A continuation of “The Perfect Fit” by Alyssa Jolie
(If you haven’t read my previous post “The Perfect Fit,” I’ve laid the foundation for how I think of navel jewelry and a sneak peek into what inspired me to kickstart Jolie Co.)
If you didn’t know, “detachable charms” is where it all began. For me, detachable charms were the solution to much of what I’ve seen. Piercings that have heavily migrated, large bulky jewelry that’s too long or too large. It was that “why aren’t we doing it this way” bell going off long before I fully understood the impact or even knew how to explain it. I’ve always liked charms.
Years dissecting this “the fit” to the degree to which I have, I’m going to give you "the brutal truth" and much to think about in wearing one responsibly. And while I can go on and paint a vivid picture of how bad it can get, like jewelry pulling so hard it rips your piercing. This is true for any piercing. I’ll spare you this, as we all have that extra sense of care. Any tiny tug on the jewelry, every bit of pain has taught us to watch out. I promise we’ll focus on the not-so-obvious, and I really hope to inspire you. “The perfect fit” isn’t about charms.
Why not start engaging with all of this on a deeper level, for just a moment.
How did navel jewelry ever become fast fashion?
Your navel is literally your first connection to life. Your core, balance, movement, it all stabilizes from here. It's on no matter what you're doing. Dare I say, it’s the first stop to intimacy.
And just like that. Gloves off.
Were we too quick to give in to all the “cute stuff”? Or was it not high up on the priority list? How else do you explain a killer outfit done up in every way imaginable, all the high fashion, on-trend, and poorly fitted surgical steel on the navel? It’s scary how often I see this.
So where am I going with all of this? Navel jewelry should be expensive. That’s not it at all. Although I can’t think of anything done right that doesn’t cost a premium. Let alone something fitted to you. So may I suggest we slow down while we really connect with all of this.
Fast fashion vs. slow fashion in navel jewelry.
I can’t help but challenge our thinking about navel jewelry in this way. We go for a look, but is it jewelry or the idea of it? Do we feel a certain way wearing the jewelry? Or just to be seen wearing something? And what is that something? Is it a certain style or size of jewelry? Or is it the way it complements your anatomy? Is there a right order? And which part are we skipping maybe without even realizing?
There’s an emotional aspect here. “The perfect fit” isn’t a simple mathematical formula we can all apply with the same results.
I think of this as an intervention. (I’m crying)
Something’s got to give in this fast-change mentality. Because you can’t call it fashion. Not until it actually means something.
True fashion is when it reflects you, not just decorates you. It needs to feel like it belongs on you.
It’s stepping out of that “it’s just a belly ring” mindset.
Because for the fit to matter “really matter” you have to want to wear it for reasons that are personal. And through that meaning, you’ll connect to it more. I promise.
I’m going to wrap up with some observations.
How do you wear a dangle charm responsibly?
Think of a charm as something you put on when you want that extra bling - not to be worn at all times. The weight is like a workout for your piercing. Could you lift weights all day? Some will argue that soft tissue isn’t a muscle. And that’s exactly the point. It doesn’t regenerate or “get stronger” with stress the way a muscle does. It doesn’t adapt. It just holds on, until it can’t. You might not see the damage right away, but the breakdown is happening quietly.
How do you explain most who experience migration don’t know it’s even happening?
I’m not suggesting it’s all weight or pressure. But one thing you should know, your body’s natural response is to push the jewelry to the surface. It’s wise not to remind it.
And here’s the not-so-obvious.
Bottom-hanging charms don’t work for all anatomies. These are rings with a charm connected to the bottom of it. If your navel isn’t tall enough to allow room for the charm to hang and swivel freely, it will sit on an angle. Every time you bend, the bottom part of your navel will get under it. It pushes the entire ring and puts significant pressure on your piercing. Just imagine what happens when you sit for extended periods.
If you’re stuck on a look, you’ll miss what’s right for your anatomy.
The way the charm swivels is critical. But it’s your anatomy you need to be focused on more.
Here’s something you probably didn’t realize about my Dome belly ring collection.
When I designed the Dome collection, the critical thing for me was allowing the charm to swivel - even 180 degrees if it needed to. I recognized we don’t all have a tall and wide navel, which is why the dome is very narrow. This works even when you do. More importantly, our anatomies are not all the same. The way our navels change shape when we bend, twist and turn is not something you can ignore. There’s a lot of technical thinking that went into this.
It’s meant to enable you to easily transition from a dainty look to full-on bling. You’re not stuck with a permanent charm. You can easily remove it. And more importantly, you have the option to change the look without changing the ring. The whole concept is to enable you to build collections of charms. Not collections of belly rings.
The default look should be dainty. The path of least resistance.
This will protect your piercing in the long haul.
This is true for our other belly rings also. But like I’ve said before, bottom-hanging charms cannot be worn by all.
I sure hope I’ve inspired you some more.
And hope your next navel ring is something special.
Alyssa Jolie, Founder of Jolie Co
