By Tess DiNapoli
Classic hoop earrings have been around since women first started wearing jewelry thousands of years ago. Some of the earliest accounts date back to 2500 BC, when Egyptian women, and even cats, were adorned with hoop earrings. In Roman times under Julius Caesar, earrings became a status symbol. In some cases, this still holds true today. The classic gold hoop has evolved through jewelry designers to include diamonds and other precious stones. Models and movie stars still sport hoop earrings, from small and modest ones to big and flashy, which is why they are such a fashion staple still to this day. Hoops are typically available in a partial hoop with a backing or a continuous loop style of clasp.
Hoop earrings are appropriate for literally any occasion! Except, perhaps, when you have a child from ages 1 to 2 years old. Moms know what I’m talking about. Don’t worry, your kid will outgrow the stage where they grab and pull on all your cute and trendy jewelry and then you can break out the hoops again. But, as I was saying, hoops are perfect for a day at the park, a night out on the town with friends, or any casual weekend fun. Recently, designers have thought outside the box, or the hoop, and created some unique styles to change up the classic look. If you want to surprise your wife or friend with these elegant styles, you can pick any of the items as a jewelry gift for her.
Have you tied the knot yet? If you recently got married, you may have seen the new ‘knot’ style of jewelry that is very popular these days. Now, you can add tied knots in gold, silver, and rose gold to your earrings, necklaces, and bracelets to keep your wedding ring company and add additional symbolism that you are KNOT available. Another great use for knot-style jewelry is to give it as a gift to cement relationship anniversaries. It’s a simple twist on an old classic that you can treasure for years to come.
By slightly tweaking the shape of a hoop, designers have created a whole new category of hoop earrings that include shapes like diamonds, hearts, snake-like squiggles, and octagon loops. You can often find these unique earrings in more affordable mediums like sterling silver, beads, and acrylic in a variety of shapes, some even with different poppin’ prints. Lighter materials, like acrylic, offer lightweight options that won’t weigh your ear lobes down. You may have visited a craft fair recently and seen some examples of homemade earrings made from art resin epoxy, an extremely versatile material for jewelry making. Resin casting can create bright colors and glittering shine in earrings and other jewelry.
As much as I love the versatility of cheaper jewelry, many of the top jewelry designers of 2019, like Thea Miller and GiGi Ferranti, deal mainly with your classic jewelry metals and precious stones. Adding a small diamond or pearl to a simple gold hoop can bump up your class. Better yet, what woman wouldn’t want an entire string of diamonds around a hoop? Just be sure you’re shopping for diamond hoops that have a solid clasp and likely won’t fall out. Classic materials like these will never go out of style.
Another twist on the classic hoop earring is to add a dangling centerpiece. You can find earrings like this with front-facing or side-facing hoops. Centerpieces can range from precious stones to small charms to smaller hoops. I have also seen hoops with other hoops connected to form a chain. This is a great way to create long dangling earrings from the classic hoop shape.
Classic hoop earrings and modern versions both make great gifts for any woman, and some men, who have pierced ears. Small hoops are less flashy while large hoops draw in the attention and are great to bring life into a simple outfit. Popular box store jewelers like Kays, Jared, and Pandora offer simple variations of hoop style earrings. To really break outside of the norm, though, you’ve got to shop online and seek out unique fashion labels and boutiques. If you’re a millennial, you know what I’m talking about. The best fashion and trendy styles just can’t be found at a cookie-cutter establishment. Now that you know another jewelry trend that’s not going away, it’s time to get browsing, and be careful not to catch your hoops on something and pull them out!
About the Author
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and the world of fitness.
