporary classic menswear when worn thoughtfully and understated.

Key takeaways

• The Gazette team traces men’s jewelry decline to The Great Male Renunciation (late 1700s) and the excesses of 1960s-70s fashion, which created a backlash linking jewelry to effeminacy and compensation
• The Gazette team argues that tasteful, timeless jewelry worn in an understated way—consistent with Golden Age menswear aesthetics—can elevate an outfit without appearing ostentatious or drawing unwanted attention
• The Gazette team recommends addressing common barriers to wearing men’s jewelry through research, sourcing quality pieces secondhand, building relationships with local jewelers, and leveraging their educational resources on proper jewelry styling

Episode details: published October 2, 2023 · 31K views · 13:57 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The style guidance summarized here is the Gentleman’s Gazette team’s own teaching and opinion, presented for education; product recommendations are theirs, not ours. Summaries are written by Self Growth Videos from each video itself.

← Previous: Used Shoes Might Be Right for You–Here’s Why! (Pros & Cons) · Next: Are Minnetonka Moccasins Worth It? (Classic Slipper Review) →

All Gentleman’s Gazette videos · Gentleman’s Gazette profile · Gentleman’s Gazette (official site)