There is a long history in Tibetan Buddhism of extravagant dress and ornamentation. This can be seen in the historical depictions of Tibetan Buddhist deities, both female, male and genderless figures that are draped with jewelry from earrings to toe rings.
Tibetan government officials and their wives, before the Chinese takeover, would adorn themselves with extravagant jewelry created by goldsmiths in Lhasa from coral, amber, lapis lazuli and pearls. The jewelry had mystical powers to the wearers, who believed it could ward off gossip, infertility, disease and bullets. And jewelry also signified career rank, as officials loaded on more jewelry with each promotion. During Asia Week in New York, there will be six different exhibits dedicated to historical Tibetan jewelry, including a museum gallery show called "Tiaras to Toe Rings."