Key points
- In the Middle East, Yataghan Jewellery’s founder Sarah Abudawood sees the style as “a fresh and trendy look” that allows wearers to mix heirlooms, talismans, and modern pieces for a versatile aesthetic suitable for any occasion.
- First coined by designer Jessica Kagan Cushman in 2016, the term captured a bold and expressive style of layering multiple necklaces of varying lengths, metals, and textures to create an intentional, maximalist look.
- The resurgence of the neckmess in 2025 shows that personal storytelling through jewelry is more than a fleeting fashion—it’s a lasting….
Gems and Jewellery News: A Throwback with Staying Power
Once a quirky social media hashtag, the #neckmess trend is enjoying a full-blown renaissance in 2025. First coined by designer Jessica Kagan Cushman in 2016, the term captured a bold and expressive style of layering multiple necklaces of varying lengths, metals, and textures to create an intentional, maximalist look. The trend hit its stride during the early pandemic years, where Zoom became the new runway and neckwear took center stage.
The Layered Necklace Trend makes a comeback in Summer and Autumn of 2025
Image Credit: Missoma
Gold link chains, sentimental pendants, talismans, and symbolic charms were all thrown into the mix, resulting in a style that was both protective and empowering. In those uncertain COVID-19 years, necklaces weren’t just about fashion—they became armor. This Gems and Jewellery News report highlights how such expressions of personal style became a form of spiritual grounding and self-assurance in a world full of unknowns.
Stacking With Significance From designer brands like Foundrae to boutique jewelers like Katmojo and J. Landa Jewelry in Houston, the neckmess has evolved into a curated art form. Foundrae’s designer Beth Hutchens, now a Gem Award winner, emphasizes how jewelry allows wearers to “create their own stories.” Similarly, Jay Landa encourages customers to personalize their stacks with colorful gemstones, evil eye talismans, and charms that tell their story or match their mood. He suggests mixing metals, using a variety of chain styles to avoid tangles, and, most importantly, having fun with it.
Foundrae’s “Mind, Body, Soul” necklace in 18k yellow gold features five medallions with a 0.80-carat ruby, 2.10-carat opal & 0.34 carats of diamonds
Image Credit: Foundrae
It’s this free-spirited attitude that has helped keep the trend alive and expanding across demographics and regions. According to Diana Schade, a jewelry buyer for Saks 5th Avenue, the trend is “region-less and season-less,” still going strong from New York to California. Some collectors even mix high school-era gold chains with new designer pieces, giving birth to a nostalgic yet fashion-forward ensemble.
From Catwalks to Sidewalks
Fashion runways in New York, Paris, and Milan have helped catapult the neckmess from Instagram trend to global statement. Designers like Tom Ford, Isabel Marant, and Schiaparelli incorporated bold necklace stacks in their Spring/Summer 2025 collections, signaling the trend’s high-fashion endorsement. Celebrities like the Hadid sisters, Rihanna, and Chiara Ferragni have also adopted the style, helping to generate more than 100,000 social media posts under the #neckmess hashtag.
Yataghan Jewellery styled in layers of 18K yellow gold and diamonds
Image Credit: Yataghan Jewellery
Global Interpretations and Personal Touches
The layering trend isn’t just limited to Western fashion hubs. In the Middle East, Yataghan Jewellery’s founder Sarah Abudawood sees the style as “a fresh and trendy look” that allows wearers to mix heirlooms, talismans, and modern pieces for a versatile aesthetic suitable for any occasion. Her top advice: choose your chain lengths wisely, make chunky pieces the longest, and always add a personal charm or initial for that bespoke feel.
Social media influencers are also playing a role in keeping the trend alive. Her ever-growing neckmess started with a gold “sexy grandma” necklace and evolved to include emeralds, diamonds, and varied gold chains. Some advocates say, “Start with one special piece, then build slowly. Don’t rush. Let each piece tell a story.”
Not Just for Women Anymore
Perhaps the most exciting evolution is the trend’s crossover into men’s fashion. Brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Rick Owens are now embracing the layered look for their male clientele. Chunky silver links, pearls, and symbolic medallions are finding their place in men’s wardrobes, making neckmess a truly gender-neutral trend.
Whether you’re crafting a stack for spiritual protection, nostalgia, or pure aesthetic drama, the neckmess proves one thing: jewelry is no longer just an accessory. It’s a narrative. A wearable autobiography.
The resurgence of the neckmess in 2025 shows that personal storytelling through jewelry is more than a fleeting fashion—it’s a lasting cultural phenomenon. As designers continue to craft pieces specifically made for stacking and wearers embrace a mix of vintage, heirloom, and cutting-edge styles, this trend has shown impressive staying power. With the global fashion world, social media influencers, and major retailers all aligned, the neckmess is not just surviving—it’s thriving. And it’s only getting messier in the best way possible.
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