Hoops are an evergreen fashion statement — just ask the Minoans. Yet with each season comes some new twist in tastes, and jewels must adapt to stay relevant. With hoop earrings back in style, the question is: How do you make a design that has been around since the Bronze Age feel fresh for today?
Let’s start with position. Traditionally, hoops have stayed true to their name, looping through the lobe, but who says that needs to remain the case? Many modern versions are forgoing such constrictive navigation in favor of a more outward-facing position thanks to the addition of a perpendicular ear post. This means onlookers get a full view of the design, and the 90-degree turn makes for a larger, more dramatic look.
New materials can be another way to innovate. While classic gold hoops will always be a faithful friend, hoops crafted from fossilized wood, smothered in bright enamel, or cradling an oversized gemstone are companions you’ll want to take out to dinner.
And of course, there’s shape. Most expect a somewhat circular form, which has metaphorical significance ranging from fertility to matrimonial fealty. But as with just about everything else in 2020, adherence to precedent has evaporated. Squiggly lines, straight edges, lopsided drops, hoops within hoops — nothing is sacrosanct. As lockdown life continues to meld the familiar and the strange, it is little wonder we find ourselves craving these quirky hoops.
Image: Stocksy
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - September 2020. To subscribe click here.