The men’s necklace is undergoing a second coming. From the traditional gold or silver chain, it has morphedinto a more visible, more expressivestreetwearaccessory. Responsible for this transformation is the dog tag, which made it trendy for men to wear a longer, more noticeable chain, often outside the clothing. There are now many options to choose from, but what can a necklace do for you? And, more importantly, what does it say about the wearer?

A necklace is a simple way for men to accessorise their outfit. There aren’t many adornments or items of jewellery that are kosheron men, hence we have little scope to accessorise without being labelled: pretty boy. The necklace is an outlet – an extra point of interest; a simple yet effective way to accessorise.

The dog tag and chain is the most commoniterationof the streetwear necklace, but in some ways it’s been and gone. Inspired by its military origins,it was masculine and it said something about you. The man who wore one belonged to something greater; he was part of an elite team – capable, desirable and strong. Just like Madonna and her Kabbalah bracelet, it said something about the wearer.

Thankfully, we’ve moved on from there. We’re not as fixated on what the accessory might mean, although it still comes with the association of whatever you hang on the chain. Just like anything you put on your person, it will say something about you. Dog tag = elite, capable, butch. Ring = loved and lost, I’m deep. Lego = creative, I’m so fresh (wanker!)

Ok, so I’m a little cynical when it comes to the more common pendants. But you don’t want to be clichéd do you? I’d recommend looking for something as unique as possible. There are plenty of random pieces out there, made up of interesting shapes or items, that don’t carry the baggage of their origins.

The safest bet for men is to go for a dirty silver/ gold or dark colour as the shiny, lighter coloured chain and pendant can look feminine. And my preference is to wear them with a v- or scoop-neck tee, rather than a crew neck, as it looks more natural.

So, what can a necklace say about you? Apart from drawing attention to your man cleavage,it can lend a trendy (streetwear version) or classy (traditional, smart version) edge to your look that stands out. Your accessories are the last thing on, but they’re the first thing noticed. And the necklace is the perfect accessory to help a man stand out.

Here are some of the interesting and more unique pendants I’ve seen and where to look for them:
Recreational www.recreationalboutique.com
Toby Jones www.tobyjones.com.au
Henson www.thisishenson.com
Origami www.origamijewellery.com

Chris Byrne is editor of men’s style magazine
www.man-brand.com.au