Crazy for Cameos

So on-point was Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty lingerie show during New York Fashion Week that it was widely heralded as the death knell of that industry behemoth, Victoria’s Secret. Of course, the latter runway show was already facing accusations of being out of touch with real women, but the key takeaway from the music icon’s display was clear: Rihanna knows what’s trending. And her next move was a line of Fenty costume jewels starring cameos.

Cameos date back to 300 BCE in Alexandria, Egypt, and have fluttered in and out of fashion since. They were especially popular in the Victorian and Roman eras. Early examples show historic scenes or portraits carved into stone, but sardonyx seashells later proved to be an ideal canvas, with two layers of color.

Today, cameos are getting a new lease on life. The traditional Roman- and Grecian-style portraits remain popular; upcycled or repro cameos are often juxtaposed with contemporary settings. Modern iterations of the cameos themselves are also working their way in, such as photo-realistic portraits of kids or pets, or quirky scenes such as memento mori-inspired skulls. Materials are shifting as well: Artists are applying cameo-like carving to gemstones like chalcedony and coral, providing a refreshing facelift for this classic style.

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