Right, so brown jewellery used to be a bit naff, didn’t it? Something your nan would wear with her M&S cardigans. But lately I’ve noticed loads of people rocking brown bead bracelets and actually pulling it off. Maybe it’s because everyone’s sick of silver and gold looking the same, or maybe we’re all just craving something a bit earthier. Either way, here’s what’s actually happening in the world of brown beads right now.
Wooden Beads That Actually Look Good
You know those hippie wooden bracelets that used to reek of patchouli oil? Yeah, they’ve had a glow-up. The ones people are wearing now are proper smooth, well-made, not like something you’d buy at a festival toilet queue. Sandalwood’s massive at the moment—smells incredible and the grain patterns are dead interesting. My brother got one from some Etsy seller and it’s genuinely the nicest thing he owns. Cost him twenty quid but looks like fifty.
Brown and Gold Together
This shouldn’t work but it absolutely does. Little gold spacer beads between brown wooden ones, or a brown bracelet with a tiny gold charm stuck on it. Makes it look expensive without actually being expensive, which is exactly what we’re all after. I nicked this idea after seeing someone at the pub wearing it, and now half my mates have copied me. The warm tones just sit nicely together—doesn’t feel like you’re trying too hard.
Piling On Different Shades
Single bracelets are boring apparently. Now you’re supposed to wear about four at once in slightly different browns—tan, chocolate, burnt orange, bit of rust thrown in. Looks very “I shop at vintage markets and know about sustainable fashion” even if you got them all from eBay for a tenner. My flatmate does this and constantly gets compliments, which has made me slightly bitter because I told her to do it in the first place.
Big Fat Chunky Ones
For years everything was delicate and dainty and made me worried I’d snap it just by existing. Thank god chunky jewellery’s back. Massive brown beads that weigh your wrist down a bit, thick leather bits, proper solid pieces. They look intentional rather than like you forgot you were wearing jewellery. Bloke at my gym wears one with absolutely everything and somehow makes it work. Even with a suit, which shouldn’t be allowed but is actually quite cool.
Ones That Supposedly Mean Something
Tiger’s eye, smoky quartz, all those brown stones that crystal people bang on about. Apparently they’re for grounding and balance and stopping you being a stressed mess, though I’m fairly sure that’s just clever marketing. Still, there’s something quite nice about wearing a charm bracelet that’s meant to do something other than just look alright. Even if it’s all bollocks, the placebo effect’s a real thing. My girlfriend swears by hers, and who am I to argue?
Why Everyone’s Wearing Brown Now
Thing is, a brown bead bracelet doesn’t show off. It’s not flashy, doesn’t demand attention, just quietly makes your wrist look better than it would otherwise. Goes with literally everything I own—jeans, work shirts, scruffy weekend clothes, even smart stuff at a push. It’s warm without being loud, interesting without being weird.
