A staple fashion accessory, there are hoop earrings for many occasions and many different style aesthetics. There’s a few key things to think about when choosing your perfect pair of gold hoop earrings, so here is a breakdown of some factors to consider when you start earring shopping.
Size and Thickness: How to choose based on personal style and occasion.
Small gold hoop earrings are great for a more understated look with their dainty size, making them an excellent everyday accessory. Whether it’s a casual day out or at work in the office, smaller hoops are a more subtle choice. Generally slimmer hoops are more delicate and suit the casual look. For occasions such as weddings, smaller hoops with diamonds embellished can create an elegant look. Small hoops work well stacked next to another ear piercing. If you love your clothes to be embellished with sequins or beads and full of intricate patterns then smaller hoops are a good match. If you have a heart shaped face, smaller hoops will even out your face, draw attention to your chin and compliment your features.
On the other hand, if you want to add some drama and make a statement, opt for a pair of large gold hoop earrings, thicker hoops make for a dressier aesthetic, a night out or a party is a great excuse to incorporate this style of earring. Large gold hoop earrings added to a simple chic outfit will create a stunning effect. The larger hoops attract more attention to your face and earlobes so try tying your hair back to allow the hoops to enhance your natural features. Do avoid wearing collars with bigger hoops. Overly large hoops may overshadow your features if you have a square shaped faced and are more flattering for a round or oval face.
If you want the best of both worlds, the safe bet is to opt for medium sized hoops, the most popular and versatile style. These can be dressed up or down so no matter what the occasion or style you can add some personality with medium gold hoops. V necks and low-cut tops in particular look good with medium to big hoops. If you have a square shaped face medium hoops are just right to soften the angles of your face.
Gold Purity: Understanding karats and what to look for
Gold hoop earrings range in quality and subsequently in price so its important to know how good your hoops are before paying a large sum for them. Gold is soft and therefore other metals are used to make it stronger and to add colour. The metals are known as ‘the alloys’. Gold is measured as parts per 1000 in fineness and known in carats (ct) or karats (k). The carat tells us the amount of gold within a metal, the gold purity and possibly how valuable it is. A higher carat indicates a tougher item that is more resistant to chemicals. For example, 18ct yellow gold hoop earrings are less likely to become dull or tarnish than 9ct yellow gold hoop earrings. Gold alloys can be recognised differently in different countries – there are 6 in the UK. If you’re buying hoops with diamonds embellished, it’s worth checking the diamond quality to indicate how precious the diamonds featured are. Identifying any hallmarks on your hoop earrings can let you know if the hoops are antique or who they were made by.
Design Variations of the Hoop Earring
Whilst the hoop earring is a well-known accessory, there are several design variations. Beyond the different metals, sizes and thicknesses there are multiple styles of the hoop earring, each bringing its own unique flair to your look.
- Textured – A rippled edge to your hoop, intricate patterns, designs and detailing can add extra dimensions to your earrings. Textures include hammered, braided or twisted and all add another layer of style.
- Mini or Huggie – These styles are small and snug and work for everyday casual or night time formal and are good for stacking with other earrings if you have multiple piercings.
- Chunky – These thicker style hoops make for a bold and dramatic look.
- Two tone and mixed metal – Combining multiple metals like gold and silver create a contrast that makes them an eye-catching accessory, a great choice for mixing and matching metals.
- Charm – These hoops can be embellished with a feature or several gemstones to add a pop of colour and some sparkle.
Comfort and Weight: Tips for choosing comfortable earrings
A stylish accessory is nice but your comfort is more important and therefore you should consider your style of hoop earrings to ensure you are comfortable. Smaller and huggie hoop earrings are the least uncomfortable as their dainty size allows them to be worn daily and are least likely to damage your ears or get damaged themselves. Large hoop earrings however may become heavy and therefore should avoid being worn all day and especially not to sleep in as they’ll be uncomfortable and may get damaged. The thicker the hoops, the heavier they’ll be but also your earlobes may affect the comfort of your earrings. If you have tiny earlobes larger hoops may be more unpleasant to wear, similarly if you have medium to large sized earlobes wearing hoops that are smaller might not dangle straight or be comfortable.
Gold hoop earrings come in multiple sizes and styles but ultimately you should pick a pair that will be comfortable when you’re wearing them. Consider the occasion, your outfit you wish to pair them with, your face shape and your personal taste when it comes to the details and design of the hoop earrings. Be confident and embrace your style whilst incorporating this timeless accessory.
