SIMPLE STYLE
GOLD HOOP EARRINGS
Of all the earrings in the world, none are as stylish as the gold hoop. Studs may bring a flash of interest to an otherwise neglected lobe, and dangling, diamante shoulder-grazers can enliven an evening outfit, but neither are as chic as a pair of gold hoops, especially those of generous proportion.
Sade, that epitome of effortless style, knew this only too well and wore hers all the time, with her hair pulled back for maximum display. Now, a new bunch of stars, including Beyoncé, Rihanna and Victoria Beckham, have rediscovered them and have brought them back into the shops and on to our ears. (To gauge the size of an earring, measure the distance between the bottom of your lobe and the end of the earring. This is known as ‘the drop’ in the world of jewellery.)
This is a welcome fashion trend, especially at this time of year, when a dash of easy glamour is welcome to perk up a Christmas party outfit. A pair of hoops is small enough to put in a purse and take to work, then produce when an evening do beckons. It’s reassuring to know that they are safely stored when there’s a need for a little glitz. A pair of hoops also makes a wonderful festive gift: what could be more timely than golden rings, especially if there are five of them received on the fifth day of Christmas? (Unrealistic, granted, but worth a punt.)
Earrings have been with us since the Bronze Age, and worn by both men and women. Buddha, in the days before enlightenment, wore such heavy ones that his lobes were permanently distended, and there are several mentions of them in the Bible (“I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears”, Ezekiel 16:12). Even William Shakespeare wore gold hoops. Small hoop earrings, known as sleepers, have been a unisex option for generations, often a single one – as worn by seafaring folk, Romany gypsies, David Essex and middle-aged men who probably should know better.
But it is the big golden hoop that concerns us here. It takes a bit of confidence to wear a pair but the results are worth it: instant stylishness and a shot of glamour that suits a festive gathering very well.
“Hoops offer a dash of easy glamour to perk up a Christmas party outfit”