Most earrings are one of four shapes. A stud sits on the lobe. A hoop circles below it. A drop hangs and moves. A huggie is a small hoop that hugs the lobe closely. Choose by how much you want the earring to do: a stud finishes a look, a hoop frames the face, a drop adds movement, and a huggie gives you the shape of a hoop with the ease of a stud.
Stud Earrings: The Pair You Never Take Off
A stud is the most wearable earring there is. It sits flat against the lobe, it does not catch on a jumper or a scarf, and it works from a morning meeting to dinner without a second thought. That is why so many of us own one pair we barely remove.
Choose a stud by its outline first. A single round stone or a small cluster reads as classic and goes with everything. A shape, such as a heart or a flower, is more personal and works well as a gift. Then choose the size: small studs disappear into everyday life, while a larger cluster becomes the point of the look. Miluna's Silver Radiant Studs set crystals in a small sunburst; Guess's Gold Heart Stud Earrings frame a heart in pavé; Pandora's Silver Flower Studs are softer and floral; Stroili's Silver Cluster Studs gather several stones into one bright point.
- Silver Radiant Studs
- Gold Heart Stud Earrings
- Silver Flower Stud Earrings
- Silver Cluster Stud Earrings
Hoop Earrings: How to Choose the Size
A hoop frames the face, and its size decides how much. A small hoop, roughly the width of a fingertip, is almost as easy as a stud. A medium hoop, around the size of a coin, is the everyday choice for most people. A large hoop is a statement, and suits a simple outfit and hair worn up or back.
The surface matters as much as the size. A smooth, polished hoop is the most versatile. A textured or beaded hoop catches more light and looks richer at a distance. A hoop with pearls or small stones moves it towards evening. Giovanni Raspini's and Stroili's Textured Silver Hoops show what texture does; Guess's Silver Pearl Hoops and Miluna's Twisted Pavé Hoops show how a few small details change the mood.
- Textured Silver Hoop Earrings
- Textured Silver Hoops
- Silver Pearl Hoop Earrings
- Twisted Pavé Hoop Earrings
Drop Earrings: Movement and Length
A drop earring hangs below the lobe and moves as you do, which is what makes it feel dressed. The length is the decision. A short drop, just below the lobe, is still easy to wear in the day. A longer drop draws the eye down towards the neck and shoulders, and is at its best with an open neckline and hair worn away from the face.
Shape changes the character. A teardrop is graceful and formal, as in Stroili's Sterling Silver Teardrop Drop Earrings. A long, slender line, like Miluna's White Gold Drop Earrings, lengthens the face. A playful motif, such as Guess's Gold Star Drops, keeps it light. Coloured stones, as in Sense's Multi-Gem Drop Earrings, bring a drop to the centre of the look.
- Sterling Silver Teardrop Drop Earrings
- White Gold Drop Earrings
- Gold Star Drop Earrings
- Multi-Gem Drop Earrings
Huggie Earrings: A Hoop That Stays Close
A huggie is a small, thick hoop that sits snugly around the lobe, usually on a hinge. It has the shape of a hoop with the comfort of a stud, which makes it the earring people sleep in, travel in and forget they are wearing. A plain huggie is quietly modern; one with a single pearl or a line of small stones adds a little light.
24Kae's Gold Huggie Hoops cradle a pearl close to the ear, and Sense's Silver Sapphire Huggies add a touch of colour.
Which Shape Suits Your Face?
There are no rules, only effects. A round face is often lengthened by a drop or a slim hoop. A long face is balanced by a stud, a cluster or a wider hoop that adds width at the jaw. A heart-shaped face suits a drop that is fuller at the bottom. If you are unsure, start with a medium hoop: it suits almost everyone.
How to Wear More Than One
If you have more than one piercing, build from the lobe up and from larger to smaller. A hoop or drop in the first hole, a huggie in the second and a small stud higher up gives a stack that looks considered rather than crowded. Keep to one metal, or one metal and one stone colour, and the stack will read as a single piece.
Caring for Your Earrings
Put earrings on last and take them off first: perfume, hairspray and creams dull metal and stones. Store each pair separately, so hoops do not scratch one another and drops do not tangle. Wipe silver with a soft cloth to bring back its shine, and keep pieces dry when you are not wearing them.
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