extremes

Yes, You Can Wear Two Pairs of Hoops at Once

A series examining the outer edges of style.

As fashion month street style has proven again and again, hoops are the jewelry of the season. But if you have multiple piercings and a hankering to stand out, hereโ€™s an idea: Why not load up as many hoops are you can? Itโ€™s an extreme twist on Sadeโ€™s signature look, and itโ€™ll keep you from looking like everyone else.

To pull this off properly, pay as much attention to coordination as to placement. Too much on one ear and itโ€™ll look too heavy; too much color and it looks cheesy. The best way to strike both an elegant and stylish note is to find that sweet spot between playful experimentation and overcrowding your ears. Scroll below for four different ways to try the multi-hoop look for yourself.

Play With Color

Brightly colored hoops used to evoke flashbacks to the garish neon looks of the โ€™80s, but jewelry options have come a long way since then. Almost any color will suffice, but youโ€™ll want to stick with one muted pair against a more flashy pair.

Or incorporate a metal like these Elizabeth & James hoops to make the look a little fancier.

Play With Shapes

Believe it or not, there is a world outside of circular hoops, and itโ€™s glorious. Extra-large hoops are a signature of New York brand Area, and their Swarovski-bedecked square versions have already been worn by Kendall Jenner and Rihanna. You donโ€™t have to go as big (or as expensive) as those to give shapes a try, but doubling up on non-circular shapes is a take no one will see coming.

These squiggly earrings certainly push the definitions of โ€œhoops,โ€ but thatโ€™s sort of the point. When worn on the same lobe, the unexpected curves stick out even more.

Play With Texture

For those who like to stick to plain old circle hoops, try offbeat details like these chain-linked hoops from Justine Clenquet, or rhinestone swirl hoops from Topshop. Choose a pair with one eccentric detail and then match them with a basic pair of small tube hoops, or if you have three holes, pile on all three โ€” the designs are polished enough that they wonโ€™t overwhelm your ear when worn together.

The sea-anemone-esque texture on these red Mango earrings is dramatic, but theyโ€™re not very big, so you can get away with it. Pair them with an elegant knotted hoop to play up the differing textures.

Play With Sizes

If youโ€™re ever short on earring inspo, look no further than Jennifer Fisherโ€™s Instagram. The designer makes some of the best sculptural hoops around, and she likes to wear them in unique ways, like balancing a hoop in one hole with a dangle earring in another. Technically, these big triangles are meant to be worn on one ear, but you can double up on both sides to really amp up the look.

These Alexander McQueen hoops are cool for the simple fact that they look like two hoops in one. Since theyโ€™re so big, stick a smaller minimal hoop in your first hole to exaggerate the variation in sizing.

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Yes, You Can Wear Two Pairs of Hoops at Once