Hello Kitty Belly Rings

Hello Kitty belly rings are the latest in a long line of products bearing this cultural icon's likeness. If you doubt the furry one's popularity, contemplate this: she racks up half a billion dollars in sales annually.

Silver Hello Kitty Belly Button Ring

Hello Kitty quietly made her world debut nearly thirty years ago. There was no fanfare to herald her arrival or proclaim her "the next big thing"; there was no media blitz to sell her product line or promote her new cartoon. She simply began appearing in novelty stores, and the rest is history.

For the few who may not know who Hello Kitty is, she is an utterly adorable image of a little white cat. Her head is rather large for her body, but her black dot eyes, simple orange nose and complete lack of a mouth all add up to one incredibly cute kitty.

Hello Kitty also seems to enjoy fashion. She sports various bows and other accessories tucked next to her ear, and appears in various outfits. As a matter of fact, she seems to have a fashion theme for each year: sometimes plaid, sometimes pink, but always well-coordinated.

At this point you may wonder about the character behind the image. According to the website set up for her by her Japanese creators, Sanrio Company LTD., her full name is Kitty White and she lives in London with her sister Mimmy and their parents. She loves music, travelling, eating cookies and making new friends. What more do we need to know?

The Hello Kitty product line is extensive, even if you rarely see it advertised.

The short list includes:

• Coin purses
• Pencils and pens
• Pencil sharpeners
• Key rings
• Hair barrettes
• Handbags
• Plush toys
• Guitars
• Clothing
• Jewelry

The jewelry line is perhaps one of Sanrio's biggest sellers, and is highly popular with the little girl set. However, big girls still seem to have some affection for the furry one, leading to the creation of accessories for older teens and twenty-somethings.

Hello Kitty belly rings epitomize this trend toward market focus on non-traditional age groups. Belly rings are designed to be worn in naval piercings, and can be exposed or covered as you please.

• Hello Kitty naval rings sold at MonsterSteel.com are available in a bar bell design. A curved bar or post made from 316L stainless steel sports a ball at both ends, one to hold the jewelry in place, and another that features Hello Kitty's image hanging directly in front of the naval. The entire piece is just over an inch in length, and retails around $15.00 US.
• Punk Style Gear offers a dangling crystal belly ring of the famous kitten at Amazon.com. The body of the piece is made from stainless steel and retails for $10.99.
• The Hello Kitty Tongue ring is similar to the belly ring, but meant to be worn in the mouth through a tongue piercing. This bar bell jewelry is approximately half an inch long, and holds Kitty's image on the visible top ball, while a second ball holds the bar in place from beneath. The piece is made from the same hypo-allergenic 316L stainless steel and retails at MonsterSteel.com for $14.64 US.

Although Hello Kitty body jewelry is meant for the older crowd, Sanrio's focus is still mainly set on younger girls. Let's look at some of the jewelry available to this age group.

Charms just never seem to go out of style. The Hello Kitty charm bracelet pairs Kitty with cute enameled flowers and has plenty of links to hold charms. Chose your favorites from a variety of themes, including Kitty flying airplanes, doing aerobics and dancing the hula! The bracelet retails for $10.00 US and the charms sell for $5.00.

The word of the day is "dazzle". The line includes rings made from sterling silver set with plenty of rhinestones to create Kitty's face. These rings are adjustable to fit most small fingers and sell for $25.00 US.

If "bling" isn't your thing, you can opt for an enameled version that only bears a few crystals, but be prepared for sticker shock. Designed by Tarina Tarantino, this ring retails for $100.00 US. Since it is keepsake quality, it can be passed on to future generations, so the initial price can be thought of as an investment.

At the less expensive end of the spectrum, we have the Hello Kitty choker. This item is ideal for little girls. It's made with pink plastic links, and sports a trendy pendant of Kitty wearing a baseball cap as she gives us a jaunty wink.

From the Tarantino collection, the Crystal Frame necklace has a decidedly vintage look. Tarantino uses Swarovski crystals to frame an adorable enameled image of Kitty. The price on this item is $95.00 US, and matching earrings are available for $100.00.

Hello Kitty seems to hold lasting appeal for both girls and young women. There's just something about this innocent little kitten that touches our heart strings, and next generation items like belly and tongue rings help us hold onto her for just a little while longer.

• Sanrio.com, the official Hello Kitty website. Play games, create artwork, shop!

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