A Really Good Pair of Hoops
Goes a Long Way

Everyone needs a really good pair of go-to hoops. You know the ones. They're the earrings you put on when you're running out the door, the pair that somehow works with whatever else you're wearing and the ones that end up traveling with you because you know you'll actually wear them.

I've designed plenty of earrings over the years, from tiny everyday pieces to much more substantial shapes, but I keep coming back to hoops. There is something about such a simple form that gives you an incredible amount of versatility.

What Makes a Great Everyday Hoop?

For me, an everyday hoop needs to strike a balance. I want enough presence that you can actually see it, but it shouldn't feel like your earrings are making every decision about the rest of your outfit. It needs to be comfortable, easy to wear and interesting enough that you don't get bored reaching for it again tomorrow.

That's one of the reasons our Classic Circle Hoops have remained such an easy CMD staple. The hand-hammered finish gives a simple shape texture and catches the light without turning it into something overly fussy. They're the kind of earrings that can become part of your regular uniform.

And that's usually my favorite kind of jewelry.

Hoops Are Made for Real Life

I've never been particularly interested in designing jewelry that spends most of its life waiting inside a box for the right occasion. I want you to wear it to work, out to dinner, walking the beach, traveling, meeting friends and, yes, making a quick trip to the grocery store.

Hoops are particularly good at that.

A classic pair doesn't ask much of you. Throw your hair up and they're suddenly more visible. Wear them with a T-shirt and jeans and they make everything feel a little more intentional. Add them to an outfit that's already dressed up and they don't compete with it.

That's exactly the kind of versatility I want from everyday jewelry.

Small Hoops Can Do a Lot

Smaller hoops are especially useful because they don't necessarily have to live in your first piercing. If you have multiple ear piercings, try a small hoop in your second or third hole alongside a larger pair, a tiny stud or another shape entirely.

I don't think your earrings need to match perfectly any more than I think all of your jewelry metals need to match. Varying the scale, shape or metal can make a combination much more interesting.

And if you're someone who doesn't want to think about an ear stack at all? Put the small hoops in your first piercing and call it a day. That's the beauty of a good staple.

Silver or Gold Hoops?

My answer is probably predictable: whichever you'll actually wear. Sterling silver can feel cool and understated, while gold brings warmth, but I certainly don't think the metal of your hoops needs to dictate everything else you're wearing.

Wear gold hoops with silver rings. Put silver hoops next to a gold stud. Mix your metals and let your jewelry collection work together instead of dividing everything into separate little camps.

If you're building a small jewelry collection and trying to decide where to begin, think about the metal already showing up most often in the pieces you reach for. That's usually a pretty good clue.

The Jewelry You Stop Thinking About

I think one of the biggest compliments you can give a piece of jewelry is to stop thinking so hard about wearing it. It simply becomes yours.

You know how it feels. You know it works. You reach for it almost automatically, and eventually you feel a little strange when you leave the house without it.

A really good pair of hoops can become exactly that kind of piece. Not precious because you're afraid to wear them, but precious because you've worn them everywhere.

Here's to the hoops that go everywhere with you,
Colleen

© Colleen Mauer Designs. All rights reserved.
Published: May 28, 2024
Updated: August 24, 2026