Which earrings are modern? Right now three looks feel fresh: clean graphic shapes, small motifs with a meaning, and one larger shape with structure that works as the only pair in the outfit.
You can wear all three with what is already in your closet. Modern earrings often take just one new pair that suits your favorite pieces, and an earring trend is mostly a feeling: the pair looks like today and still looks like you. If you want to see first what types of earrings there are, start with the overview. Here are the three looks, each with one pair.
Look 1: Graphic
A graphic pair looks like a sketch: few lines, one clear idea. You'll spot it by: straight lines and simple shapes such as a nail, a ring or a triangle. Wear it like this: with a tee and jeans, one shape per outfit so it can do its job.
Quinn is exactly that kind of pair: a nail pushed straight through a ring, with small screw-head details on the ring, and the stud sits flat against the lobe. With a black tee and a denim jacket on a Wednesday night, that is plenty. If you like it a little softer, Mia is the hoop for it: a slim triangle with softly rounded corners.
Quinn - Nail and Ring Stud Earrings
A nail through a ring that sits flat on the lobe. Gold-tone copper alloy, studs. €19.95.
Look 2: Small motifs
Small motifs quietly say something about you. You'll spot it by: eyes, hearts or small figures. Wear it like this: one motif per look, with the rest of the outfit kept calm.
Helena has an eye inside each hoop, outlined in pavé zirconia, with a dark center and a short row of lashes on top. An eye stands for seeing clearly. On a long workday, hair pulled back and a white tee under your jacket, it has the stage to itself. If you are curious what motifs on necklaces mean, read on in pendant meanings.
Helena - Eye Hoop Earrings with Zirconia
An eye inside each hoop, outlined in pavé zirconia. Gold-tone copper alloy. €24.95.
Look 3: More presence with structure
Some days a pair can take up a little more room. You'll spot it by: a larger shape with an open center and a graphic border. Wear it like this: hair up, a calm top, and the pair as the focal point of the outfit.
Evelyn has exactly that presence: square drops on a hook, a cut-out key border around an open center, and a slim bar of stones catching the light. Friday, five minutes before you leave, one look in the mirror, and the outfit feels finished.
Evelyn - Square Drop Earrings with Zirconia
Square drops with a key border and a slim bar of stones. Gold-tone copper alloy, hook closure. €24.95.
Which one move makes any look modern?
If you change just one thing, make it this: two different shapes in two piercings, in the same tone. For example, a graphic stud on top and a small hoop below. It looks intentional and takes no time in the morning. For more on hoops, read who suits hoop earrings.
In the end, modern earrings fit what you already love to wear. For an overview of every shape and how to combine them, see what types of earrings there are.
FAQ
Which earrings feel modern every day?
Small graphic studs or compact hoops. They look clean and go with a tee, a knit or a blazer.
Are motif earrings office-friendly?
Yes, when the motif is small and the rest of the outfit stays calm.
How do I combine two different earrings?
Pick two shapes in the same tone, one calm and one a little bolder, for example a stud and a small hoop.