Return of bangles as an everyday modern wardrobe staple

Without warning, classic wristwear has slipped out of storage boxes and straight into daily rotation. This subtle styling shift proves that timeless pieces never truly disappear; they just wait for a new generation to wear them.

Be it traditional, western, or a mix of both, from festive wear to casuals, the new generation is embracing bangles as nearly an outfit staple. This versatile piece of jewellery comes in a wide range of colours, sizes and designs, with small local vendors and online businesses utilising the hype in full swing.

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While contemporary designs like the “Turkish enamel” bangles or the translucent, multicolour and embellished with stones “Kashmiri” sets have been an online sensation, classics made of traditional glass never went out of style either.

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“Chunky” and thicker ones are also very widely adorned by women, especially recently. Previously they were limited to only being traditional “balas”, often painted with intricate details and sometimes, golden borders, but now they are even seen in plain silver or rose gold, with a metallic finish on the top-coat.

The latter is styled very commonly nowadays, with western outfits like midi gowns or short-sleeved frocks and tops.

Among those who have openly welcomed this new style, a vast majority are people who prefer maximalist fashion over simple ones.

Being tasked with the ever so difficult choice of selecting which bangle will make it outside the jewellery box to complete today’s look and listening to the “clattering” chime of bangles as they walk through the busy aisles of Dhaka, are only few of the many reasons that turn such a jewellery into more than just an ornament for women.

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Aside from the trendy and rapidly evolving designs, bold and statement pieces like those in oxidised sets and intricate, thinner bracelets, are also flourishing in the market. In other words, whatever the stylistic preferences may be, when it comes to bangles, there is usually something for everyone.

With the merging of traditional clothing with western elements becoming increasingly popular, incorporating bangles with all outfits has become a major contributor to this sort of fusion fashion. While a traditional kurta with jeans is quite common, a shirt and jeans paired with large bangles often proves to be an equally fitting look for that kind of wardrobe.

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Although recent trends have made it seem like the fascination for bangles among young girls is back and it is here to stay, looking back at the older generations' jewellery collections may make us wonder; Did this ornament truly ever leave the conversation? Or did the internet simply rediscover a timeless piece that has been loved by Bengali women for generations.