The hoops tale

“Exotic? I don’t believe my ears. I am the oldest ring of all, discovered by archaeologists in Mesopotamia, dated 2500 BCE. I am a socio-cultural symbol connecting humanity across continents and eras, come rain or shine. Especially shine: summer is my time, when hair goes up in knots and skin is bared. I was the only piece of their heritage that enslaved African women were allowed to take with them on their passage to the Caribbean in the sixteenth century. Much later, the icons of Black Power and feminism sealed my destiny. Josephine Baker, Nina Simone and Angela Davis wore me as a mark of identity; a militant jewel. My silhouette has evolved over time, from the huggies that kiss Diana Ross’s lobes on the sleeve of Upside Down to the oblongs of J-Lo, Gwen Stefani or Alicia Keys. And who could forget the thick gold hoops immortalized by Sade Adu. No-one asked me and yet here I am, the ultimate party girl. Today, I twist and spiral at Marie-Hélène de Taillac, sway at AHKAH. Tasaki covers me in pearls. At Akillis, Caroline Gaspard gives me edge while Schiaparelli sends me down the Fall/Winter 2026/2027 runway with a faux fur trim that’s both hot… and cool. But there are contenders for my crown. Tassels, chandeliers and that upstart single earring imagine I’ll let things roll. Not me. I fight fire with fire and now I fly solo, too. Mismatch Messika’s Moderniste single hoop with a simple stud or go for the jugular with a dangling statement piece. Fashion may change, it always circles back.”