Cuffs and Bangles

Ana- In the 80s, Madonna showed the world how to stack bangles. I remember growing up in Venezuela and getting into this unusual fashion cult. As a teen growing up in Venezuela, I would open a jar of Gerber baby food compote only to take out the black rubber lining and put it on my wrist. Corina and I asked my mom for a lot of compotes. All of our friends were doing the same. In retrospect, this must have been great business for Gerber and Heinz.

For me the bangles will always be that fashion craze from my teens years. They will always remind me of jar baby food which I have to confess now; I never liked.

On the other hand, I have always been fascinated with cuffs. From tribal to engineered, the cuff is one of my favorite accessories. Like the stacked bangles it covers your skin but the cuff is more of a minimalist statement. I got a handmade cuff when I went to Africa back in 2013; which I no longer have due to wear and tare.

Viejas, who can say no to a cuff; from superheroes in the movies to models in the catwalk it is all about how super powerful it makes us feel!

Corina – 2023 feels like the year of the “grand comeback” since trends continue to reflect the fashion of the 80’s (rubber band stacks) and 90’s. The cuff and bangle types of bracelets were immensely popular in those decades and remain popular to this day with no end in sight. We have seen them all over this summer and will continue to see them in all sizes, metals, and textures in the fall. Cuffs and bangles are extremely versatile. They can be worn individually, stacked and on one arm or both. My cuffs and bangles are mostly metal, but I do have a couple that are bone or leather. I wear my bigger ones individually and mostly on just one arm, but sometimes I do like to mix and match distinctive styles and stack them. This fall I might diversify and try some clear or bold color ones over the sleeve of a dress or shirt.

My favorite thing about cuffs and bangles is that they are not only a great accessory for dressing any outfit but depending on the culture they are worn as symbols of strength, power, resilience, and courage. Viejas, how do you wear yours?