When it comes to earrings, it’s time to take a stand and make a big statement.
Statement earrings are what shoes were to Carrie Bradshaw for a generation who wear Stan Smiths.— Business of Fashion; The jewellery jury has spoken: Forget small is beautiful. When it comes to earrings, bigger is officially better. Not since Samantha Jones made us do a double take with her massive Double-C Chanel earrings have the trend been so hot. From the runway to the red carpet to the most stylish streets and back alleys around the world as captured by the most-followed Instagram stars, big earrings are making a bigger comeback. Did you see Charlize Theron in her Chopard stunners at this year’s Oscars? (How could one not?) And what about Chrissy Teigen in those Lorraine Schwartz showstoppers? Of course, Chanel got the memo, too, that is, if Karl Lagerfeld didn’t write it himself. Evidence. For those below the age of 25, we have a feeling word — along with some outrageous tassels and hoops — has long reached your ears. But just in case you haven’t heard, and don’t know who Charlize Theron is, maybe Aimee Song would ring a bell? Yup, the fashion blogger has been spotted with some very inspiring ways of sporting the trend, too. There is no question about the rise of the bold and the daring look which was so prevalent in the ’80s. The question is, why now? We have a few theories.
THEY KEEP COMING BACK
Are there novel ideas and new trends anymore? Or are we just very good at recycling old ones and giving them a new spin? Mum jeans, loud logos, Winona Ryder and now, unapologetically large earrings — old is quite literally gold as designers, retailers and those Netflix guys are all on this retro gravy train. And the truth is, we just can’t get enough.
EARRINGS AS MAKE-UP
Celebrated jewellery designer and Fendi scioness Delfina Delettrez recently told Business of Fashion that she thinks that “earrings act as a new precious make-up”. And she makes a valid point. Gone are the days when women are expected to wear a ton of make-up to be deemed beautiful. Quite the opposite is true now in an age where #nomakeupselfies are the stuff of empowerment. The message, from a new generation of influencers and role models — Bella Hadid, Gal Gadot and Lady Gaga — to their predecessors including Cindy Crawford, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz, is this: Make-up is currently optional, and you are already beautiful as you are. So, if we want to wear a giant earring instead of smoky eyes to make another sort of statement, then that, too, is our prerogative.
QUICK FIX
The pixie do is another blast from the past that is enjoying a major moment in the limelight right now. One after another, the cream of the fashion-forward crop — Cara Delevingne, Katy Perry, Kristen Stewart, Zoe Kravitz — has opted for the short, devil-may-care crop. If you, too, are inspired to take a short break from your long tresses, statement earrings are actually an ingenious way of sprucing up your look, so you can go from zero to zsa zsa zsu in an instant. Isn’t that just the best quick fix for a surprise Facetime call?
