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Esquire published a first-person guide to wearing men’s necklaces, recommending a simple chain as a low-commitment starting point and a pendant as a later option. The article draws styling lessons from photographs of classic Hollywood actors, but it does not report sales data or establish how widely the looks are being adopted.
Esquire has published a first-person guide to wearing men’s necklaces, advising readers who are unsure where to begin to try a simple chain before adding a pendant or wearing several pieces at once. The article treats necklace styling as a matter of personal preference, drawing on photographs of actors including Robert Redford and Steve McQueen rather than presenting survey data or a measured account of a fashion trend.
The writer says a necklace had long felt like the final frontier in his own collection of men’s jewelry. His interest grew while researching Robert Redford’s style: he noticed necklaces in many photographs, often worn beneath a partly unbuttoned Western shirt. The article also points to Steve McQueen and Paul Newman as actors frequently pictured wearing chains or pendants. Those examples inform the writer’s styling advice; they do not prove that a particular necklace will produce the same effect for other wearers.
The first recommendation is to start with a chain and choose one that appeals to the wearer, without getting caught up initially in terminology about links, thickness or clasps. The writer describes wearing a sterling-silver curb chain from Los Angeles-based Bloedstone, which he says falls near his sternum. He also names chain options from Miansai, Mejuri, Shinola and David Yurman. These are examples from the article, not an independently ranked or exhaustive list.
For styling, the writer favors wearing a chain under a T-shirt, or showing it with an open shirt rather than displaying it over a T-shirt. A pendant or medallion can come later: the article cites McQueen’s St. Christopher medallion and mentions alternatives from Yearly Co. and Alloy Market. The writer says he personally chose a Perseverance medallion from Yearly Co. These recommendations reflect the author’s taste and experience; the source does not provide a comparative product test or price analysis.
A Lower-Commitment Start to Men’s Jewelry
The practical value of the guide is its step-by-step approach: a reader can test whether a necklace fits their style with one chain before committing to a pendant, multiple layers or a more prominent design. That can make jewelry feel less like an all-or-nothing choice. The writer’s advice also offers a clear way to style a chain—keep it beneath a shirt or reveal it with an open collar—without suggesting there is a single correct way to wear one.
The article’s celebrity references provide visual inspiration, but its own caveat matters: a necklace is not a shortcut to looking like a movie star. The examples show how particular actors wore jewelry in particular settings; they are not evidence that the same styling will suit everyone. Readers can use the suggestions as options, rather than rules, and choose according to comfort, clothing and budget.
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How Hollywood Photos Shaped the Advice
The article begins as a personal account, not a news announcement from a jewelry company or a formal market report. The writer recounts wearing watches, a bracelet, rings and an earring before becoming interested in necklaces. While looking through photographs of Redford for a separate style project, he noticed recurring chains and pendants, then compared those images with photographs of McQueen, Newman and other actors.
That research leads to a deliberately restrained recommendation: begin with one chain, rather than copying social-media looks that layer several pieces. The source includes product examples and the writer’s own purchases, alongside a disclosure that Esquire may earn a commission from product links. The disclosure is relevant when readers weigh the recommendations; the article does not state that its selections represent all available styles or prices.
““So start simple and start with a chain.””
— Esquire article author
What the Guide Does Not Establish
The source is a first-person style article, not a survey of shoppers, a report on sales or a study of how common necklace-wearing is. It does not establish whether men’s necklace use is increasing, which chain styles are most popular, or how readers respond to the recommendations. The exact publication date is not included in the supplied material.
The article names brands and products but does not give a full comparison of prices, materials across every option, durability or fit. It also does not set a universal chain length: the author describes his own chain’s placement while allowing readers to choose differently. Jewelry sizing and appearance are personal; the source offers styling suggestions, not a guarantee that a specific length or design will work for everyone.
Choosing a First Chain
The article does not announce a forthcoming product launch, event or follow-up report. For readers using its advice, the next step is simply to compare chain styles and lengths, decide whether they prefer a discreet piece or one visible with an open collar, and try a single chain before adding a pendant. Anyone considering a product named in the article can check its current price, materials and return terms directly with the seller; those details may change and are not fully established in the source.
Key Questions
What does Esquire recommend for someone new to necklaces?
The writer advises beginning with one simple chain chosen for personal appeal, rather than starting with several layered necklaces or a large pendant.
How does the article suggest wearing a chain?
The writer favors keeping a chain under a T-shirt or showing it with an open shirt. That is his preference, not a rule; the article acknowledges that wearers may style a necklace differently.
Which necklace brands does the article mention?
Examples include Bloedstone, Miansai, Mejuri, Shinola and David Yurman for chains, and Yearly Co. and Alloy Market for pendants or medallions. The article does not present these as a complete market comparison.
Does the guide show that men’s necklaces are becoming more popular?
No. It offers personal styling advice and examples from actor photographs, but does not provide trend data, sales figures or a survey showing how common necklace-wearing is.
Source: esquire.com
