I first started begging my mother for piercings in kindergarten, when I noticed that other girls were able to adorn their earlobes with sparkly studs. Over the years I’d return to my mother, asking for new piercings, from my cartilage to my nose. (She finally acquiesced on the ears when I was a senior in high school but kept a hard and fast “no facial piercings” rule.) While I got old enough to the point I no longer needed to ask, I still find myself craving a new piercing every now and again. Perhaps pierced clothing could fulfill those desires—without the pain and years-long healing process.
Pierced clothing is a fashion fixture from the high-end brands like Schiaparelli to the more accessible Miista. But it’s not just a runway staple. Celebrities have proven that the pierced look can range from edgy to elegant. Katy Perry, in the midst of a rebrand, tested out the look in a three-piece set from Artemisi. While her lace-up corset top and spiky 3D bolero were more than attention-grabbing on their own, it was the maxi skirt festooned with silver hoops that caught my eye.
That doesn’t mean it’s a trend solely for outré dressers—it has a place in almost any wardrobe. Tory Burch has added pierced shoes to her repertoire, including the more obvious mule and the subtler slingback. The front row of her spring 2025 show—which pivoted from pierced shoes to pierced bags—saw Jodie Turner-Smith, Elizabeth Olsen, Mindy Kaling, Joey King, Lola Tung, Ella Emhoff, and Kiki Layne all decked out in the shoe.
Next time you’re feeling the impulse to drive a needle through your ear, face, what have you, consider testing the waters with a piece of pierced clothing instead. Think of all the money you’ll save on saline solution!
