London Celebrity Piercing Styles: How to Get the A-List Look in 2025

From the flashbulbs of a BAFTA red carpet to candid street style snaps in the heart of Notting Hill, London’s celebrities are global trendsetters. Their every fashion choice is observed, analysed, and emulated. In recent years, and especially now in 2025, one of the most significant and personal aspects of this A-list style language is not a handbag or a pair of shoes, but a permanent, artful collection of fine body piercings.

Gone are the days when a cartilage piercing was a fleeting teenage rebellion. Today, a meticulously planned “curated ear” or a perfectly placed septum ring is a sophisticated, powerful, and fundamental component of modern celebrity style. It is a permanent accessory, a way to convey personality and edge with the timeless allure of fine jewellery. But how do they achieve these effortlessly cool and perfectly balanced looks? And more importantly, how can you take inspiration from them to create your own signature style?

This is your definitive guide to decoding the most influential celebrity piercing styles in London. We will move beyond simply identifying the piercings and delve into the philosophy behind them. This is not about blind copying; it’s a masterclass in taking inspiration from the world’s most stylish individuals and translating that into a look that is safe, anatomically appropriate, and uniquely, authentically you. We will deconstruct the specific “looks” of London’s style icons and provide a professional roadmap for how to achieve a similar aesthetic with the help of an expert piercer.

celebrity piercing styles

The New Rules of A-List Adornment: What Defines Celebrity Style

Before we break down individual looks, it’s essential to understand the core principles that unite almost all modern celebrity piercings. There’s a deliberate method behind the seemingly effortless cool.

Rule : Quality Over Quantity (Even When There Is Quantity)

The single most important rule of the modern celebrity piercing aesthetic is an unwavering commitment to quality. You will not see an A-lister with a peeling, low-quality metal ring. Their look is built on a foundation of fine body jewellery. This means:

• Precious Metals: The jewellery is almost always solid 14k or 18k gold (yellow, white, or rose) or platinum. These materials are not just beautiful; they are body-safe and hypoallergenic.
• Genuine Gemstones: The sparkle comes from real diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and opals, often from world-renowned jewellery designers.
• Implant-Grade Basics: Even their simplest pieces, like the initial jewellery they are pierced with, will be made from certified implant-grade titanium, the highest possible standard for safety.

The celebrity look is an investment in quality. It’s the understanding that it is far better to have one or two piercings with stunning, high-quality jewellery than ten piercings with cheap, irritating materials.

Rule : The Piercer as a Secret Stylist

Celebrities do not simply walk into a random studio on a whim. They work with a small, elite group of professional piercers who are, in essence, their personal jewellery stylists. These top-tier piercers have an artist’s eye for composition and a clinician’s understanding of anatomy. An A-list curated ear in London is not a one-day affair; it is a long-term project planned over months or even years in collaboration with a trusted expert. This is the professional secret to achieving that perfectly balanced, harmonious look. The piercer advises on which placements will work with the celebrity’s unique anatomy and helps them build their collection over time, ensuring each new addition complements the last.

Rule : The Power of Curation and Personal Narrative

A celebrity’s piercings are rarely random. They are a curated collection, chosen to tell a story or project a specific image. Whether it’s a minimalist, architectural layout to convey sophistication or a busy, sparkling cascade to project playful glamour, the overall look is intentional. It’s about creating a cohesive theme that aligns with their personal brand. This is the essence of the celebrity piercing styles London is famous for—it’s piercing as a form of personal branding.

celebrity piercing styles

The Lookbook: Deconstructing London’s Most Iconic Celebrity Piercing Styles

Let’s dive into the specifics, breaking down the signature piercing aesthetics of some of the most influential style icons associated with the London scene in 2025.

The Florence Pugh: Edgy, Unapologetic, and Chic

Florence Pugh’s style is defined by a bold, confident energy. She blends classic glamour with a punk-rock edge, and her piercing choices perfectly reflect this duality. It’s a look that is both tough and refined.

