The style-conscious man is at home in different biotopes. And depending on the setting in which he appears, connecting elements can be identified. The creative man, for example – he was just out and about at Design Week in Milan – is currently wearing wide trousers, a cotton shirt and leather jacket, a baseball cap and loafers. This is of course very clichéd. But if so, then already. And so the Flinserl should not be missing. It completes the nonchalant style, makes young men more mature and older men a little younger.
The individually worn earring for men is currently experiencing a small or large revival. The neat statement is of course not a contemporary invention. Ötzi is said to have worn earrings. The Iceman was found with his ears dilated. In the Rococo period, wealthy men wore pearl jewelry in one ear. A pirate, perhaps the most prototypical earring wearer, bought the piece of jewelry as financial security. If he drowned and washed ashore, the precious metal would cover the cost of the funeral. So goes the legend.
At the end of the 20th century, the Flinserl (small, sparkling metal plates were once referred to as “Flins”) became a symbol of non-conformism, and sometimes also a social code: the earring worn on the right was considered an identifying feature of the queer community. Today, few items of clothing are still charged with meaning. Even men’s earrings are hardly there anymore. But there is still an air of non-conformity surrounding him. And since the brooch became the favorite accessory of progressive men during this year’s award season, other pieces of jewelry have also come into focus again.
Jacob Elordi has often been spotted wearing an earring. Just at a premiere party in Los Angeles again. Fellow actor Paul Mescal also regularly wears Flinserl, even on the red carpet and in his role as William Shakespeare (in fact, he is also said to have worn earrings). The look of the two trendsetters – edgy and yet quite consensual – seems to be infectious anyway. In this case, quite literally.
Jacob Elordi with stud earrings.IMAGO/Xavier Collin/Avalon
