Wreathe your wrist in silver...

FASHION SENSE

That delicate tinkle and sparkle of a silver kashmiri bracelet on a girlish wrist can never go out of style. An adornment on the wrist has always had feminine appeal since time immemorial. Bracelets have adorned women’s wrists dating back to 500 BC in Iran. Apparently the origin of the term 'bracelet' is from the Latin 'brachile' meaning 'of the arm'. 

Bracelets seem to have come of age today in the fashion world with wearers of both sexes sporting them. Manufactured with anything  from leather to wood, you can even pick them off the road made in front of your eyes by artisans using colourful beads for a couple of rupees.

Charm bracelets have been popular with women especially the silver ones with little charms strung along them. We would buy them along Janpath in New Delhi as kids but today they are made out of sterling silver and are an expensive trinket to own. Most silver smiths sell them and if they are Kashmiri, they have little charms like a filigree houseboat, maple leaf, slippers and bells strung along them.     

The Poompuhar emporiums used to stock wooden slatted bracelets in a rich brown with a glossy finish. Made of wood, they drew attention to them with their rich brown colour and glossy finish. The wood was lightweight and some were cut to fit the curve of the wrist. An elastic threading held the pieces together so it could stretch to slip onto your wrist. Wooden charm bracelets too are pretty with the little icons cut out of wood and threaded with wire onto a chain link like the silver bracelets.

From the Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat, one can get beautiful stone bracelets made from greenish natural agate which is found in plenty in the region. Semi precious Amethyst, Jasper and Topaz are also found here which are also made into delightful bracelets and other forms of jewellery. The stones are set in both silver and gold and can add that special sparkle to any matching ensemble when worn.

But besides the delicate chain like bracelet, bangle bracelets are also popular. They can be worn around your wrist or even as a fetching arm band. The bangle bracelet in the shape of a snake's head, entwined around the arm and worn with a sari can lend an exotic air to the wearer. 

In the US the ethnic Red Indian bead bracelets or sterling silver cuff bracelets usually are embellished with colourful stones, but with a predominance of sky blue turquoise. These bracelets have traditional designs which have been handed down over generations and have a cultural significance. Egypt too has its scarab beetle bracelet design, which is one of the most recognised ancient Egyptian icons, from the time of the Pharoahs.

Cuff bracelets are popular even with men today. There is nothing feminine about it, infact it accentuates the thickness of the wrist as against the gracefulness of a woman’s bracelet.

Today sportsmen wear gel name bands and on friendship day the more friendship bands you collect, the more your popularity index soars. A bracelet remains one of fashion’s great accessories and can never go out of style.