• The Vibe: Confident, rebellious, and unapologetic, yet perfectly at home on a high-fashion red carpet.
• The Centrepiece: The Perfectly Placed Septum Piercing: The anchor of Pugh’s look is her iconic septum piercing. It’s the perfect symbol of her edgy sensibility. She typically styles it with a delicate, snug-fitting solid gold hoop or a simple circular barbell. Its power lies in its perfect placement—high and tight in the “sweet spot,” giving it a refined look rather than a drooping one. It is a prime example of how a “rebellious” piercing can look incredibly chic when done correctly.
• The Supporting Cast (The Ears): Her ears complement the septum’s boldness without competing with it. The look is often asymmetrical. One might feature a collection of fine hoops climbing the helix, while the other might have a simple, stacked lobe. This intentional imbalance feels modern and authentic.
• The Jewellery: The material is almost always polished yellow or white gold. However, the motifs are edgier than typical fine jewellery. Think less about flowers and more about clean lines, daggers, or sharp, geometric shapes.
• How to Get the Look: This aesthetic is about making one or two bold statements. The absolute key is a perfectly placed septum piercing. It must be done by a true professional who understands the anatomy of the “sweet spot.” From there, build your look with a few high-quality hoops in your helix and lobes. This is one of the most influential celebrity piercing styles London has seen in recent years.

The Dua Lipa: Maximalist, Layered, and Luxe

As a global pop and fashion icon, Dua Lipa’s style is vibrant, playful, and luxurious.¹ Her approach to piercings is “more is more,” creating a rich, sparkling tapestry of gold and gems that feels both street-style ready and incredibly glamorous.

• The Vibe: A joyful, maximalist celebration of fine jewellery. It’s busy, layered, and full of movement and sparkle.
• The Signature: The “Chain Reaction”: A key feature of her curated ear is the use of multiple delicate chains. These are not just simple accessories; they are an integral part of the composition, connecting a high lobe piercing to a helix, or draping elegantly from a conch stud. This adds a layer of fluidity and opulence to the entire project.
• The Key Placements: Her look is built on a foundation of a heavily stacked lobe, with three or four piercings clustered together. This is complemented by multiple helix piercings (a mix of studs and snug-fitting hoops), and a brilliant, eye-catching conch piercing that acts as the anchor for the entire mid-ear.
• The Jewellery: It’s a yellow gold fantasy. Her collection is a mix of hoops of varying sizes, sparkling diamond studs, and jewellery with vibrant coloured gemstones like emeralds and sapphires. The use of chains and intricate, multi-gem clusters from high-end designers is central to achieving this luxe look.
• How to Get the Look: This is a long-term project that requires a master plan. The first step is to work with a piercer to map out a full ear project. You would start with the foundational piercings—the lobes and a conch, for example—and allow them to heal completely. Over time, you would add the helix piercings and, finally, the decorative chains. This look is the epitome of the curated ear in London.

The Jodie Turner-Smith: Sculptural, Minimalist, and Regal

Jodie Turner-Smith’s style is the definition of high-fashion elegance.² Her choices are architectural, sculptural, and always deliberate. Her approach to piercing reflects this, focusing on the power of negative space and the beauty of a single, perfect statement.

• The Vibe: Regal, artistic, and minimalist-luxe. Each piercing is placed with the precision of a sculptor, designed to highlight the natural beauty of the ear.
• The Signature: The Lone Statement Piece: Unlike a busy curation, her look often revolves around one or two incredibly beautiful and impactful piercings. This might be a single, large, sculptural gold piece in her conch, or a perfectly placed helix orbital (two piercings connected by one seamless ring) that feels like a permanent piece of art.
• The Key Placements: The focus is on unique but clean placements that use the ear’s natural anatomy. A high lobe piercing with a dramatic drop, a single conch, a flat piercing with an artistic top—and often, nothing else. The empty space around the piercing is just as important as the piercing itself.
• The Jewellery: The jewellery is less about sparkle and more about the form of the metal itself. Think abstract gold shapes, unique textures, and sculptural pieces that interact with the curves of the ear. The jewellery is not just an accessory; it is a small sculpture.
• How to Get the Look: This is a “quality over quantity” approach in its purest form. It involves finding that one “hero” piercing that perfectly suits your anatomy and investing in a truly spectacular, unique piece of jewellery for it. It requires an expert piercer with a phenomenal eye for composition and balance.

celebrity piercing styles

From Red Carpet to Reality: Your Plan for Achieving A-List Style

Taking inspiration from these icons is the fun part. Here’s the practical plan for translating that inspiration into your own reality, safely and successfully.

