Earring Style Guide: 9 Types of Earrings

An earring is a piece of jewelry typically affixed to the earlobe. The front piece of the earring displays the design, and the back piece secures the earring in place. Earrings can also be worn on the top portion of the ear, specifically on the rook, tragus, and helix. These types of upper ear piercings are known as cartilage piercings. However, not all earrings require pierced ears. For example, clip-on earrings snap onto your earlobe rather than pierce through it.

Throughout history, earrings have served a wide range of purposes and continue to do so today. Back in the Achaemenid Empire (around 550–330 BCE), earrings symbolized religious beliefs and indicated the status of wealth. Today, earrings are commonly worn as a fashion statement; however, in certain countries, earrings are still worn to indicate a cultural or religious affiliation.

Earrings come in a variety of different styles, shapes, and materials. Some common materials used to make earrings include: silver, gold, precious stones, gemstones, wood, and beads. A pair of earrings is usually worn together; however, you can mix and match styles to create an original look.

Earrings can be a subtle addition to your outfit or its centerpiece, depending on the style of earring you choose. With so many different types of earrings, you can have earrings for many separate occasions.

1. 1. Stud earrings: Stud earrings rest directly on the earlobe. They are often simple in design, pairing well with a daytime outfit. For a timeless minimalist look, diamond studs are a popular choice. Stone and pearl studs are also popular styles of classic studs.
2. 2. Hoop earrings: These types of earrings loop from the front of the ear to the back of the ear, creating a circular shape. The loop shape of these earrings can be large or small. Sterling silver and gold hoops are some of the most common styles of hoop earrings; however, you can find hoop earrings in a variety of different colors and materials.
3. 3. Huggie earrings: These types of mini hoop earrings hug the earlobe more closely than traditional hoop earrings. Like hoop earrings, huggie earrings are often made of precious metals. If you like the look of the hoop earring, but are worried they’ll catch or tangle your hair, a pair of huggie earrings is a good alternative.
4. 4. Chandelier earrings: Chandelier earrings are a glamorous and ornate type of statement earrings. Often made of precious stones, these earrings attach to the earlobe and dangle down, creating a cascading design. A luxurious piece of jewelry, chandelier earrings are often worn for a special occasion, such as a wedding or gala.
5. 5. Drop earrings: Like chandelier earrings, drop earrings, which come in the shape of a teardrop, are a type of dangle earrings; however, drop earrings are less formal due to their simpler design. Unlike chandelier earrings, drop earrings don’t have a cascading row of stones. Instead, they often come with a single stone or design that hangs below the earlobe. Teardrop earrings are a classic drop earring style.
6. 6. Threader earrings: Threader earrings have a long post that goes through the ear piercing and dangles down the back. As a result, when worn, threader earrings show the design in the front and the post in the back. Threader earrings have no post pushing against the earlobe.
7. 7. Crawler or climber earrings: As the name implies, the design of climber earrings attach at the earlobe and crawl upwards. Climbers often have a leaf or floral design but also come in a simple row of precious stones that travel up the ear.
8. 8. Barbell earrings: A barbell earring is an upper ear piercing that’s in the shape of a barbell. The piercing typically goes across the cartilage of the ear, giving the wearer a punk rock or rebellious look.
9. 9. Clip-on earrings: Clip-on earrings are a non-piercing type of earring. To secure the earring in place, clip-ons apply pressure to both sides of the earlobe. If you don’t have your ears pierced, but want to accessorize your ears, clip-ons can be a simple and fun way to do so.

The back of the earring is an important part of the earring. Earring backings keep your jewelry secured to your earlobe and can also add an additional design element depending on the style. Certain earring backs are best for specific earring styles:

1. 1. Push backs or post backs: Push backs are a common type of earring backing used for stud earrings. The post is a thin piece of metal that goes through the ear piercing. A stopper piece is used to secure the post in place. There are different types of stoppers, from butterfly backs, which resemble butterflies, to la pousette backs, which are small discs that have a locking mechanism.
2. 2. Screw backs: For more expensive earrings, such as diamond studs, screw backs are used to ensure the backings don’t fall out. Instead of pushing the earring post into the stopper, screw backs are screwed into place.
3. 3. Lever backs: Lever backs are typically used for drop earrings, as these types of backings let the earring dangle lower. A wire is looped through the ear and connected by a hinge to secure the earring in place.
4. 4. Snapbacks or saddlebacks: Snapbacks have a thin piece of metal suspended over a V-shape closing. To secure the backing, simply snap the piece of metal into the V-shape space. You’ll hear a quiet snapping sound when the backing is properly shut. Hoop earrings often have snapbacks to maintain the circular shape.
5. 5. Latch backs: Similar to snapbacks, latch backs snap into place to close the earring. A fishhook piece of metal slides through the ear piercing and snaps into a hinged backing. Latch backs are often used for hoop and huggie earrings.
6. 6. Omega backs or French clips: These types of earring backings can be used for both pierced and non-pierced ears. For a non-pierced ear, a small screw is used to apply pressure to the back of the ear and hold the earring in place. For pierced ears, a post goes through the earlobe and is secured with a hinge.

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