What’s your type? Tall, dark and handsome? Blonde haired and blue-eyed? Or let me guess, you don’t have one?
That was my default answer too - until I realised it was a downright lie. At the risk of sacrificing any remaining hint of mystery, and in the spirit of transparency, I’ll admit that there are certain aesthetic elements of a man that irritatingly pique my interest. Long(ish) floppy curls, dimples, crooked smiles à la Benedict Bridgeton, and singular hoop earrings - the be all and end all of limerence-inducing accessories.
Call it the Jacob Elordi effect, but these stupid silver ear adornments just do it for me. Perhaps because they offer the faintest indication that a man is willing to embrace self-expression (the bar is low) or maybe because they signal a creative individual (how many investment bankers with piercings do you know?) but hoop earrings have taken on a whole new sartorial cachet in the menswear sphere.
© Getty ImagesCase in point? The A-listers have fallen head first for the look, with Hollywood It-boys including Josh O’Connor, Paul Mescal, Hudson Williams, Harry Styles, Nicholas Galitzine, Robert Pattinson, Caleb McLaughlin and Tom Blythe braving the needle. Models and social media figures have followed suit, including (but not limited to) Romeo Beckham, Josef Michael and Oliver Proudlock.
While the trend is nothing new (just ask Michael Jordan), it seems to have become hot property among Gen Z at the moment. We spoke to Natasha Lyons, founder of luxury jewellery and piercing studio Tish Lyon, as to why.
© Getty ImagesWhy are men increasingly experimenting with ear piercings?
A lot of it comes down to the fact that piercing is no longer viewed through such a rigid gendered lens. The old idea that certain piercings said something fixed about a man’s sexuality or masculinity has really gone away. For men now, it is much more about autonomy, self-expression and having control over how they present themselves. Social media has also played a huge role in this, because men are more engaged with fashion and personal style than ever before. Jewellery has always been a form of expression, and in many ways ear piercings are simply an extension of that.
Is there a certain type of man who typically opts for a single hoop ear piercing?
A man who opts for a stud earring tends to feel more polished and dressy, whereas a hoop has more of an alternative edge. The single hoop usually appeals to men who want to show individuality and confidence in a very visible way. It draws attention to the face, so it becomes part of someone’s identity and overall look. Historically, men wearing earrings is nothing new either- pirates famously wore solid gold hoops, and jewellery has long been tied to status and wealth.
Today, men that are drawn to a single hoop often feel quite similar- they are comfortable in their own style, confident in their masculinity and not afraid to express themselves. You can think of men like Johnny Depp, Will Smith, Michael Jordan or Morgan Freeman. They are all very different, but all examples of men who wear jewellery with confidence and on their own terms.
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© The Hollywood Reporter via GettyDo you think celebs like Jacob Elordi have catalysed the trend?
Absolutely- celebrity influence is a huge part of why these trends take off. Celebs like Jacob Elordi help normalise male ear piercings and make them feel aspirational. What is so powerful about someone like Jacob Elordi is that he wears a single hoop in a way that feels effortless, which is exactly what makes people notice it and want to copy it. In his recent Wuthering Heights role, details like the single hoop became part of his wider appeal, and it is often those subtle styling choices that push a look from a small fashion detail into a full trend.
© Getty ImagesOverall, the return of 90s, grunge and rock-inspired style has also fed into it, with figures like Harry Styles, Bad Bunny and Machine Gun Kelly helping to push jewellery and piercings further into the menswear mainstream. These sudden piercing trends can come about very quickly- for example, after Saltburn, there was a noticeable rise in men wanting eyebrow piercings.
