Sophisticated, elegant, and oh-so-stunning, dangle earrings are a popular favorite for jewelry designers and wearers alike. Whether you’re searching for the perfect push-present for your sweet wife or want to treat yourself to a luxurious gift, dangle earrings bring timeless style and grace to every outfit. It’s just a matter of finding the most flattering style for you!
Every woman is gorgeous in their own unique way—and you deserve a custom jewelry collection to match! But what are the different types of dangle earrings? How can you determine which design will look best on you? Read on to find your perfect pair and accentuate your natural beauty with stylish long earrings.
What are Dangle Earrings?
Dangle earrings are a type of earring that hangs down from the earlobe at any length, with a hook, stud, or clip fixing the earring to the ear, and feature a stylish decorative element swinging below. Earrings can be made from various metals, with endless possibilities for ornamentation. Depending on the design, the length of a dangle earring can vary from a few millimeters to a few inches.
Why We Love Dangle Earrings
Earrings are one of many ways to personalize an outfit and make it your own, so why not add some sparkling motion to your look with dangle styles? Side-to-side and up-and-down - any motion of the head allows your favorite pair of long earrings to catch the light and move as you do. Dangle earrings come in all lengths to add dimension and pizazz to your style.
With countless designs to choose from, dangle earrings can draw all eyes to you. Make a statement with long diamond earrings at an elegant dinner party, or complete an earring stack with thin, silver dangle earrings to show off your style and steal the show. Whether you’re looking to add glamor to a special outfit or fall in love with wearing them every day, earrings help you show off your personality and style for any occasion.
Where to Wear Dangle Earring Styles
Dangle earrings are made with everyday accessorizing in mind, whether you enjoy styling a matching earring and necklace set or adorning your ears with a staple piece on the daily. While some people may feel that long earrings should be reserved for special occasions, it’s your jewelry box! Show off your personal style with long earrings whenever and wherever you wish, from running errands around town and heading into the office to black-tie affairs.
When you grow an earring collection, you’re sure to come across dazzling gemstone pieces that you’d rather save for special gatherings. Whether you are looking for a pair of earrings for your wedding day or finding the perfect anniversary gift for your partner, splurging on high-quality dangle earrings that you save for important milestones and celebrations is lovely. You have the power to decide which long earrings work for which type of event.
Occasions for Dangle Earrings
- Work
- Interviews
- Galas
- Dinner parties
- Weddings
Popular Styles of Dangle Earrings
Did you know that the term "dangle earring" can be used as an umbrella term for a wide array of popular and stylish designs? Whether you grew up in awe of your grandmother's diamond earrings or are looking for a contemporary hoop design, it's important to learn the different categories of long earrings. Learn more about each style to help complete your jewelry collection and find the best dangle earrings for you:
Wire Hook Earrings
If you were to think of a classic dangle earring, a wire hook may be the first style to pop into mind. With a traditional silhouette, a wire hook features a longer curved closure that hangs through the ear, negating the need for an earring back. The length of these dangle earrings can vary, from short and simple oval link diamond hook earrings to extra-long duster styles. Different decorative pieces of all shapes and sizes can hang off the front of the hook, making this option a timeless and versatile accessory.
Drop Earrings
Drop earrings are made with a classic stud piercing and decorative ornament hanging below the earlobe. Drop styles can be fixed or mobile and come in any length and with various additions, from long metal charms to shorter, sterling silver pearl drop earrings. If you’re looking for a slim, minimalistic accessory that can still stand out, drop earrings are for you.
Hoop Earrings
Hoop earrings are a popular circle design, using a tube-like metal to create a hollow circle that passes through an ear piercing. The thickness of the circle can vary from delicate and thin to thicker and wide. Hoop earrings can also vary in size, with smaller ones barely hanging off the lobe and larger ones making a stylish statement. While the classic hoop shape is round, contemporary designs play with bold shapes, with oval, diamond, and square hoop earrings.
Chandelier Earrings
If you're looking to make an impression, it's time to invest in an intricate long earring style -- and the chandelier style is for you! Generally, a chandelier earring is oversized in both size and glam, typically using a wider geometric shape to create a similar silhouette to the elaborate household light fixture from which it gets its name. These are one of the widest earring styles, and with that size comes endless possibilities for design. From Mother of Pearl chandelier designs to contemporary mixed-metal pieces, chandelier styles make the perfect statement earrings.
Threader Earrings
Threader earrings are crafted from a thin metal chain, designed to thread through piercings without a backing, leaving a long strand or wire to dangle on either side. There are many ways to wear this dangle earring design, whether you choose a minimalist metal piece or a turquoise and gold threader. Threader styles offer a modern take on a traditional long earring, making them the perfect accessory for any occasion.
