Expect queues for ear piercing at Claire’s Accessories to be out of the door this summer – earrings are an essential if you want to be fashionable in 2017. From the Oscars red carpet to fashion’s front row, they are everywhere. The precis? Go big or go home. Céline’s dinosaurs, Loewe’s faces and Balenciaga’s safety pins are all worth a Google image search to get the idea. Or head to Mango. No, that’s not a plug. Take it from a big earring fan: Mango is where you’ll find the best on the high street. You’re welcome. And while we’re feeling generous, here are seven earring icons to get you on the right track. Pick one, start those lobe exercises and off you go.
The chandeliers: Edie Sedgwick
In style terms, Sedgwick is black tights, eyeliner and pixie crops. But her strong earring game has been less documented until now. Our favourites are the ones that look like scaled-down chandeliers. The perfect counterweight to a Sedgwick-approved striped T-shirt.
The grande dame: Coco Chanel
Chanel famously advised removing one item you are wearing before leaving the house. Earrings always make the cut though. Her round, gold, sometimes monogrammed ones were key to her look, and her brand’s. Why do they work? Because they look reassuringly expensive.
The classic: Sade
Sade is so cool that she inspired Phoebe Philo with her earring work. The Céline designer referenced the singer, with her chunky hoop earrings and plaited hair, for spring/summer 2016. It still works now – Sade is unsurpassably chic.
The abstract sculpture: Nina Simone
Simone recorded a cover of Peggy Lee’s Golden Earrings in 1961. Makes sense. Earrings – more art object than demure studs – were key to Miss Simone’s look. Think miniature Alexander Calder mobiles and you’re in the right ballpark.
The power earring: Samantha Jones
It’s possible that no one knew how great statement earrings looked when combined with an arched eyebrow before Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall). The much-gif’d SATC character had a style that mixed power dressing with partywear. From YSL logos to blue tile shoulder dusters, her earrings were code for “don’t mess”.
The car-boot sale: Pat Butcher
Most earring wearers now would see EastEnders’ Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement) as a formative influence. Hers always look like they cost 20p and come from a rummage in a biscuit tin at a car-boot sale. And they’re all the better for it. You can’t buy class, you know.
The posh punk: Isabelle Huppert
Huppert missed out on best actress at the Oscars, but she had a landslide victory in the best ear style statement category. A diamond cuff would be no big whoop if, say, Alice Dellal wore it. But Huppert – grownup, elegant, French – will have any earring fan speechless with admiration.
