The 70s was the decade where men started connecting with their feminine side, although my Dad said the glam rockers on Top of the Pops were a load of nancy boys who wouldn’t have lasted two minutes in the War.
As well as the emergence of glam rock, this decade saw an explosion in the amount of men wearing jewellery for the first time. Wedding rings for men started becoming popular mid 70s, as well as amulets, bracelets and beads. The hippy contingent started wearing strange ethnic tokens such as Moroccan beads tied on a piece of leather. (Goulamine beads) and silver worked bangles and bracelets. This jewellery style went well with a pair of jeans, a cheesecloth shirt and some cowboy boots. Around 1975 I remember my brother in law dressed just like that and sporting a moustache like the typical 70s man.
However one of the most iconic 70s pieces of jewellery for men, has to be the gold medallion. This gold medallion was the must have article for some men – especially those guys who drove flashy cars and loved disco! And boy was this look flashy!
A heavy gold sovereign type medallion hung on a gold chain that stretched to chest length and displayed for the world to see. The look was to wear your shirt – preferably made of a shiny material or even faded denim, undone possibly to the navel. Display your chest, preferably hairy and flash your gold medallion. Plus a pair of tight jeans and you’ve got the medallion man look.
A heavy gold link bracelet topped off the look. And some aftershave. Brut and Hai Karate were popular brands that gave a guy sex appeal and went well with disco bling!!
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