Breaking gender norms through fashion accessories.”
The article discusses the recent release of the first portrait of King Charles since the start of his reign, which features him wearing a black braided bracelet with gold trim and red beads below his watch. The bracelet was presented to him by the leader of the Ecuadorian Amazon’s Achuar community during a meeting in February to discuss global biodiversity plans. The artist, Alastair Barford, included the bracelet to add context and authenticity and to symbolize Charles’s advocacy for climate change and sustainability.
The article notes that Charles’s inclusion of the bracelet in the portrait reflects a wider menswear trend of wearing stacks of beaded and braided bracelets, which have become a new, subtle social signifier. For Charles, wearing the bracelet is a way of aligning himself with fellow eco warriors while adhering to royal protocol in a shirt and tie. The article highlights Charles’s long-standing advocacy for biodiversity and environmentalism, dating back to the 1970s.
The article also notes that the trend of wearing beaded and braided bracelets, or “bro-celets,” has become a way of campaigning without overtly campaigning, as in the case of King Charles. While his signet ring symbolizes tradition, the bracelet hints at a less conformist approach to life.
The article goes on to explain that while the trend may have started as a “gap yah” souvenir from a trip to Thailand or other destinations, it has evolved to become a fashion statement worn in various settings, from boardrooms to the gym to the pub. It has become particularly popular among bankers and tech bros who see it as a power move, often stacked next to an Apple watch.
Overall, the article highlights the significance of the bracelet in King Charles’s portrait as a symbol of his advocacy for climate change and sustainability, while also noting its broader cultural significance as a trend in men’s fashion.
The article also notes that wearing a bracelet is a way for Charles to campaign without overtly campaigning. When he first became king, he was reportedly advised to reduce his public advocacy for environmental issues. Wearing the bracelet allows him to make a statement without saying anything.
The article then explores the wider trend of wearing beaded and braided bracelets, which are seen as a way of expressing individuality and a less conformist approach to life. While traditionally associated with backpackers who have traveled to exotic locations, these bracelets are now being sold in designer boutiques and worn by men in a variety of settings, from boardrooms to the gym.
The article suggests that wearing a bro-celet (as the bracelets are sometimes called) is seen as a power move by some men, particularly bankers and tech workers, who stack them alongside their Apple watches. Overall, the article suggests that the trend reflects a desire among men to express themselves through their fashion choices and to signal their values and interests through subtle cues.