(Top and above) Triangle drop earring extenders and mismatched stud earrings in 18k yellow gold, prices on request; Dana Bronfman

I’m still thinking about some of the fashion from the 2018 CFDA Awards—mostly Issa Rae’s jumpsuit, which I wrote about earlier this week, but also, her earrings.

She wore a pair of mismatched Mateo earrings—in one ear, a stud, in the other, a long, chain-like drop that nearly dusted her shoulder.

I love the asymmetric look. I’ve always found it fun, and remember just a few years ago when the style was all the rage—it seemed to spike right after our collective obsession with ear climbers, remember? So I was surprised to find that it had made a comeback so soon—that is, its availability hasn’t necessarily waned, nor has its likability, but as far as demand, we seem to have reached peak obsession again.

I always say to take the word trending with a grain of salt, and not to confuse it with trend, which is often (I think incorrectly) used as a synonym for fad. Especially in jewelry where certain styles or gemstones seem to be all the rage at one point or another, when they’re really just experiencing a natural ebb and flow—unlike a fad, they’re unlikely to become tiresome, or fall off the face of the earth until the next decade.

Sonoma Mist drop earrings in sterling silver with black diamonds, $1,290; Tacori

 

Sonoma Mist pavé Dew Drop stud earrings in sterling silver with 0.15 ct. t.w. black diamonds, $550; Tacori

Still, it can be hard to persuade your average customer to drop a significant sum of hard-earned cash on a decidedly fashion-forward style like the mismatched earring, even when there are some really amazing options available. Purchasing a pair of purposefully mismatched earrings leaves them with only one way to wear the jewel, and what happens when a finicky shopper grows tired of wearing that look? A solution: Why not mix and match? The whole idea of this earring party—where the majority of looks feature groups of tiny stud earrings—is still so prevalent. But what if we took those studs, paired them with a pair of danglers, and proposed that customers wear one of each? They can be trendy when they want to be, but still have the comfort of knowing the classic look can be attained by owning two matching earrings per pair—a style safety net for when things get too fashion-forward.

Hexagon dangling earrings in sterling silver and gold plating with black agate, $225; W. Britt

Cross Hexagon stud earrings in sterling silver and gold plating, $105; W. Britt

If you can, opt to display similar styles by the same designers in groups, to show how your customers can mix and match. I like these examples, but the possibilities are wide open.

Small Horizon wire earrings in 14k yellow gold, $395; Zoe Chicco

Small Horizon stud earrings in 14k yellow gold with 0.1 ct. t.w. diamonds, $595; Zoe Chicco

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