Body Jewelry Is Having A Moment And It's More Wearable Than You Might Think

Everything old is new again. Throwbacks have been a fashion staple as long as we've had fashion so the fact that we're returning to the 1990s and early aughts for body jewelry this summer is nothing new. The body chain, in particular, is back with a vengeance this season, and there are a ton of ways to wear it. Waist chains, for example, were a staple for '90s pop stars like Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, and now we're seeing them on the likes of a pregnant Rihanna, Hailey Bieber, and Kim Kardashian. 

It's important to keep in mind though, you absolutely do not have to have perfectly sculpted abs or any specific body type to rock body chains. You don't even need to wear it around your waist — instead, you can wear a halter chain top, rock some body chains with a plunging neckline, or use them to jazz up your swimsuit. Let's take a look at different styles and ways to decorate your body with shiny things. 

There are all different styles of body jewelry that are popping up in stores and on the runway. There is the classic belly chain that is fastened around your waist to show off your midriff. You can even use a longer necklace for this. If you need some weight to it, add an accessory and tuck that into your waistband. 

There are all different price ranges for jewelry like this, though it doesn't have to be body jewelry-specific. If you're crafty, you can become a necklace layering pro by grabbing a few jewelry clasps and some pliers and attaching a few different necklaces you already own. For instance, if you wanted the above look, you could take two long necklaces, put one around your neck, and one around your waist, and attach them with a clasp in the center. 

The draping, long body necklace, or halter chain top that sometimes goes under the arms, as you see above, is a great way to dress up a casual outfit. InStyle shows a necklace of this style draped over a simple tank top with black pants. They can look delicate and feminine or like chainmail, which you can pair with a shirt underneath or alone if you're feeling daring or freeing the nipple. As InStyle mentions, you can wear the halter chain top over bare skin with pasties for more coverage.

Maybe you're not loving the midriff-baring styles that are all over the place today, but you adore your décolletage. A variety of chains drop down to your waist or go straight down from the neck and appear to wrap around the breasts or chest area. You can pair that with a waist chain if you like. It's a nice way to get some decoration on your skin without having to show more than you like. If you have an open-backed dress, wear it backward with the chain hanging between your shoulder blades. Try this look with a blazer as well, either with a bandeau top under it or nothing at all. 

One place you're likely to be showing more skin than usual is by the pool or on the beach. There are endless ways to wear this trend (along with your Korean sunscreen). You can hook a necklace in the center of a bikini top, or if you're wearing a low-backed suit, drape it down your back. Crafty people can even sew one to the front of a bathing suit so it doesn't slide from side to side. 

Some of us don't like to show a lot of skin, but that doesn't disqualify you from wearing body jewelry. You can absolutely wear this outside of your clothing. Drape a gold chain as you see in the pic above, and match it to gold strappy shoes. You can also take a long necklace (or several), put them over one shoulder, and let them drape to the opposite hip for a crossbody look if you're wearing a sheath dress. (A tiny stitch on the shoulder with a sewing kit will keep it in place.)

Body jewelry can be worn anywhere. Wear it on your thigh, as you see above. Wrap a long necklace around one arm from shoulder to wrist, securing it at the top and the bottom with a stitch or a pin. If you find an extra long one, wear your hair high on your head, wrap part of the chain around a bun, for instance, and let it drape down the back of your neck. The only limit here is your imagination. Sparkle on, friends!