Step 1: Find Your Inspiration, Not Your Twin

Use celebrity photos as a mood board for a vibe, not as a literal blueprint to be copied exactly. The most important factor in a successful piercing project is your unique anatomy. Florence Pugh’s ear is not the same as yours. A piercing that looks perfect on her may not be viable for your anatomy. Show the photos to your piercer and say, “I love the edgy, confident feeling of this,” rather than “I want this exact ear.”

Step 2: A Styling Consultation is Non-Negotiable

As we’ve established, celebrities work with piercer-stylists. You should too. Book a dedicated consultation appointment. This is your chance to have a professional assess your anatomy, listen to your style goals, and help you co-create a piercing plan that is both beautiful and achievable for you. This is the single most important step in your journey.

Step 3: Invest in Quality Jewellery from Day One

The celebrity look is absolutely defined by the quality of the jewellery. It is far better to start your journey with one or two piercings fitted with beautiful, body-safe, solid gold or implant-grade titanium jewellery than it is to get five piercings with cheap, irritating materials that will never heal properly. Your initial piercing jewellery is a long-term investment in your health and the final aesthetic.

Step 4: Embrace the Journey and Be Patient

Remember that a full, multi-piercing curated ear is a project that takes years, even for celebrities. Your body can only safely heal a few piercings at once (we recommend a maximum of 3-4). Rushing the process will only lead to complications. Embrace the journey of slowly building your personal collection over time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I bring in a photo of a celebrity’s ear and ask you to copy it exactly?

You can absolutely bring it in for inspiration! However, a professional piercer will use it as a starting point for a conversation about your unique anatomy. They will adapt the vibe of the celebrity’s look to a custom project that works perfectly for your ear shape and size.

2. Where do celebrities in London actually get their piercings done?

Celebrities tend to be very private about this, but they exclusively visit high-end, appointment-only studios that are known for their professionalism, discretion, and use of fine body jewellery. They seek out renowned individual artists who are known as the best in the industry.

3. I love the gold and diamond look, but I’m on a budget. How can I get a similar feel for less?

This is a great question. The answer is anodised, implant-grade titanium! We can anodise high-quality titanium to a beautiful, rich yellow or rose gold colour for a very small fee. You can pair this with high-quality cubic zirconia or Swarovski gems instead of diamonds. This gives you the same luxurious aesthetic and is 100% body-safe, at a fraction of the cost.

4. Are certain piercings (like the daith or industrial) going out of style with celebrities?

Trends evolve, but classic piercings never truly go out of style. While the daith was a massive trend in the late 2010s, it’s now a classic placement. The focus today is less on a single “it” piercing and more on how a collection of classic placements are styled together in a unique way.

5. How do celebrities seem to heal so many piercings at once?

They don’t! What you see on the red carpet is often a project that has been years in the making. Or, in some cases, they use high-quality “cuffs” and other non-piercing jewellery to create the illusion of a fuller look for a specific event. No one, not even an A-lister, can defy the body’s natural healing process.

celebrity piercing styles

Conclusion

The world of celebrity piercing styles in London offers a stunning source of inspiration. It showcases the incredible artistry and sophistication that modern body piercing has achieved. The key takeaway is that the A-list look is built on a foundation of intentionality, a commitment to high-quality materials, and a collaborative relationship with a skilled professional piercer.

The goal is not to replicate a celebrity’s look, but to channel their confidence and their commitment to quality. Take their inspiration, but make it your own. Create a curated collection of piercings and jewellery that tells your story, fits your body, and reflects your unique personal style.