Face Jewels: A New Trend Spotted at Met Gala 2021
Most fashionistas wear their jewels on necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets. But judging by what we’ve witnessed at this year’s Met Gala, the newest trend eliminates these bulky items altogether and gets straight to the point. That’s right, we’re talking about placing your favorite jewels directly onto your visage. On the red carpet at the Met Gala, cultured celebrities turned towards the cameras with faces adorned with rhinestones, crystals, and all manner of exquisite gems. Should we be taking note?
The History of Face Jewels
Face jewels have been part of human history for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The aristocratic women of ancient Rome adored them, and their earliest appearances have been linked to various aboriginal cultures. Punk and Glam Rock brought face jewels back to the modern era, and in 1994 Jean Paul Gaultier put them on the fashion runway with his famous spring campaign that year. Face jewels were all the rage throughout the late 90s, but they faded into obscurity by the turn of the millennium.
Recently, face jewels have made a comeback – starting with the Rodarte 2014 runway show for the spring season. This sparked a resurgence that was quickly followed by designers like Givenchy, and the trend has been steadily gathering steam since then.
What We Saw at the Met Gala
Storm Reid wore subtle yet breathtaking pearl appliqués that traced a flattering outline around her eyes. Amanda Gorman, a Gala co-chair, decorated her face with a flourish of rhinestones placed diagonally from one corner of her face to the other. Maisie Williams, best known for her starring role in Game of Thrones, wore a single black rhinestone underneath each eye for an understated, undeniably chic effect that complemented her dark makeup.
Ella Elmhoff also joined the trend, wearing a number of tiny rhinestones artfully scattered around her eyes. The effect was gorgeous, and the gems really “lit up” Ella’s beautiful hazel-green eyes. Julia Garner was another notable figure who wore face jewelry. She opted for stellar rhinestones leading away from the outer corners of her eyes, with a trio of smaller gems set in the inner corners of her eyes. The outfit also featured beautiful earrings and a sequined dress from Stella McCartney for a very well-put-together aesthetic.
Do People Actually Wear Face Jewelry?
We all know that there is a major difference between walking the red carpet or the fashion runway and strolling down the street. So do people actually wear facial jewelry on an everyday basis? While this choice may be better suited to special events (think music festivals), you can add face gems to your daily makeup routine. For a more subtle effect, use fewer rhinestones, and make sure that they all match. Maisie William’s Met Gala look is a great example of a subtle approach that can work in everyday situations.
