If you’ve been searching for that ideal pair of earrings — trendy yet classic, stylish yet understated — huggie earrings are the perfect solution. These charming, tiny hoops are a great option for everything from casual, everyday wear to the office to a glitzy event. And within the world of huggie hoop earrings, there is great diversity, too — there are yellow and white gold huggie earrings, diamond huggie hoops, and colorful hoops, as well as small huggies adorned with tiny, dangling charms.
What Are Huggie Earrings?
Huggie earrings are small hoop earrings that sit closely around (hug) the earlobe, unlike larger hoops that hang down from the ear. It is no secret that gold hoops are a classic wardrobe staple, but these smaller huggie hoop earrings deserve a spot in your jewelry favorites, too. These ear-hugging hoops may be more subtle than big, flashy hoop earrings, but they are still classy and give any outfit a put-together look.
Because they are small and light, huggies make great everyday earrings that are easy to wear. A simple pair of white gold huggie earrings give off a minimalist look, or you can use them in a stack of earrings to add a complementing layer.
What’s the Difference Between Huggie Earrings and Hoops?
The major difference between huggie earrings and regular hoop earrings is their size. Though hoop earrings are a must-have jewelry piece, that does not mean all hoops are created equal. Huggie earrings typically range between a 5-10mm inside diameter to fit snugly on the earlobe, while larger hoops come in a wide variety of sizes.
Choosing a Classic Earring Type
As you are considering what type of earring to purchase, you may feel overwhelmed by all of the options — check out our guide to choosing your ideal earring style. If classic diamond studs are calling your name, consider which type of metal you should choose for the setting. If you’re looking for something trendy and stylish, ear climbers are an excellent choice.
There are key pieces of jewelry that every woman should own, and hoop earrings are one of those items. We contend that, like a great pair of diamond studs, huggie hoop earrings deserve to be essentials in your wardrobe.
Huggie Hoop Earring Size Guide
Since there is such a variety of huggie earring sizes, you may feel a bit confused as to what size earring you should choose. If you have three or more pierced holes in your ears, this guide will let you know what is the best size of huggie hoop earring to purchase (based on a typical, medium-sized ear):
- 1st hole: 7-8mm
- 2nd hole: 6-7.5mm
- 3rd hole (and higher): 6mm
How Should Huggie Earrings Fit?
As their name suggests, huggie hoop earrings should “hug” your earlobe, sitting snugly around it. Of course, how closely they encircle your earlobe is up to you, and there is a range of sizes and styles of huggies. If your white gold huggie earrings include a dangling charm, they probably need to be a bit roomier fit than a plain, simple huggie.
How to Choose the Right Huggie Earrings
To really find the perfect fit for your huggie hoop earrings, you should measure before you purchase your earrings. Using a ruler with millimeters, measure from your piercing hole to the desired edge of your ear. Visually assess where you would like your huggie earring to fall (closely against your earlobe or with a little breathing room).
This measurement should give you the size in millimeters that the inside hoop of your huggie will be. If the huggie is measured by its outer diameter, however, you will need to add 0.1-0.2cm to the measurement.
History of Huggie Earrings: It All Goes Back to Hoops
While huggie earrings have come into fashion in recent years, hoop earrings have been around for much, much longer. Women and men have been wearing jewelry since the most ancient of times. The earliest discovery of gold hoop earrings dates back to Sumerian women in 2500 BC, and Egyptian men, women, and even cats wore gold hoop earrings back in the 1500s BC.
Ancient Hoop Earrings Have Been Found In:
- Egypt
- Sudan
- Iraq
- Greece
- Rome
Hoop earrings became popular with both royalty and everyday Greeks and Romans in 330 BC. In the 1600s and 1700s, pirates even wore earrings to help make sure they were properly buried if they drowned and their bodies were later found. Earrings had lost their popularity in Europe in the 16th century but came back in fashion the next century with pearls and diamonds.
In the ‘60s and ‘70s, hoop earrings became a symbol of empowerment and Black activism through being worn by Black women figures such as Nina Simone, Donna Summer, and Angela Davis. Hoop earrings were solidified as icons of cultural pride and empowerment for Black and Latina women in the ‘80s and ‘90s by the representation from celebrities and Mexican American women in Southern California.
How Do You Wear Huggie Earrings?
Huggies are extremely versatile and easy to wear. They will complement virtually any outfit and can add a bit of polish to any look you are sporting. You can wear your huggies by themselves or use them as part of a stack of multiple earrings adorning your ear.
Huggie Earring Styles
Of course, there are hundreds of styles of huggies to choose from. But as you search for that perfect pair, you will notice there are some types of huggies that rise to the top.
Gold Huggie Earrings
Yellow and white gold huggie earrings are probably the most popular choice of these tiny hoops. Of course, yellow gold is the trendiest choice sported by many fashion bloggers and celebrities but rose or white gold huggie earrings also look stunning. It comes as no surprise that huggie gold earrings also come in a wide variety of styles, from modern, U-shaped huggie hoops to classy yellow gold diamond huggie hoops that can elevate any look.Huggie Silver Earrings
Though sterling silver is currently making its way back into popular fashion, this white metal has always been a classic choice. Huggie silver earrings can look seamless and gleaming like these diamond huggie hoops in silver or have a mixed-metal edginess like these huggie silver earrings with gold and caviar beading.
