The return of the septum piercing

What do William Shakespeare, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Zoe Kravitz, Rihanna, and Kylie Jenner have in common? The answer to the unusual question lies in a detail that can be small and discreet but also big and sparkling, piercings. An impressive and timeless ornament, a piercing in particular returns to speak of itself thanks to the mystical direction of Alessandro Michele at Gucci: the septum. The technical name of the piercing in the spot in between nostrils, the septum militates in the sub-urban western culture by the first anti-conformists of the 70s, then made celebs and supermodels fall in love in the 90s, making, as a result, crazy fans, girls and their parents. In the early 2000s having a piercing was a status symbol, a statement of uniqueness and character. 

Thanks to the oversized version covered with diamonds and floral details of the Italian brand master of hype, the nose jewel dear to the iconography of fashion returns to be desired as it had happened in the past. Piercing originated in the Eastern tribal culture, where it was practiced as an inhibitor of sexuality and was historically adopted and imported to Europe first by the Romans and then by the English royal court in the 17th century. Today it remains a unique detail to add to your look to communicate belonging to a stylistic niche or a social subgroup, as it worked for the punks who wore it proudly in their golden years. Are we witnessing his return? nss G-Club accompanies you in the discovery of the history and evolution of the second most famous piercing in the world.

Historical notes

The tradition of piercing the skin dates back even before the Ancient Egyptians and is considered by many prehistoric historians. Bodily modifications were used in the peoples of Africa, India, and Asia in general to symbolize spiritual beliefs and values. The septum was practiced by Native American warrior tribes for a decorative and distinctive matter, for example. With the colonization, the phenomenon arrives in Europe, where it is seen as pagan and subversive practice.

After years of diffusion in the narrow circles of artists and lovers of foreign realities, it was from 1975, with the opening of the first piercer parlor in Los Angeles, The Gauntlet, that the number of pierced faces began to increase around the world. The wave also arrives in London, from where then starts the Punk movement that marries to the nth power the cause of the annoying and subversive nonconformism, often used by participants in the niches BSDM and S&M for the imagining of pain and power that arises. It’s here that fashion and piercing meet: Vivienne Westwood, inserted into the rock scene and inspired by the anarchist strength of distancing from their parents' class.

Septum on fashion runways

After the 70s something changes and the piercings become pop accessories, always with a rebel meaning linked to the unconventional world of subcultures on the margins of society, which then in the 90s becomes the object of interest of the world of high fashion. 

The piercings pierced all the realms of pop culture with the arrival in couture: in 1997, the models on the catwalk Givenchy by Alexander McQueen parade with septum and ornaments from the animal world; in 2016, again for Givenchy, Riccardo Tisci dares to decorate the lobes and nostrils of the models with the facial jewel, which from that moment on will become a real aesthetic reference point. Today, piercing trends are driven by large online profiles.

Celebrities wearing septum

Using piercings to have a more glam-rock look? That’s what Kylie Jenner did in 2016, when she took an entire shoot for Elle with nipple piercings and then with the nose ring, bringing "a significant increase in incoming people for nipple piercings," according to expert Paul King. The use of piercing at a decorative and stylistic level by celeb brings the former tribal practice to a mainstream level, where it no longer needs to pierce your nose to wear it, given the trade of septum models to be applied without perforation. Rihanna, Zoe Kravitz, Lady Gaga, Zendaya, Jessica Biel, FKA Twigs, and many other celebrities have suffered the charm of piercing, even taking it on the catwalks of official events.