Body Piercing Gets a Couture Upgrade in 2025

Ahead, discover the allure of subtle sparkle in new body piercing trends, plus tips on how to keep body jewelry clean. 

For years, body piercing has danced on the fringes of mainstream fashion, often associated with rebellion or alternative subcultures. But the narrative around body jewelry has dramatically shifted, due in particular to its sophisticated metamorphosis. Gone are the chunky, industrial hardware pieces of the past body piercing has become a subtle yet powerful statement on couture runways. 

Body Piercing on the Runways

The rise of body jewelry is another sign that the era of quiet luxury has come to a close, as we enter a maximalist aesthetic in fashion and jewelry. 

Spring/Summer 2025 runway shows saw barely-there hoops nestled in the helix of the ear, tiny diamond studs adorning the tragus, or a delicate chain gracefully connecting a lobe piercing to a higher cartilage piercing. On the runways, designers are treating piercings as an extension of the garment, a subtle punctuation mark in their sartorial sentences. We saw this trend most strikingly at Valentino’s Spring/Summer 2025 show in Paris, where models wore septum piercings and lip chains that complemented the chain link bags and bejeweled ensembles. 

Chapell Roan’s manicure at the Rick Owens Spring/Summer 2025 runway show featured silver balls strategically placed on each nail, resembling nipple piercings. At Tory Burch’s Spring/Summer 2025 show, pierced shoes graced the feet of models on the runway, and front row celebs like Michelle Williams and Elizabeth Olsen. Body jewelry has even found its way into your wardrobe: Maison Schiaparelli and Artemisia have recently launched pierced clothing. The effect is less “punk rock” and more “edgy elegance with an edge.”

This isn’t about shock value; it’s about considered detail. Designers are treating piercings as an extension of the garment, a subtle punctuation mark in their sartorial sentences. Imagine a flowing silk gown accented by a constellation of minuscule gold studs tracing the curve of the ear, or a sharply tailored suit elevated by the unexpected gleam of a single, perfectly placed hoop in the daith. The effect is less “punk rock” and more “edgy elegance with an edge.”

Elevated Body Piercing 

Body piercing has evolved to include fine metals like platinum, gold, and sterling silver, often adorned with tiny, high-quality gemstones like diamonds, sapphires, or pearls. The designs are sleek, delicate, and timeless.

The 2025 approach to body jewelry is about intentionality. A single, well-chosen piercing can draw attention to a specific feature or complement the lines of a garment. Consider a delicate nostril stud catching the light as a model turns, or a series of tiny hoops creating a subtle vertical line along the ear.

How to Clean Body Jewelry

Always remove body jewelry before cleaning it. It’s also a  wise idea to clean your body jewelry before the first time you wear it. If you’re getting professionally pierced, a reputable piercer will clean the piece prior to piercing.

Ultrasonic jewelry cleansers like the Connoisseurs La Sonic Diamond Dazzler are an excellent choice for a deep clean, with two speeds, and Safewave® Technology, the Connoisseurs  new ultrasonic cleaner will get rid of all traces of dirt and grime, and is safe on gold, platinum, diamonds, precious, and semi-precious jewelry.

Connoisseurs Tip: If you want to disinfect body jewelry with a sterile cleanser, avoid hydrogen peroxide solutions or , which can damage metals like sterling silver or porous stones, or pearls. 

If you can’t remove your body jewelry easily, Connoisseurs gold polishing cloths, made with micro-fine polishers to remove dirt and tarnish are an excellent way to keep body jewelry sparkling with zero-hassle. They’re a must-have for your jewelry box as you explore this newly luxe take on body piercings.

Festival-bound? Pack the Connoisseurs Jewelry Wipes Compact and clean your body jewelry on-the-go. These disposable wipes are perfect for both gold and silver jewelry. 

Another recommended product to use to clean body jewelry is to use the Connoisseurs Fine Jewelry Cleaner (remove jewelry first).

Fine/Silver Jewelry cleaner and Jewelry Wipes 

Featured Image – Clockwise from top left: Viviene Westwood, Valentino SS25, Etro SS25 | Launchmetrics Spotlight