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Angelina Jolie Wore a Gold Chin Cuff and We’re Not Sure What to Think

At her latest premiere, the push-the-boundaries actress debuted jewelry that could be mistaken for a chin splint or dental appliance.

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ANGELA JOLIE IS no stranger to pushing the boundaries or wearing jewelry and fashion that is out of the box. Remember the 50-carat diamond Robert Procop Scorpion brooch she wore to the first screening of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. And then for the London screening, she had a 24K corset custom made for her by a master goldsmith named Sabine Roemer.

Saying she doesn’t play it safe is an understatement, so the apparatus she was wearing to the premiere of Eternals (designed as a piece of jewelry for the chin and lip) should come as no surprise. It did, however, bring up questions on social media as to whether she could speak in the gold piece that covered and fit snugly under her chin and attached and secured inside her mouth over her lip. Other questions arose on social media as to whether she wanted the piece to be representative of superheroes for the Marvel Studios premiere. It was designed in collaboration with Austin-based jeweler Nina Berenato who custom made the style in 14K gold.

Berenato created the Face Mask for Beyonce’s Spirit video, which she describes as the inspiration for the lip cuff that Jolie wore. But did her creativity carry over to the red carpet from the 10 masks she designed for the video, which were part of a “story line” and were meant to evoke warriors?

Was this the epitome of glamour and chic that we have come to associate with A-list actresses at premieres and red carpet events?

Let’s take a step back. In 2009, Jolie shook up the diamond-studded red carpet of the Academy Awards in 115-carat pear-shaped emerald drop earrings designed by Lorraine Schwartz. After that, everyone, from other A-list actresses to jewelry retailers to women on the street, wanted to imitate the look, and Jolie was credited with bringing color back to the awards presentations and emeralds back as a major trend that has evolved ever since.

Back then it was glamour and beauty, color and life, but what is it today? Individuality, for sure. Assertive, confident, perhaps a little aggressive — and really, I am not sure what to make of it.

In the day of mask-wearing, was Jolie so excited to go without one that she wanted to create a jewel around her mouth? Or another question which one can pose: Is this look following in the trend of grills, diamond-studded crowns and lip, nose and face piercings?

I don’t think it is. Those are too much of a commitment. The lip cuff is not altering her face; it can be taken off at any time. There is, however, a bit of a Hannibal Lecter in Silence of The Lambs vibe going on. OK, maybe not that intense, and I am exaggerating the point a bit here, but it’s still a little startling. It definitely isn’t one that adds sparkle and shine around the face, the way jewelry is meant to adorn. And with a beauty like Jolie, jewelry should accent rather than be the statement.

But maybe that’s the whole point. I am looking at it from a fine jewelry journalist’s point of view. Maybe we need to go past the limits of what’s conventional and shake up what fine jewelry is supposed to be? We have done that in different ways that were a little more understandable, versatile and wearable, so why not with this piece?

However, with all that said, let’s talk trends. I don’t think it will be creating any the way the emerald earrings did. And I still think of dental contraptions when I look at it. I also can’t imagine going out to dinner with it — did anyone see Jolie drink or eat in it? Painful to think about. However, the other pieces she wore were in keeping with the directions of the moment: vintage Tiffany gold hoops and a LaLalounis ring from Beladora, both with a 1970s/80s feel. Now those are pieces I’d wear. And I’d leave the shock value to the Eternals star who knows how to keep people talking even if her new jewel won’t allow her to speak comfortably.

So, the big question ... would you wear it?

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