Huggie Gemstone Earrings
Another great addition to huggie hoop earrings is sparkling gemstones. Choose a huggie with a dazzling pop of color, such as huggie gold earrings with rubies and diamonds, or go with the classic white sparkle of elegant diamond huggie hoops. Adding a shining gemstone takes a simple pair of huggies to the next eye-catching level.
Why Wear Huggie Hoop Earrings?
Sure, you have seen plenty of great options for huggie hoop earrings so far, but why should you make the leap and get your very own pair? As the smaller cousin of hoop earrings, huggies share many of the same reasons why this style of ear adornment has stood the test of time.
Huggies Are Eye-Catching
Although smaller and more subtle than a regular hoop, huggie hoop earrings still draw attention to your face. Whether a soft yellow gold or a glistening white gold and diamond huggie hoop, these small earrings make a big statement. With their circular shape, they naturally complement your jaw and cheekbones.
Huggies Are Timeless
Hoop earrings will always be in style. Hoop earrings have endured through many centuries and countless cultures around the world. As a smaller version of the hoop, huggie earrings are timeless pieces of jewelry that have become a new classic.
Huggies Look Good with Everything
From jeans and a T-shirt to a business suit to a cocktail dress, huggies can add a hint of sophistication and polish to any outfit. All women know the power of a great accessory, and huggie hoop earrings are a no-brainer to add some class to whatever you are wearing that day. It is so nice to have a piece of jewelry that you know will look good, like a pair of simple white gold huggie earrings, no matter if you are dressed up or down.
Huggies Are a Nod to the Past
Huggies hearken back to the hoop earring craze of the ‘90s fashion scene, which is currently coming back into style. Although hoops never went out of style, they did become less popular in the years following. However, it is time for nostalgic hoops to make their rightful comeback, and a great way to ease into the current hoop trend is by starting with smaller huggie hoop earrings.
Huggies are Popular with Celebrities and Bloggers
From fashion bloggers/influencers to celebrities, many famous women sport diamond huggie hoop earrings and regular hoops. Some notable current and past stars who have been known to rock hoops are Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Twiggy, Cher, Miley Cyrus, Cameron Diaz, and Khloe Kardashian, just to name a few. So, if you choose to style hoops, big or small, you will be in good company.
Huggies Come in Many Different Designs
There is a wide world of huggie hoop earrings. From white gold huggie earrings to diamond huggie hoops to rose gold huggies to mixed metal huggies, you have your choice of metal type and gems. In addition, there are plain huggies, bejeweled little hoops, colorful enamel-covered huggies, and huggies that feature dangling charms. There are so many huggie options to fit every style and preference.
Huggies Are Easy to Wear
Because of their small size and lightweight nature, huggies are an easy, effortless accessory. Lighter than large hoops, huggie hoop earrings will not make your ears sag. But though they may be small in size, they still make a big impact in pulling any outfit together and adding a touch of polish.
How To Care for Huggie Hoop Earrings
Once you have found a pair of huggies that perfectly suit your style, you will want to be sure to keep them looking their best — especially if you wear them often. Like any piece of jewelry that is worn often, huggie earrings will require regular cleaning to keep the metals and gemstones shining. Dirty jewelry can spread bacteria and leave your skin feeling irritated, in addition to the jewelry looking dull.
Care for your white gold huggie earrings (particularly the diamond huggie hoops) in the same way that you would your engagement ring or wedding band: with regular, gentle cleanings at home. You can clean your huggies with a bowl, warm water, a soft bristle toothbrush, and a gentle cotton cloth. Even a simple soak in warm water can remove dirt and bacteria from your earrings.
Your huggie silver earrings can be cleaned in the same way as your gold jewelry. But silver jewelry needs to be properly stored — kept dry and away from excessive exposure to air. You should keep your silver jewelry in a tarnish-proof cloth (such as a flannel pouch or silver storage box) and avoid contact with any rubber products (that can tarnish or corrode the silver).
We also recommend that you take your fine jewelry in for professional cleanings at least once a year to keep your pieces in the best shape possible.
Huggie Earrings for Sensitive Ears?
If you have sensitive skin, you will need to be careful with the metal type of your huggie hoop earrings. A lot of affordable jewelry contains nickel, which is a common irritant for people with sensitive skin (along with copper and cobalt). The best jewelry for sensitive skin is made up of pure metals like 14K or higher gold, sterling silver, titanium, and platinum.
Styling Huggie Earrings
A final reason to consider huggies as your next fine jewelry purchase is that they are very easy to pair with any outfit or accessories. Because of their small size and simplicity, the minimalist design will rarely compete with the other jewelry you are wearing but instead complement it. Rock your white gold huggie earrings daily as a minimalist staple, and showcase diamond huggie hoops with formal attire or add sparkle to your business casual ensemble. With huggies, there really aren’t any don’ts.
For help in finding your perfect pair of huggie earrings, visit your nearest Fink’s Jewelers for expert and friendly assistance. Your new favorite wardrobe staple awaits you!
