Chola Bracelets, ex. 1-from Teen Angeles Magazine
I recently checked my blog stats and was surprised to discover “chola bracelets” was one of the top search queries leading to this site. I myself have had difficulty finding graphics, photos or any info whatsoever having to do with the once ubiquitous black rubber bracelets. So I’ve decided to placate the Google gods with these images in order to aid those looking for graphic samples of this not quite forgotten 70s chola fashion accessory. Example number one, above.
Cholas wore this? A lot of my male friends wore them, and so did I for a while… I thought it was just a punk thing, but I’m glad I was proven wrong.
Well, So Cal punks (and others in the hardcore scene) took the look from chol@s along with plaid shirts, baggy pants, bandanas etc. I haven’t scene anyone wearing them in this intricate style recently, have you?
I also remember these large o-rings back in the 70s going to middle school. Also, remember those plastic tube bracelets filled with water in all different colors? It was always funny when those bracelets separated and all of the food-colored water stained your clothes, skin, school books, and your desk. The teachers would go crazy.
I’ve never seen them on the fingers like that, just linked up on the wrists. Pretty cool drawing.
Chimatli,
I used to wear the double-loopish bracelets and I have seen some wear them as intricately as this chola on her fingers (it’s not that hard, if I remember correctly).
I was watching the Alarma show last night (thanks, LA Eastside!) and saw an 18 St guy in Honduras (who killed something like 18 people) sporting the classic double loop chola bracelet. The style lives on!
I dressed up as a chola for a 80’s/90’s themed prom party and I had them through my fingers as seen here.
Ritzy, you got the look down! Be careful or else they’ll start calling YOU “La Krazy Chorty!”
I used to wear colorful ones when I was a candy raver lol! back in the days
I get tons of hits from the tag “smile now cry later”. I dressed up as a chola for Halloween too…I remember the chola bracelets all wrapped up in the fingers…I used to sneak them on my wrists once I got off the bus in middle school. It is quite the headtrip to get all geared up like that on Halloween…I was ready to jump some fools. For reals. 🙂
I ve ben looking for these everywere were can i get them??? plz hlep!!
You can buy those bracelets at Hot Topic or Claires accessories…
Hi Nina,
I was just at Maya this weekend on Hollywood Blvd in Los Feliz (it used to be on Melrose) and they have the original rubber black bracelets 3 for $1. A really good price!
omg! I actually have the teen angels issue this image came out of, that is what high fashion should look like. Anyway check out my blog.
cheers,
Inept for Adulthood
I used to rock these when Madonna was pumping out “Like a Virgin”. I found My Chola Bracelets at Hot Topic in the mall.
I remember back in the 80s wearing chola bands, and the gringas would say some chit “she’s tryin’ to be like Madonna” and I would “excuse me, Cholas been around way before Madonna’s ass, she’s borrowing our look”…I remember I bought the ones from Teen Angel’s Magazine they had where you could get 100 of them for like $20 or something like that… Sakkara aka Angel
I sported chola bracelets then and I’d sport them now along with my Nike Cortez!!!! Yepa Yepa!!
i recently read an article about madonna and her original stylist who taking credit for inventing “jelly bracelets”. i sent the author an email and she realized she was incorrect and changed the article based on my “chola” feedback. as i pat myself on the back…
khris
That is sooooo awesome. Thanks for sharing! If you can, please send a link of the article.