… mid-sized studs.
I’ve written before about my love for studs, and how my shift to short hair has put me in the small-earring/big-necklace camp. But I do feel like my tiny studs get lost at times and gravitate towards my mid-sized options. Truly big post-back earrings feel a little 80s to me – at least ON me – but something between an itty-bitty prong-set gem and a silver-dollar-sized half-dome feels just right. Here are a few mid-sized stud earrings that have caught my eye recently:
Gorjana Fox Studs – $30
Even if the whole fox-print trend is mostly over, I still adore these. Because I adore foxes as animals and love being told that I’m foxy. At 1/2″ long and 3/8″ wide, these are right in that mid-sized window. In fact, they hail from Piperlime, a site that is considerate enough to include mock-up images showing you how large earrings will be when worn. LOVE that.
Vince Camuto Silver-Tone Pyramid Studs – $20
I have a pair that’s almost identical to these, purchased from Urban Outfitters about five years ago, and they are among my most-worn earrings. They add just the right amount of subtle toughness to my outfits. This pair is 3/4″ in diameter and also comes in gold-tone, and here’s a similar pair in rose gold. (Also love this triangular variation.)
Ombre Triplet Studs – $26
At 1/4″ diameter, these are the smallest of the night, but still a bit chunkier than your typical single-stone, prong-set gem stud. I often find multicolored earrings a bit tricky to style, but the two tones of teal are gorgeous together and the gray is neutral, so I think these would be quite versatile. They’re also available in a pale pink/clear/gunmetal mix. Baublebar also includes images showing how large earrings will be on an actual ear.
Kendra Scott Dira Studs – $50
I’m lusting after these, friends. With that lovely openwork design, these studs strike a perfect balance between chunky and delicate. They’re spendy, but could be worn with everything from jeans and a tee to a sparkly cocktail dress. And they come in silver, too! Click through to see them on a model. SO pretty.
Crystal Varnish Studs – $24
My pave studs are also worn quite frequently, as I find them to be a little more modern and edgy than straight-up CZ studs but also incredibly versatile. This pair is 1/2″ in diameter, so pretty chunky but not gigantic. And they’re also available in gold-tone. (If the plain pyramids bore you, check out these pave pyramid studs!)
Marc by Marc Jacobs Embellished Studs – $29.99
Although these aren’t mixed metal exactly, the cool tones of the silver and the warm tones of the gems give them a mixed feel. The organic, subtly sparkly design makes them eye-catching, but a perfectly mid-sized 3/8″ diameter means they’re not too over-the-top.
Bonnie Jonas Nail Head Stud – $16
Minimalists, this one’s for you. I think these pared-down studs with their simple slash are totally gorgeous, and at 3/8″ wide they’re chunky enough to be noticeable. Can’t beat that price, too. They’d be perfect with a funky weekend outfit or sleek workweek ensemble. Also available in goldtone.
Anyone else out there prefer a non-tiny, non-gigantic, mid-sized stud? Got any sources to share? I’d be willing to bet some of you make your own. What are your favorite design tips and preferred materials?
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I just love these earrings from etsy retailer Laminar. I wear them almost daily (basically any time I’m not wearing fancier earrings). They go with everything, and the sideways-hoop design is just edgy/odd enough to catch a lot of attention. I get compliments on them constantly, but I still see them as basic, design-wise. I would describe my style as minimalist with a cautiously rock-n-roll streak (office job’ll do that to your closet…sigh), and these work with all my outfits.
GORGEOUS! Thanks for sharing these!
My favorite studs of all time are from Kohl’s. I can wear them on the phone or even sleep in them and they remarkably don’t bother my sensitive ears even though they’re inexpensive. I’ve been wearing them for over 2 years and they’re still great.
http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-822151/itsy-bitsy-sterling-silver-openwork-celtic-square-stud-earrings.jsp
I like these so much that I think I’ll buy them too. Celtic designs are a favorite for stud earrings.
Thanks!
You’re welcome! I like Celtic designs too. I’m actually surprised they are as comfortable as they are. I may buy a backup pair just in case. I almost lost one in a Target dressing room not too long ago, the back went down my bra and I crawled on the floor for the earring.
I adore stud earrings, and would prefer to wear studs in my ears than danglers, but my job requires that I answer the telephone for our office. The “CLANK” of the bakelite receiver against stud earrings is bad for several reasons. 1. Hurts callers’ ears. 2. Hurts my ear, and my earlobe. 3. Can damage the earring. Thus, I bow to practicality, and aim for earbobs that are below my earlobe and above my (very short) neck.
Totally hear ya, Lynn. I’m usually fine for shorter calls, but do end up removing a stud if I know I’m going to be talking for ages!
So interesting, I didn’t realize until just now that I no longer wear my mid-size studs precisely because I’ve grown my hair long!
I always lose studs — usually just about instantly. Not just the backs but the whole things! How do you keep them under control?
I have the same problem, Cynthia. I hope Sally gives us an answer. I often wear mismatched earrings. For me, anyway, if the earrings are the same color or metal or if they are the same size, they seem to work.
Hi gals! OK, so I tend to use the standard butterfly clutch backs and don’t end up losing a lot of earrings, and I like them because you can keep pairs together in your jewelry box by feeding the post of one pair through the loop of the others’ back and then securing with the other butterfly back. BUT. If your posts are getting yanked out a lot – which is probably the case if both backs and studs are going missing – try some other back styles. Support backs will probably be even worse than butterfly backs, but small rubber ones like these are a little more sticky than metal: https://www.etsy.com/listing/106176524/100pcs-clear-soft-rubber-earring-backs?ref=sr_gallery_7&ga_search_query=rubber+earring+backs&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery I know that’s a ton of backs, but you can likely get smaller quantities at a craft store. Hope that helps!