Dust off your boy band playlists, order up a round of Smirnoff Ice, and prepare for a full-blown nostalgia wave: the puka shell necklace is officially making a comeback. And we have Antoni Porowski to thank for it.
The Queer Eye food and fashion savant sent shockwaves through style circles on Monday, April 21, when he appeared at a New York City screening of CNN’s Searching for Spain with Eva Longoria—not just looking polished and handsome, but rocking a truly unexpected accessory: a puka shell necklace.
Antoni Porowski and Eva Longoria attend the CNN ‘Searching for Spain with Eva Longoria’ Screening and Reception in New York City. (Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Yes, that’s right. The beachy, white, ring-shaped shells—synonymous with ‘90s teen culture, frosted tips, and mall food courts—are back from fashion exile. And Antoni wore them with intention. Pairing the shells with a tailored tan linen suit, matching vest, and a crisp, collarless white shirt unbuttoned just enough to spotlight the necklace (and maybe a little chest), he turned what could have been a retro punchline into a confident, contemporary fashion statement.
A Shell-Ful of Nostalgia
Puka shells, which originated in Hawaii, became popularized in mainland fashion during the ’70s and ’80s as a symbol of laid-back surfer vibes. But their real cultural chokehold came in the ’90s and early 2000s, when every teen heartthrob from MTV to The WB rocked them—whether with cargo shorts, ripped Abercrombie jeans, or yes, those unforgettable frosted tips.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, aged 16 and 15, wearing matching puka shell necklaces in the 1980s. pic.twitter.com/vrBtP9ha5Y
— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) January 12, 2025
Frosted tips: Who wore them better? @NickLachey or ya boy? pic.twitter.com/ETcPgKgyZp
— Matt Scronce (@MaTtKs) April 21, 2018
Gay, straight, or somewhere in-between, the puka didn’t discriminate. It was a unisex staple that somehow walked the line between SoCal cool and suburban mall chaos. Now, it appears to be inching its way back into the mainstream.
Antoni Doubles Down
Proving his neckwear revival was no one-time novelty, Antoni doubled down on the trend just days later. At a cocktail reception for luxury menswear label Dunhill, he stepped out again—this time in a more understated ensemble featuring a fitted henley shirt and a more subdued version of the puka necklace.
Photo: Instagram (@antoni/@dunhill)
The message is clear: This isn’t just a throwback. It’s a fashion movement.
Antoni hasn’t yet publicly addressed his newfound shell obsession, but let’s be honest—we’re all waiting for the inevitable Instagram carousel post, complete with a cheeky caption and maybe a slow-motion hair flip. And possibly, dare we say, a nod to the forbidden fruit of Y2K fashion: frosted tips.
The Puka Shell’s Pop Culture Encore
Turns out, Antoni isn’t the only one catching the puka wave. Sharp-eyed fans of The Last of Us noticed a surprise cameo by the iconic necklace on actress Tati Gabrielle’s character Nora in a recent episode. Whether it was a subtle nod to better times or a survival-era fashion flex, one thing is certain: the shell is everywhere.
that damn puka shell necklace pic.twitter.com/pU0e8ah1MU
— vanya ⏦ﾟ♡︎ (@loveivypool) April 21, 2025
So go ahead, laugh, cringe, or embrace your inner early-2000s self. Puka shells are back—and they might just be here to stay.
And as for Antoni? He’s leading the charge with a wink, a smirk, and a killer linen suit.
channeling my inner 90’s puka shell gay pic.twitter.com/ZWEesVObW3
— J❂N (@jortiii) June 19, 2020
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