Accessories With A Purpose
Accessories from the outside are meant to be stylish, but what if these accessories possesed intrinsic value? As a person who loves to wear jewelry and other kinds of accessories, I have found tremendous benefits from accessories that serve a purpose, just as many other have in the recent years. TikTok and other social media platforms have made these products go viral — and for good reason.
Anxiety aiding Jewelry
As someone that has experienced anxiety, I sometimes find myself fidgeting quite a bit. The result is me shaking my leg unknowingly, or just feeling a sense of general discomfort when forced to sit for long periods of time. Two weeks ago when hanging with a friend of mine, she was wearing two fidget rings that you could actually spin. Out of the kindness of her heart she gave me one, and ever since I put it on it has genuinely helped me with my anxiety. The motion of the spinning is extremely fluid, making it really fun to use.
The Pandemic has certainly had negative effects on people’s mental health, making fidget rings and jewelry the perfect accessory for people that suffer from anxiety disorders. Fidget jewelry has become increasingly popular and accessory companies are aware of that. Some styles of fidget jewelry are rather casual, while others companies have made more expensive looking styles. The ring that my friend gifted to me was actually apart of a bundle ordered that can be found on Amazon. Amazon also sells a more personalized fidget ring that contains the birthstone of your choice and either a rose gold or silver band. The “rotating four-leaf clover ring” that is shown in the gif to the right is from a company called Sivana, and retails at $8.90 in gold and silver. The mechanism of the fidget ring is camouflaged within the design, making it a suitable to wear with a fancier outfit.
Another anxiety aiding accessory that has become popular is The Shift breathing necklace. Inspired by the 17th century Komuso Monks of Japan, The Shift is modeled after the bamboo ‘shakuhachi’ flute which was used as a healing tool as well as a way to achieve enlightenment. The product works by acting as a reminder to pause, take deep controlled breaths, and regain your composure. Breathing deeper has many positive health benefits, and may be able to help someone struggling from anxiety or just day to day stress tremendously.
Crystal Jewelry
Amethyst Point Adjustable Ring
Source: Energymuse
Although wearable talismans and crystals have been around for a millenia, one of the most viral items to go viral in the past few years has been crystals and crystal jewelry. Many people believe that crystals and gemstones carry unique properties that can help it’s owner manifest a variety of different things in life based on intention. Some crystals are supposed to repel negativity while others promote positivity or opportunity. The photo on the right is an “Amethyst Point Adjustable Ring” from Energymuse, which is meant to “bring you a sense of protection, serenity, and spiritual wisdom”. Not only is crystal and gemstone jewelry naturally beautiful, but with the added meaning behind wearing these pieces, an intimate bond between the wearer and the item is formed. Choosing an accessory with a specific meaning behind it adds a layer of sentimentality to the item, and wearing them acts as a reminder to focus on what you want to manifest in life.
Protective Accessories
There are two ways that an accessory can be protective: physically, and energetically. In recent years self-defense accessories have made its way into the fashion world, resulting in products like the Defender Ring. With two kinds of styles, minimalist rings and maximalist rings, these self defense rings are designed for “function, fashion, and protection”. The Minimalist Ring is equipped with a concealed 5mm blade weapon, and the Maximalist ring is equipped with a 10mm concealed blade. I personally own a cute looking police grade mace that is attached to my keys so that I have portable protection that isn’t bulky.
Evil Eye towel in Santorini, Greece
Image Credit: Leila Osman
Every culture has their own version of the evil eye, so it is also often worn as an accessory to protect from ill intention and envy. In recent years, it has become popular for big name brands to incorporate the protective jewelry into their merchandise because people love the idea of a beautiful accessory that also serves a purpose. Similar to crystals, these accessories provide the wearer with intrinsic value when they choose to believe that it has protective properties. When I got the chance to visit Greece in 2018, the evil eye was all over the place and I had to buy something that I could wear forever. My family always taught me to believe in the evil eye, so I always try to incorporate it somewhere in my outfit. Whether it is real or not, the intrinsic value I get from wearing the evil eye provides me with a sense of comfort. This is why ever since the Pandemic began so many people have been purchasing accessories with a purpose to help relieve stress.
References
Amethyst Point Adjustable Ring. (n.d.). Www.energymuse.com. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from https://www.energymuse.com/amethyst-point-adjustable-ring.html?variant=39755272978486
December 15, E. C., & 2020. (n.d.). Fidget Jewelry Is the Stress-Relieving Accessory We All Need After This Year. Real Simple. https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/shoes-accessories/jewelry/fidget-jewelry
Defender Ring | Self Defense Ring & Self Defense Jewelry Shop. (n.d.). Defender Ring. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from https://www.defenderring.com/
The Shift. (n.d.). Komuso Design. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from https://www.komusodesign.com/products/women-b?msclkid=38e7614ce0c61dc6ace700c264e86938&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Non%20Brand%20-%20Anxiety%20Necklace%20-%20Female%20-%20US&utm_term=anxiety%20necklace&utm_content=Anxiety%20Necklace%20-%20Exact
