Last month, Vogue published an article introducing the niche of ‘AirPod jewellery.’ Earrings and necklaces with earphone holders were displayed, explaining how they may be the trendiest solution to losing your AirPods in your bag. First released in 2016, the world of AirPod accessories began with mini designer bags and as wireless earphones rose, the complimentary accessories have done the same.
All of us can see that the idea of AirPod jewellery does seem a little ridiculous; the Vogue article itself, called ‘AirPod Jewellery is Now a Thing,’ seems to lightly mock the idea. This raises the question — is ‘AirPod jewellery’ really worth your investment?
Personally, AirPod jewellery reminds me of phone accessories from the 00’s. When mobile phones first became accessible, they were the newest accessory and people used customisation to capitalise off of the it-factor. When we look back at the 00’s today, we’re reminded of the diamanté phone cases and the fashion behind the early mobile phone. As technology advances, it is understandable that consumers want to boast the latest device they’ve acquired.
These phone accessories have risen in popularity again recently. The phone charms of the 00’s have returned as beaded straps, with certain phone cases becoming must-haves themselves. Wildflower’s ‘latte love’ case became a hit following Bella Hadid’s endorsement last autumn, and other phone case designs have had the same treatment. Perhaps, as technology becomes more prevalent in our lives, accessories for such will fall in and out of style.
The appeal of this jewellery is supposed to be it’s practicality, but since AirPods rarely fall out of the wearers’ ear, I would argue that this would make AirPods more inconvenient. Holding your AirPods within jewellery instead of the case would mean the AirPods wouldn’t charge, so you’d fall victim to them running out of battery when you need them.
As wireless earphones join phones as a staple, it’s only understandable that people want to use them to enhance their outfit. I’ve got a lot of ear piercings, so I don’t think these earrings would compliment me, but I enjoy changing my phone case to match my outfits, and surely that’s the same principle.
Although I don’t think AirPod jewellery will become mainstream, mostly for practicality’s sake, I do think that if someone wants to invest, they should do so. At the end of the day, fashion is all about self-expression, and if that’s in the form of AirPod jewellery, who are we to judge?
Edited by Maddy Burgess