Boleyn to Beyoncé: The Nameplate Necklace
A Recreational Habits hypothesis: Anne Boleyn was the original initial jewelry influencer. Based off of a portrait of Anne Boleyn that is currently on display at London’s National Portrait Gallery, it seems very likely that Anne Boleyn and the portrait that dates back to the 1530’s started an accessories trend that has truly stood the test of time. 500 years later and the trend remains, with a plethora of celebrities rocking nameplate or initial jewelry.
Nameplate and initial jewelry are a declaration from the owner to the onlooker. It serves as insight about the owner and what they are proclaiming and proud of to the world whether it be their own initial, their children’s, or their husband’s. What it comes down to, is that it is a unique piece of jewelry, specific to the owner, but we need to appreciate the past to understand the present.
History:
While Anne Boleyn rocked the initial necklace in the 1500’s, it had a cultural reemergence in the 80’s and 90’s when hip hop culture made nameplate jewelry trendy again. The style gained popularity amongst the Black and Latino communities as a stance on autonomy and individuality and it wasn’t long after the style was being rocked by the biggest stars in music at the time such as JLo, Tupac, and Lil Kim. It also wasn’t too long until Patricia Fields, the costume designer for the hit TV show, Sex and the City, saw the trend and had the star, Carrie Bradshaw, wear a ‘Carrie’ necklace. Unfortunately, Sex and the City was given too much credit for the trend that skyrocketed nameplate jewelry into the mainstream without much acknowledgement of its origin and the culture that drove it.
Current day:
Since the 80’s and 90’s nameplate jewelry trickled onto the runways of Lanvin, Chanel, Moschino, Celine, Versace and others, and the trend cannot be overlooked or ignored. Currently, the biggest stars in the world are spotted rocking the trend.
Justin Bieber gifted his bride, a nameplate necklace that reads ‘Wifey’ encrusted in diamonds following their second wedding ceremony in 2018 and she is commonly photographed wearing another diamond nameplate with her new surname, ‘Bieber’. It would appear that much of her jewelry is an ode to her husband and their marriage, and that is a trend we can totally get behind.
Meghan Markle has been spotted wearing an initial necklace with an ‘A’, as an ode to her first son Archie.
Kate Middleton also wears an initial necklace with the letter’s "C", "G," and “L”, an ode to the duchess' three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis— whom she shares with her husband, Prince William.
Their mother in law, the late Princess Diana was also photographed wearing a ‘D’ necklace several times, which is more in line with Boleyn’s rebellious style. Perhaps it was her own nod to the anti-monarchy.
Shop some of our favorite nameplate and initial jewelry below!
