Hoop earrings have been a jewelry staple for decades, with each era having its own story to tell. The style is one of the oldest and most popular to dominate the industry—you really can’t call something a trend when it has endured forever—and hoops are culturally significant as well, especially in the Black and Latinx communities (this article, about the power of hoop earrings, provides a great understanding of how the iconic piece of jewelry has been passed down for generations).
So when a single, often simple style has been proven to be immensely popular among a vast range of consumers, it’s obvious it’s going to be reinvented, over and over. That saying about how you can’t reinvent the wheel? Don’t tell that to the hoop—even its classic arc shape has been challenged from time to time, with riffs going more oval or even squared off and still getting categorized as hoop earrings.
Every summer, the hoop makes a big showing in some form or another (and often, in many forms). Big hoops have endured for the last several years, with circumference being important. But lately, it looks like it’s not so much the size of the hoop that matters as its gold content—the chunkier, the better.
The look is highly polished—for work, a memorable event, you name it. It begs to be worn on the beach, the gold glinting in the sunlight. And while it can certainly be worn by jewelry lovers of all ages, it has a certain “coastal grandma” vibe about it.
You can thank TikTok for that fashion vibe: a New England beachy style that reeks of neutral wrap sweaters and windswept hair, wraparound porches and Pottery Barn decor (if you need more context, picture Diane Keaton in basically any movie, or, my personal recent obsession, Edie Falco as Hillary Clinton in that one scene from Impeachment: American Crime Story). That vibe, by the way, is inspiring even Gen Z, so no need to be of a certain age to give the aesthetic a try.
As the finishing touch to white turtlenecks and anything else that plays well against the backdrop of a rocky, breezy beach (or the glitz of a city, or the backyard of a suburb), the hoops can be found in a range of materials. Those in solid gold are certainly worth the investment—even though TikTok trends don’t last forever, good jewelry does—but styles that are hollow are equally wearable and arguably more comfortable for a more budget-friendly option. Others still will be in gold-plated silver or a base metal, providing an even more accessible option for a bit of chic accessorizing.
Top: Coco hoop earrings in 14k yellow gold, $1,820; Imperfect Grace
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