Pearls For Men? Comme Des Garçons And A$AP Nast Endorse The Trend

As the Twitterverse quakes at men in skirts—insert faux outrage here—men with true style are embracing all the trimmings of a traditionally feminine wardrobe. Harry Styles flirts with nail polish and earrings. A$AP Rocky knots on silk scarves and tunic tops. The impeccably dressed and perennially stylish A$AP Nast has another idea: pearls.

In New York, Nast has been sporting a double strand of Comme des Garçons x Mikimoto pearls, part of the latest drop from Comme des Garçons x Mikimoto, a collaboration which brings spikes, studs, and silver hardware into the two brands’ ongoing partnership. “My personal style I’d like to say is an unorthodox one, maybe even spontaneous,” Nast wrote via email. “I never really know where it will go next, so I plan to do whatever comes to mind. I see no particular time for anyone to wear anything.”

The idea is resonating. Skirts, pearls, and an insouciant eclecticism are emerging as defining trends for all genders at the fall 2021 collections. No one pushes the agenda more than Comme des Garçons Homme Plus, which referenced Schiaparelli and Man Ray with black pump hats by Willie Cole and a lean, graphic silhouette. The Mikimoto pearls, which did not appear on the runway in Tokyo, extend the idea of sharp and aggressive spikes against a more lean, lovely silhouette.

“It’s our great pleasure to continue our partnership with Mikimoto, with seven new styles designed by Rei Kawakubo that merge the simplicity and timelessness of pearls with a modern view to who can wear them,” Adrian Joffe, the president of Comme des Garçons said. “We share Mikimoto’s approach to design and production—an unwavering commitment to quality, authenticity—and these pieces continue to uphold those values while subverting classical notions of what pearls can look like through the inclusion of studs, fangs, and safety pins. They are for everyone.”

The question remains: Is everyone ready? As Nast writes, “I believe people should wear what they please—but everyone should just wear pearls all the time everywhere.” The Comme des Garçons x Mikimoto collection will be available from March 5 at Dover Street Market, Comme des Garçons, and Mikimoto stores.