There are earrings you wear because they match your outfit. And then there are hoop earrings.
Hoops have a way of stealing the show but in the best possible way. Put them on and suddenly you feel a little more polished, a little more pulled together, maybe even a little more alive.
Take them off and somehow something is missing.
I’ve always believed earrings are one of the easiest ways to completely change the way you look and feel without changing your clothes at all. And hoops may be the best example of that.
But why have hoop earrings had such incredible staying power? And with so many styles available now, how do you know which ones actually deserve a spot in your jewelry box?
Hoops Have Been Around a LOT Longer Than We Have
Calling hoops a classic is actually an understatement.
Hoop-style earrings have been worn across cultures for thousands of years. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has gold hoop earrings from ancient Egypt dated to approximately 1648–1540 BCE. Hoops and variations of them also appear in jewelry from ancient Nubia and during the Roman period.
They also have an important history in African jewelry traditions. The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art notes that twisted gold hoops have been widely worn throughout western Africa since the first millennium AD. In Senegal, hoop designs have appeared in an incredible range of sizes, thicknesses and styles, including small coiled or twisted hoops originating in what is now Mali.
So when we say hoops have staying power, we're not talking about a trend that keeps coming back every few decades. We're talking about a basic jewelry shape that people have continually reinvented for centuries.
And I think that's exactly why they still work.
One Shape. Completely Different Personalities.
Here’s what I love about hoops: changing something as simple as their size or thickness can completely change the vibe.
A tiny huggie can be understated and easy.
A medium classic hoop can become the pair you reach for every single day.
A big hoop can make the simplest jeans-and-T-shirt outfit feel intentional.
A thicker hoop has more presence. A thin hoop feels lighter and more delicate. Add texture, an unusual shape or a drop detail and suddenly it doesn't feel like a traditional hoop at all.
That's why saying “I don't wear hoops” is almost like saying “I don't wear jeans.”
Okay…but WHICH hoops? 😂
There are huggies, classic hoops, oversized hoops, chunky hoops, thin hoops, drop hoops, textured hoops and plenty of styles that blur the lines between them.
You probably don't dislike hoops. You just haven't found your hoops yet.
So How Do You Pick the Right Pair?
Start with your actual life. Not the imaginary life where you're wearing fabulous clothes to dinner every night. Your Tuesday-at-2:00-p.m. life. What do you wear most often?
If your wardrobe is casual, you might get much more wear from a lightweight medium hoop than a dramatic oversized pair.
If you love simple clothing, especially solid colors, a larger or more interesting hoop can become part of the outfit instead of just an accessory.
If comfort is everything to you, pay attention to weight as much as size. A large hoop doesn't necessarily have to be heavy, and an earring you forget you're wearing is much more likely to become one you reach for again and again.
And if you're someone who loves statement jewelry, remember that your earrings don't have to compete with everything else. Sometimes the hoop is the statement.
The Best Hoop Is the One You Actually Wear
I don't think every woman needs a jewelry box filled with dozens of hoops. But I do think there's something to be said for finding that one pair. The pair you can put on with a T-shirt. The pair you can wear to dinner. The pair you reach for when your outfit feels like it needs something but you can't quite figure out what. The pair you put on and immediately feel more like yourself.
Fashion trends will keep changing. Earrings will get bigger, smaller, chunkier and more delicate. New versions will come along and old versions will circle back again.
But the hoop?
I don't think she's going anywhere.
After several thousand years, I think she's earned her spot in the jewelry box.