{"id":331375,"date":"2019-04-12T15:09:03","date_gmt":"2019-04-12T19:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/?p=331375"},"modified":"2021-12-15T06:54:39","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T11:54:39","slug":"hoop-earrings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/hoop-earrings\/","title":{"rendered":"Jewelry Designers Are Giving Hoop Earrings an Edgy Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Portrait<\/a>
Portrait of Lauryn Hill, 1998, by Marc Baptiste<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is almost impossible to overstate how popular hoop earrings<\/a> are today. They are routinely seen adorning the ears of high-profile women, ranging from Michelle Obama and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Jennifer Lopez and Cardi B. And they aren\u2019t going away anytime soon. For the Spring 2019 collections, statement hoops showed up in the runway shows of Valentino<\/a>, Sonia Rykiel<\/a> and Loewe<\/a>, among many others.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Portrait<\/a>
Portrait of Jennifer Lopez by Ellen von Unwerth<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The roots of the hoop-earring phenomenon literally stretch back to the dawn of civilization. On view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/a>\u2019s Ancient Near Eastern Art gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to 2,600\u20132,500 B.C. that experts agree is among the oldest known examples. Hoop earrings can also be found in the Met’s Egyptian art gallery as well as in the museum’s displays of Greek and Roman<\/a> art.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What inspired the original hoop design and why it was adopted by so many jewelers in the ancient world are unknown. It doesn’t have an origin story, feeling rather like the jewelry equivalent of the wheel. There just seems to be a logic to a circle that goes from the front to the back of the lobe.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHoops have been worn for millennia because they are unfathomably chic,\u201d says Annabel Davidson, the editor of Vanity Fair UK<\/em>\u2019s special jewelry edition. \u201cThe way they accentuate the jawline, elongate the face and add a touch of flamboyance to a look is clearly a timeless expression of confidence, femininity and sartorial savvy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the ages, there have been countless decorative variations of hoop earrings. While the style can be found in just about every era, it was far more popular in some periods than others. Certain looks from yesteryear reflect cultural interests, while others are purely glamourous. Hoops have provided a canvas for designers to express signature motifs or innovative new designs. They also exhibit shifts in manufacturing and gem trends. Find out about a few historical styles and modern creations below.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Victorian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Victorian-era gold, diamond and enamel earrings, ca. 1880 <\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Victorian era<\/a> is known for sentimental jewels, like REGARD rings and mourning pieces, but hoops were also very popular. When society women went on the Grand Tour, they picked up carved coral or carnelian hoops as souvenirs in Italy. They were also enchanted by the glamorous contemporary interpretations of the Etruscan hoops that were being unearthed in archeological digs. <\/p>\n\n\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Victorian Hoop Earrings<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t