17 Statement Earrings That You’ll Only Love If You Have Truly Amazing Taste
by The Candidly Team
There was a time not too long ago when any version of dressing up involved wearing a statement earring. Do you remember this? When an ornate chandelier earring was the chosen birthday gift given out by every friend you had in college? And your Urban Outfitters wall-mounted jewelry holder was dripping in colorful dangles?
And then, like the “going out top,” the statement earring disappeared into a sea of subtle studs and understated crawlers. And we had to wait til Oscar night to see anything remotely captivating.
Well, we’ve been hearing lately that statement earrings are making a comeback. And though we really don’t do trends and tend to favor dainty, minimalist jewelry, we will go on record to say we’re kind of excited about this trend, guys.
Here’s why:
Statement earrings offer a fun, whimsical little expression of our personality, and most clothes just don’t do that in this same caution-to-the-wind way without being too flashy and ridiculous.
They’re easy. We can take a boring black dress or a plain t-shirt and jeans, throw on a statement earring and suddenly, we are dressed up. Bold. Edgy. Interesting.
But naturally, we also want to look chic and do “statement” in a non-over-the-top, kooky art teacher way.
And so, we sought out 17 pairs of truly special statement earrings to suit an array of personalities. Some you may love. Others you may loathe. But once you find the one, you will know.
And off you go.
1. Jenny Bird Nouveaux Puff Earrings
There’s a lot of smart construction that goes into a Jenny Bird earring, which is part of what makes them a favorite amongst celebrities but also us ladies who aren’t interested in suffering achy, stretched out earlobes. While this pair is chic, gloriously modern, and voluminous, their hollowed-out design makes them not too heavy. They also come with a wider backing that adds support for extra comfort.
Price: $120
2. Cult Gaia Meta Feather Earring
Where else could you possibly find this combination of elegance and off-the-rails whimsy than from Cult Gaia? The brand is doing spectacularly innovative things with design that make owning anything, from their shoes to their earrings, feel like harboring a tiny piece of wearable art. We own these earrings, and we can safely say, no other pair will earn you more compliments.
Price: $138
3. Mary June Melting White Pearl Gold Vermeil Earrings
A dreamy and alluring spin on a classic pearl earring. Mary June is serious about crafting impeccable, resilient pieces, coating anti-tarnish sterling silver with a thick layer of premium gold, so the quality stays perfect, but the price isn’t absurd.
Price: $126
4. Kendra Scott Beau Statement Earring in Vintage Gold
This looks like something you’d snatch up at an antique kiosk at Covent Garden, fly home, and love forever. And here you get all that romanticism, minus the customs fees.
Price: $98
5. Cult Gaia Atum Earring
Another literal gem from Cult Gaia. Who doesn’t want a delicate ladder of lustrous pearls? But the length is what takes it over the edge, and makes it look especially gorgeous with our sleeveless and off-shoulder tops and dresses.
Price: $158
6. Jenny Bird Icon Hoops Small
A playful spin on an absolutely perfect-sized, wear-all-the-time hoop. Again, Jenny Bird is all about lasting, wearable earrings at a price we can fathom.
Price: $88
7. Zoe Lev 14k Gold Paper Clip Earring
Sometimes subtlety speaks volumes. This may be the most wearable earring on this list and yet, it will very likely attract the most attention when worn. We love the clean, realistic lines and that it’s 14k solid gold, so we don’t need to worry about it getting tarnished.
Price: $110 for single, $220 for pair
8. Alexis Bittar Lucite Small Molten Front Facing Hoop Earring Neon Yellow
The only way we’ll willingly bring back the earrings of the 80s is through this joy-sparking neon. Though, we will say this swirly, chunky shape is also pretty special in Aegean Sea Blue.
Price: $175
9. Shasi Double Pearl Earrings
Another faintly genius spin on a classic pearl.
Price: $58
10. Awe Inspired Snake Stud Earring
This shape has curled its way around our hearts. And we additionally appreciate that it’s crafted from 14k gold vermeil, a French technique that makes pieces more durable and lasting.
Price: $80
11. Cuyana Bar Ear Jacket Earrings
The clean lines make this one of our favorites, and it can quickly be converted from a minimalist stud to the sleek jacket earring you see before you. So it dresses up or down and day to night in all of 4 seconds.
Price: $168
12. Cult Gaia
Calla Cultured Freshwater Pearl Drop Earrings
And we’re back to the art exhibit section of this article. But we simply could not not include this exquisite flower drop earring. The paper…err…petal-thin construction helps balance its scale, so you get all the playful sophistication you could possibly want.
Price: $128
13. Bonheur Halé Dome Hoops
This bold dome earring is also a little famous, we admit. It comes in yellow gold, rose gold, or silver and is made from sustainable brass, dipped in 18kt gold. All the more reason to own in in more than one chic finish.
Price: $110
14. Amanda Pearl Curved Quill Climber Earrings
Made from solid recycled gold and ethical diamonds, there’s good reason why this sleek, yet deeply original climber is more of an investment. This is one of those pieces that is so easy to wear. It balances the tiniest bit of edge with thoughtful elegance (note the diamond twinkling at the very end when you look from the opposite angle). Genuine genius.
Price: $510
15. Shiva Evil Eye Earring Studs
Apparently, wearing the “evil eye” symbol is supposed to protect you from evil itself (which we’re certainly not opposed to). However, when you see the size on an actual human (go here), you see how glorious this extra set of eyes looks peaking out from our ears.
Price: $82
16. Bonheur Livie Earring Cuff Set
A cuff is a highly desirable way to add depth and up-level your whole earring game. And this one is excellent for those of us who don’t want to crawl back into a Claire’s at age 40 to get another piercing and who also want something a little bolder than an extra itty bitty stud.
Price: $68
17. JewelryRB Fuck Off Earrings
I think we’ve said enough.
Price: $28
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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