The Bangle — A Guide to the Age-Old Accessory

With a click-clack of a heel, a hurried excuse-me, or, the gentle rattling of bangles up and down a student’s arm, you can hear rather than see people coming down the streets of St Andrews. Even among the characteristically loud collision of St Andrews locals, students, babies, children, tourists, and workers, the bangle can still be heard. A hand lifted in greeting or an adjustment of clothing and the sound of wood, metal, enamel or plastic tapping together like music fills the street. So, why is this style of bracelet so pervasive?

Glass bangles have their origins in modern-day India, possibly dating as far back as 2600 BC. Their continued popularity, millennia later, now usually stripped of any religious or spiritual ritualistic meaning, is remarkable. Gold bangles are associated with Hinduism, particularly worn in religious festivals or weddings by participants of either gender. The bangles that I wore as a child, usually from Accessorise or Claire’s, hold no reverence to either of these traditions. Similarly, even high-brow bangles are now available from most major jewellery manufacturers or even clothing brands. Although higher quality than my plastic pink childhood bangles, they are equally removed from any symbolic meaning.

Sézane, a French clothing and homeware brand, is particularly sought-after by students in St Andrews for their knitwear and beautifully crafted leather items, but also for their chunky enamel bangles. Adjustable and easier to take on and off than a traditional fixed-loop bangle because of the c-clasp, they litter the wrists of students in Main Library, often discarded in order to prevent the clattering of the bracelet against laptop keyboards. These bangles, though statement pieces, are still versatile and can be worn with almost any otherwise monotone outfit, perhaps revealing the cause of their popularity.

Some students, myself included, have bracelets that never leave their wrists, and bangles are the most common in this category of self-imposed permanent jewellery. Monica Vinader’s gold-plated bangles are prominent and their life-time warranty is almost as enticing as their glittering gold jewellery. These staple items of one’s wardrobe might as well be welded on, their convenience and simplicity makes for everyday reaching.

These brands are just two examples of the myriad of bangle styles available — the tradition is so far removed from its religious origins where most treat them like ‘hippie’ or ‘boho’ accessories. Indeed, they feature frequently on brands like Free People which capitalise on this trend or ‘aesthetic’ and litter my Pinterest boards for this reason. The bangle, symbolic of its popularity in its completed loop structure, is a tried and trusted accessory by many, one that is not going anywhere, at least not in St Andrews.