Above: Bespoke gold & silver ball hoop earrings from Elin Horgan Jewellery
The humble hoop earring might be one of the jewellery world’s most enduring designs. More than any other earring style, the possibilities with hoops are endless - with everything from super-sized gemstone encrusted pairs through to dainty little huggies popular right now.
They are without doubt a jewellery box staple. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say that you’ll never regret investing in a great pair of classic hoop earrings. Whether you prefer small, large, gold, silver, platinum, sparkly, colourful or super minimal there is a hoop earring for you.
Stylish and practical they always are the ultimate go to accessory, perfect for completing any outfit and best of all they suit everyone! Are you sold?! Then read on for my pick of the 8 of the best hoop earring styles to shop right now.
1) The Creole hoop earring
A Creole hoop is a hoop earring style that has a elongated oval shape and is usually slightly wider at the bottom than the top. Often ornately decorated they are a design that’s traditionally associated with America’s deep South and are sometimes also known as New Orleans hoops.
You can find some fabulous second hand creole hoops in vintage and antiques stores and on eBay, but if you’d prefer to buy new then check out this rather beautiful 9ct gold pair by Arumn.Ldn (also available through Wolf & Badger). Or, if you fancy something less ornate then opt for these small and subtle 9ct gold Creole hoop earrings from The Jewellers which are the perfect everyday pair.
2) The maximalist hoop earring
Are you a more is more kind of person? Then the maximalist hoop (aka the party hoop) is for you. If you want your jewellery to make a statement then bigger is always better and you can experiment with texture, charms and gemstones. There are so many unique earring designs to choose from.
Add a bit of va va voom to any party outfit with these Gold vermeil zirconia encrusted hoops from Sif Jacobs. If you fancy a pop of colour that’s more wallet friendly then check out these Resin hoop earrings from Big Metal London. From my own collections, I really love the Selene Hoop Earrings which come in gold plated silver and polished recycled silver. Or for a hoop with a (literal) twist there's the Gold Twisted Maxi Hoop Earrings. The best bit about these hoops? You won't need any other accessories, just let your earrings do the talking!
3) The minimalist hoop earring
If the thought of an elaborate and colourful pair of earrings bring you out in a cold sweat (you and me both!) then maybe the minimalist hoop is for you? Simple, subtle and understated jewellery is always a great investment. Choose pieces that are style rather than trend led and you’ll have something that you can wear again and again.
Try my very own Gold Parallel hoop earrings which come in 100% recycled silver and gold plated silver and are both stylish and super light and easy to wear. Or, if you're after some texture then these Monica Vinader Disco small hoop earrings are the perfect wear anywhere pair.
Above: Gold Callisto hoop earrings from Elin Horgan Jewellery
4) The punky hoop earring
Classic, but with a hint of toughness, the punky hoop earring is for those who dare to do things differently. These gloriously gothic Morano Earrings from Bristol-based Slab Jewellery come in silver, gold plated silver or solid 9ct gold and feature a halo of hand carved spikes.
If you want a more minimalist take on this design then check out my Callisto hoop earrings (see photo above) which are handmade from square section recycled silver wire and feature three cast ‘studs’ which give them a pleasing punky edge.
5) The huggie hoop earring
The huggie hoop is a super popular style right now and looks great worn as a main earring or adding some extra ooomph in a second or third piercing. This style (as you may have guessed from the name), is small and close fitting so that it ‘hugs’ the earlobe and it is often a little chunkier than a regular hoop.
These super colourful Rainbow sapphire huggie earrings from luxury ethical brand Edge of Ember are a lovely take on a classic design. Astrid & Miyu also do a great range of elevated, but inexpensive huggies, with crystals that add a bit of sparkle. I particularly like the Gleam Crystal Huggies style which come in silver, yellow and rose gold plate.
6) The gemstone hoop earring
The most popular version of this design is a pave set hoop earring (where the stones are set closely together, separated by little beads of metal) Diamonds are of course the classic choice, like this stunning pair from EC One which are made in London from solid recycled gold, set with conflict free diamonds.
If you’re after something more something more colourful then what about these Iridescent hoops in silver, again from Astrid & Miyu or, if the budget allows, there’s this fabulous pair of Samba 18ct gold rainbows sapphire hoop earrings from Pravins.
For those who want movement as well as some subtle colour, these pretty little Blue Sapphire Beaded Hoop earrings handmade by Bristol jeweller Kate Wood are the ideal choice.They are also available with orange sapphires, pearls and diamond beads in both yellow gold vermeil and oxidised silver.
Above: Gold Smiley Sun hoop earrings from Elin Horgan Jewellery
7) The hoop + charm earring
If versatility is your thing then investing in a hoop earring design with a removable charm makes perfect sense. Essentially you’re getting two earrings for the price of one….what a bargain!
My Luna and Nova hoop earrings both feature a little detachable charm which can be removed so that you can wear them as a plain gold or silver hoop should you wish. They’re handmade from recycled silver and gold plated silver and come in two sizes – the smaller version is 2cm in diameter and works brilliantly as everyday jewellery, the larger is 4cm across for those who like a larger hoop.
If you'd prefer a style to make you smile then why not try the Silver Smiley Sun Hoop Earrings and the Gold Smiley Sun Hoop Earrings which incorporate a cute smiley sun charm that has been individually hand carved meaning that every pair is unique. Again the charms on these hoop earrings can be removed so you can wear them as a plain hoop too.
For those who love a vintage-inspired take on this style, try V by Laura Vann who has a large range of demi fine silver and gold plated hoops with removable coloured cubic zirconia charms like this lovely green and gold pair.
Above: Small gold atomic hoop earrings from Elin Horgan Jewellery
8) The open hoop earring
If you like a hoop with ear post and butterfly back to make them easy to take on and off then the open hoop earring is for you. Essentially a 3/4 circle rather than a full hoop this style is perfect for you if you find through the ear hoops too fiddly.
For a bold design with plenty of delicious texture then look no further than jewellery designer and maker Rosie Kent’s range of handmade hoops. My favourites are the Source chunky hoop earrings which are available in recycled silver and yellow gold plated recycled silver.
I'm also a huge fan (of course!) of my Gold Small Atomic Hoop Earrings which have a pared back space-age design. These are a really enduring style that I've been making for years and are still really popular. They really do go with everything.
I hope you found that rather extensive list of my favourite hoop earring styles useful. They are such a timeless piece of jewellery that they're really worth investing in and there are so many amazing designs out there that you're sure to find one (if not many) to love.
If you enjoyed reading this blog then you might also like to check out my post on building your own capsule jewellery box and the 5 pieces of jewellery everyone should own (spoiler alert: it includes some gold hoop earrings!)
Elin Horgan designs and creates handmade jewellery in her Bristol studio. Elin’s beautifully simple handmade jewellery is carefully crafted and designed to be worn every day. You can read more about Elin’s work and the ethos behind her understated jewellery brand on her About Elin Horgan Jewellery page.
If you’d like to enquire about a specific product or discuss a custom piece of jewellery, please have a look at the Bespoke Handmade Jewellery page or email info@elinhorgan.com