Popular Decorations for Long Earrings:
- Pearls
- Metal charms
- Diamonds
- Beads
- Gold wire
5 Steps to Choosing a Flattering Long Earring
If you’re wondering how to decide on the perfect pair of long earrings, remember that the best fit for you is the one that makes your smile the brightest! To find one that highlights all your stunning beauty and works with your unique self, use these five simple steps as you shop:
Step 1: Complement Your Style
When shopping for your jewelry collection, one factor matters above all else: your style! You deserve to look and feel beautiful in every accessory, and long earrings are no exception. With countless styles to choose from, finding one that matches your necklaces and rings and makes you feel like the best version of you will increase your confidence and help you create head-to-toe outfits you love. Experiment with bold gemstone colors, contemporary silhouettes, and different lengths to find long earrings that match your unique style.
Step 2: Consider the Occasion
If you’re looking for dangle earrings for everyday wear, consider your lifestyle. Do you need more subdued long earrings to suit your place of work? Can you lean into the glitz and glam of sapphire and diamond hoops for weekend brunch and taking the kids to the park? Consider the typical places you visit, as well as your wardrobe, to find the best everyday accessory.
Certain celebrations call for bold and beautiful dangle earrings! When it comes to a special occasion, feel inspired to choose a design you wouldn’t wear on the daily. Style extra-long chandelier earrings for a gala, or reserve diamond and pearl drop earrings for your anniversary. Keeping a small collection of special-occasion jewelry makes getting ready for the event all the more exciting!
Step 3: Look at Your Face Shape
The jewelry you wear should showcase your natural beauty, and if your stunning face is the window, then long earrings are the curtains. Many people grew up on magazine quizzes helping them determine face shapes, but how do you choose flattering earrings to match? Learn a few tried-and-true tips for selecting the best earrings for each face shape to find your perfect pair of long earrings.
Flattering Long Earrings for Each Face Shape:
- Round—more angular earrings help elongate the features on a rounder face shape. Try a long threader or a statement chandelier style to take advantage of the lengthening effect.
- Oval—due to the length of a dangle earring, just about any style can match a naturally oval face shape! Try anything, from threaders to oversized hoops.
- Square—rounded, shorter earrings soften and balance the angular features of square face shapes. Try small drop earrings and hoops, as well as classic wire hook dangle earrings.
- Heart—earrings with a triangular, wider bottom create a proportional balance to the heart-shaped faces. Try chandeliers, large hoops, or dainty drop earrings featuring large gemstones and charms.
- Rectangle—wider earrings will even out the length of a rectangle face shape. Try on a statement hoop or contemporary shapes.
What Earrings Look Good on Any Face Shape?
Even after finding the flattering fit for your face, there’s always the common question of which earrings would work for anyone. Hoops are a universal choice for the perfect earring, and with a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and ornamentation, there’s a custom style for everyone! If you’re searching for a gift and are unsure of what shape would work best, stick with versatile hoop designs.
Step 4: Match Your Hairstyle
Take your hairstyle and length into consideration when choosing long earrings. In general, a good rule of thumb is to choose a long earring that’s proportional to your haircut to fully show off your favorite earrings. If you have a short haircut, smaller dangle earrings can complement you. For longer hair, experiment with extra-long earrings. But if you fall in love with a pair that contradicts this rule, dare to be different and rock the style you love.
What Updo Looks Best with Long Earrings?
Haircut aside, there’s a time and place for elegant updos or messy top knots—so why not show off a dazzling pair of dangle earrings at the same time? Some smaller dangle earrings can be perfect for everyday wear when you can’t bother to do your hair. But, for a romantic dinner date or a night on the town, you’ll want to find a hairstyle that complements your favorite pair of long earrings. Any updo that pushes your hair out of your face and behind your ears, whether it be a crown braid or a high pony, helps others get a glimpse of your swinging dangle earrings.
Step 5: Consider Earring Stacking
If you have multiple piercings, consider creating a customizable earring stack to feature your favorite pair of long earrings. To accomplish a stunning earring stack, work with the cascading rule, increasing the size and drama as you move down the ear. Keep dainty studs and smaller pieces for your higher-up piercings, and pair them with longer and bolder earrings closer to the lobe. Whether you’re inspired by the trend of mixing jewelry metals or pairing beautiful gemstones together, stacking makes the most of your earring collection.
Proper Jewelry Storage for Long Earrings
Elongate the lifespan of your favorite long earrings and prevent damage to the stones, metals, and hooks by investing in the right jewelry storage method. Something with built-in holes that earring hooks hang on can keep your dangle earrings visible and organized, making it the best option for protecting your long earrings. If you love jewelry boxes, find one with individual compartments for each pair.
Dangle Jewelry Repair
Even with the best upkeep and storage, sometimes dangle earrings break. When that happens, it’s important to find a reputable jewelry repair shop to give your favorite pair of long earrings a second life. Whether the hook breaks off or a gemstone is damaged, the best jewelry repair experts can lay out your options and fix your pieces.
Long earrings are a staple accessory for women throughout history, and whether you’re looking for a traditional hoop or a contemporary threader, there’s a perfect design for you. After learning about the popular styles and expert steps for finding a flattering pair, take matters into your own hands and complete your jewelry collection with a stunning pair of dangle earrings.
