Men and Earrings: It is not an Oxymoron Anymore

Well, donning earrings, as a large number of people believed and still believe, is not merely restricted to womenfolk. If starlike studs beautified with various colors can transform a plain Jane into a glamour queen then casual yet trendy studs or hoops can, quite outstandingly, enhance a man's physique. In historical times, earrings for men were viewed as a form of art. This is manifested prominently in the nineteenth century engraved figures of men with earrings, particularly of Persian lineage, displayed on walls of palace. In other parts also, including India and Egypt, religious leaders, kings and pharaohs respectively were found flaunting earrings for men. Earrings for men were also common in Assyria and Babylonia for showing their position in society.

Once, metallic earrings for men were considered to save an individual from unholy spirits. Such ancient traditions prove why silver and gold hoops were among the most popular men's earring style. Ear-lobes were possibly man's first shot at body piercing. In 1991, most ancient mummified body in the world was discovered in a Glacier in Austria. As per the the tests carried out, the body was more than 5000 years old; it had pierced ears with holes enlarged to seven to eleven mm diameter.

In the west, the fascination of earrings among womenfolk can perhaps be traced to the 1920s in Western Europe. As regards the earrings for men in the western world, ear piercing began to gain popularity towards the mid-20th century. Earlier, ear piercing used to be done with the aid of a safety pin for making holes in the ears. However, in past few decades improved procedures are being employed such as ear guns to set in earrings in ones ears. Furthermore, during the flamboyant 1980s, earrings for men gained popularity even with the famous musicians, performers, entertainers and athletes oftentimes flashing them. Normally, two varieties of earrings for men can be purchased in the market - hoops and studs.

As ear piercing began to get trendy among gentlemen, most of them could be spotted wearing a single stud in only 1 ear. In those times, it was viewed as a taboo for menfolk to wear studs or hoops in both their ears, or in only the right ear. Nevertheless, nowadays you can run into many menfolk with more holes in their ears in comparison to even women! There are some who consider that earrings for men represent gayness. In fact numerous heterosexual males simply like to sport earrings. Ear piercing is, in fact, a cosmopolitan practise for both men and women; it's exclusively in the west that few viewed it as effeminate.

In the past, men ornamented themselves with elaborate earrings even in the western society. For Example, during the Elizabethan era numerous renowned men including Sir Walter Raliegh, Shakespeare and Francis Drake wore golden earrings. It is argued, while the Roman Republic became more womanish with luxury and riches, earrings grew exceedingly popular among menfolk than females!

Nowadays, it is not only well-dressed urban menfolk who're seen donning men's jewellery, indeed, on the streets, earrings for men are believed to symbolise ruggedness. Several people think earrings for men highlight a man's sexuality, while retaining masculinity, oftentimes making a man appear fashionable and quite snazzier. Be it diamond, platinum, gold or silver, or even semi-precious stones, earrings for men have nowadys become indispensable pieces of mens jewellery.