Once considered a necessary gadget, wired headphones have now taken on a new role — not as audio tools, but as fashion statements. Today, they are less about sound and more about style, with some brands turning them into high-end accessories.
Estonian fashion label Racer Worldwide is leading this trend. The brand recently introduced the RacerPods necklace, a stainless steel piece that looks just like a pair of wired earbuds. These “headphones” don’t play music. Instead, they serve as a bold fashion item. Sold for $68 on the brand’s website, the RacerPods can be worn around the neck or even placed in the ears for an edgy look.
This rise of wired headphones as jewelry is both nostalgic and surprising. Wireless headphones had dominated the market for nearly ten years. Traditional wired versions were seen as outdated — until recently. Like vinyl records and disposable cameras, wired headphones are now making a stylish return.
But today’s fashion-focused wired headphones aren’t about functionality. They are about the look and the memory of a simpler digital time. Their lack of use is actually part of the appeal.
Luxury fashion brands have taken notice. Louis Vuitton’s Spring 2025 collection featured leather accessories inspired by classic iPods and wired headphones. These items didn’t work — and weren’t meant to. Chanel’s double-C branded earbuds do function, but their design, not their sound quality, is what draws buyers.
The trend reaches beyond luxury houses. Popular culture icons and independent designers are embracing it too. Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS brand, along with indie labels like Jane Wade and Nahmias, have used wired headphones in their campaigns. These accessories are styled for visual impact, not practicality.
Even social media is playing a role. Instagram account @wireditgirls celebrates this aesthetic, showcasing users who turn headphone cords into fashion features.
The wires — often seen as awkward in the age of Bluetooth — are now the main attraction. Whether or not the headphones connect to a device no longer matters.
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