Neck Mess
Remember the rise of the “arm party?” The stacks and stacks of bracelets caused one of the first fashion influencers, Leandra Medine of Man Repeller, to name the trend and even trademark it. I mean, the arm party is still going on, and let’s hope it will never end.
This party has recently moved upward. I would credit the rise of the “neck mess” to the prominence of the Zoom call. Former Stylebook editor and now tech exec Madelyn Orfitelli and I were talking about Zoom fashion. She mentioned not wanting to wear a turtleneck on Zoom; she feels like it looks like her head is floating, so she has upped her shirting and necklace game.
Madelyn
The neck mess isn’t new. The New York Times did an article about the trending #neckmess in 2019. The phrase was coined a few years prior by jewelry designer Jessica Kagan Cushman. I would love to add one of her pieces to my personal collection.
I read the article pre-COVID (you can find the entire article here), but now it seems even more apropos. It talks about how Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry considers his stacks of necklaces a wearable time capsule. He wears a ring of his fathers on his neck, one of his mother’s rings also along with a beaded necklace from a fan, and so on.
Perry said, “I see them when I look in the mirror. They’re a small way to collect and remember.”
I thought that was such a beautiful sentiment. Necklaces, more than anything to me, tell a story. The jewelry pieces I tend to cherish the most are my necklaces: my grandmother’s gold coin, the charm from Mystique with my anniversary on it, a walnut locket made by Christine Stanton, the tags from Alx&Co. with my kids’ initials, along with the peanut charm from their estate collection that my husband got me because I would call our kids my little peanuts.
But I don’t always just wear my fine jewelry. I mix it with costume jewelry and even necklaces made of beads or cord.
The fact is, life is more casual, so we can all look a little “messy” – and I mean that in a good way. So, wear the pieces you love, mix the high with the low, and enjoy the layers that represent your story.
We wanted to show you some neck messes we have in right now along with some pieces from one of our favorite stores that has perfected the art of layering jewelry, She’s Unique. What better way to add interest to yet another Zoom call?
Shop the Look
Look 1
Gia Charm Necklace by Lizzie Fortunato, $230
Caroline Chain by Oma the Label, $79
Initial Tags by Honey Rose & K, $55
Mina Necklace from She’s Unique, $98
Look 2
Confetti Coin Necklace by Lizzie Fortunato, $220
Classic Charm Necklace by Anna Beck, $198
Marli Necklace from She’s Unique, $132
Small Diamond Eye Necklace from She’s Unique, $415
Look 3
Laguna Necklace by Lizzie Fortunato, $195
Mini Lunar Pendant by Jacqueline Rose, $289
Chunky Cuban Link Chain Necklace from She’s Unique, $115
Small Diamond Eye Necklace from She’s Unique, $415
Amaya Heart Necklace fro She’s Unique, $154
Look 4
Vicky Chain by Oma the Label, $89
Oval Pave + Baguette Dog Tag by Adina Reyter, $1,298
Taken Script Necklace from She’s Unique, $125
Look 5
The Niki Pearl Necklace by Lizzie Fortunato, $450
Marli Necklace from She’s Unique, $132
Talisman Link Necklace from She’s Unique, $300
- About the boutiques
Heard the buzz? The Shoe Hive & The Hive are a pair of luxury boutiques in Old Town Alexandria. Featuring both big name designers like Rag & Bone and Stuart Weitzman and smaller brands like AGL and L'Agence, our unique selection and impeccable service are what set us apart.
The Shoe Hive The Hive
127 S. Fairfax Street 301 Cameron Street
Alexandria, VA 22314 Alexandria, VA 22314
703.548.7105 703.548.7110
