Earrings, even though they are mostly associated with women, are gaining a lot of popularity among men as well. If back in the day it was only guys like Mr. T or George Michael who would wear them, now they are rapidly becoming a part of our daily lives.
With all this, many men who decide to wear earrings don’t know much about them and what to consider when purchasing a pair. They don’t know how, when and why they should wear them and how they are perceived by others. In this guide, we explore some of the most important aspects of the men’s earrings world and clear up some things that you’ve probably asked yourself and couldn’t find an answer.
History
Earrings date back so long ago that we don’t actually know who was the first one to invent them and why. And while it could have been anyone from the Persians to the Egyptians, one thing is sure: earrings used to have a lot of cultural significance. Even today, earrings have profound significations in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka or Laos.
Generally, each people who made used earrings gave them an important signification, even though sometimes this was just an aesthetic one. At many times, aesthetic functions were strongly correlated to other functions these pieces of jewelry used to have.
Earrings are even mentioned in the Old Testament, so their history dates back to very old times.
Styles
There are a lot of styles of earrings out there, each with its own cultural heritage and references. While most men’s earrings are simple studs or loop earrings, a lot of men today wear other styles as well, including but not limited to scaffold and snug earrings.
Different types of ear piercingsmen’s
There is no such thing as a casual or a formal earring, even though some earrings look more elegant than others. Of course, colorful, playful or funky earrings do have a more casual vibe to them than golden, silver or diamond earrings, but this does not mean that golden earrings are proper accessories for a formal suit.
A pair of simple, black earrings.
Since earrings are strongly associated with female looks in our culture, wearing them with formal men’s attire will only draw attention to them in a distracting way. We always say that your accessories should support your outfit and not become the center of it. Wearing earrings with a suit will distract people from you and your suit and will make them focus only on the earring.
Taye Diggs is bringing the sparkle with his subtle earrings. Notice how they really go great with his casual, yet elegant outfit.
We generally advise men who want to wear earring that they should keep it very simple. Of course, this does not mean that sparkle or not OK, but it should still be simple and as elegant as possible. Depending on the part of the world, earrings can have certain connotations: some people associate men wearing earring with rebels, while for others they are a cultural reference.
One more thing that needs to be mentioned in terms of style is that there are two major types of earrings: pierced and non-pierced / mobile earrings. While many men prefer to wear earring that are going to remain fixed in one place for a longer period of time, those who wish to experiment can opt for mobile earrings, such as magnetic ones, cli-on or stick-on earrings. These earrings allow you to experiment with different styles more easily and to transition from one look to another quite fast, while with pierced earrings, you should always take note of their presence and to work around them, which can be quite hard.
Also, you should always pick a style that compliments your face. Try not to choose a pair that replicates your features. For example, if you have a round face, don’t go for round earrings, try a pair of square ones, and vice-versa: if you have a rather square face, you should opt for earrings that have another shape than square.
When
How
Earrings are accessories just like any other piece of accessories and should follow the same set of rules as your other accessories, meaning:
- Your earrings should be proportionate to your body. Generally, earrings should be kept rather small, regardless of your size. However, note that bigger men can wear bigger earrings, while thinner men should never wear earring that are too big for them. If you wear an earring that is too big will make you look misbalanced and uneven (even if you wear one in each ear)
- The earring(s) you wear should complement the rest of your outfit. It is always crucial that your accessories should be in tandem with the clothes you are wearing. Their style should follow the theme of the outfit you have put together. For example, funky more colorful earrings can go with sporty clothes, while diamonds should always be worn with something just as imposing
- Gold and silver are neutrals, so they can be worn together. This is a very important rule, which many people find hard to believe. If you wear golden earrings, it does not mean that you can’t wear a silver bracelet as well
How many earrings?
Colin Farrell wearing loop earrings
This is question that is quite hard to answer. The reason for this is because the number of earring you wear is given by your intention. One earring is usually enough, especially if it is something bold and shiny. Two are already a demonstration of style (and, for some, power), while more than three is a cultural statement. Wearing more than two earrings is generally associated with punks and other similar subcultures, regardless of if you are wearing a suit or not, so you should always make sure to check your references.
Which ear?
There was a time when people used to think that the ear in which you are wearing your one earring is a sign of some sort. This probably has its roots in some sort of “code” which might have been used at a certain time in a certain place and became more of an urban myth than a clear fact, but today it does not seem to have any relevance whatsoever. Simply wear your earring in whichever ear you prefer, or wear two, one in each ear so that you avoid any such conflict.
Additional information
If you decide to wear an earring, regardless of whether it is a pierced one or a mobile one, you should always buy it from a safe place and, especially with piercings, have it done by a professional in an appropriate environment. Piercings can turn out to be quite bad accessories if you do them at some festival in the parking lot and not having them pierced properly can lead to infections and other inconveniences.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S What do you think? Do you like to wear earrings as a guy or to see men wearing them? Which styles do you prefer? Share your comments below and remember that you can subscribe to our website via e-mail or you can keep up with us by following us on our social media!
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