Hoop Earrings

Are Hoop Earrings Still in Style?

Yes, and they have been for so long that they behave more like a basic than a trend. What moves with fashion is the shape around the hoop: chunky flat bands, hoops threaded with pearls and huggies worn in a row up the ear all take their turn. A plain round hoop in a warm metal is the safest bet in any decade, and a hoop with a twist, a teardrop outline, a daisy chain or a dangling pearl, is how you look current without chasing anything.

• Timeless. A slim round hoop in a warm metal.
• Current. Chunky bands, pearl hoops, stacked huggies.
• Personal. Shapes, flowers and drops that say something.

Choosing a Hoop Size by Where It Lands

Measure a hoop by the spot it reaches on your face, not by its number alone. Around half an inch, a hoop hugs the lobe and suits second and third holes. Near one inch, it sits just below the lobe, the everyday size that stays clear of collars. From about 1.5 inches up, the hoop starts to frame the face, and past 2 inches it reaches toward the jaw and becomes the main piece of the outfit. Hoops with a drop add the length of the drop to that picture.

• Half inch. Hugs the lobe, stacks easily.
• About 1 inch. The everyday hoop.
• 1.5 inches and up. Frames the face and leads the look.

Posts, Hinges and Threaders

Hoops close in different ways, and the closure changes how easy they are to put on. A post hoop works like a stud, with a straight post through the lobe and a back behind it. A hinged hoop opens at the top and snaps shut, which is how huggies and big lightweight hoops fasten. A threader closure passes a fine wire through the piercing and hooks it into a small loop or the opposite side of the shape. If you like to change earrings quickly, hinged hoops are the fastest to swap; if you prefer the familiar feel of a stud, post hoops are the natural pick.

Plated, Toned or Sterling Hoops

Gold plated hoops carry a thin layer of 14K or 24K gold over brass or sterling silver, so they want gentle care: on after skincare, off for swimming and showers. Steel wearing a gold tone or a rose gold tone holds its color on a tough metal that will not rust, so it handles daily wear with ease. Sterling silver is the classic precious metal and polishes back with a soft cloth. For every earring style on the store, from studs to cartilage pieces, browse the earrings collection, and for warm yellow hoops only, head to the gold tone and gold plated hoops page.