Wearing earrings with glasses works almost every time, as long as one of the two takes the lead. In this guide you’ll find out which earrings suit which frames, how to balance proportions and metal tones, and how to stop earrings catching on the arms of your glasses.
Key points at a glance
- Rule of thumb: bold frames call for subtle earrings, simple frames leave room for statement earrings.
- Contrasting shapes work: big hoop earrings look better with angular frames than with large round glasses.
- Repeat metal tones: a gold detail on your glasses is enough to pick up gold earrings.
- Studs and small hoops stay clear of the arms, long drops and ear cuffs are more likely to get in the way.
Glasses and earrings: the basic rule
Glasses and earrings sit in the same area, between your hairline and your neck. So one of them should lead and the other should support. If you go big with your frames, keep your earrings small, otherwise your face can quickly look overloaded.
A classic, understated frame gives you plenty of freedom. With a simple rectangular frame or a subtle cat-eye, you can wear earrings that are visible from across the room. If your classic frame comes in a strong colour or has eye-catching details, studs are usually all you need.
Which earrings to wear with glasses: studs, hoops, drops and statement pieces
How to style earrings with glasses depends mainly on how much presence your frame has:
| Earrings | Work well with | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Studs | any frame, especially bold or colourful ones | Tiny studs get lost next to very large frames; pearls or small stones add a touch more. |
| Small hoops | round, angular and cat-eye frames | Close-fitting huggies won’t catch on the arms. |
| Large hoops | angular, slim or rimless frames | With big round glasses, it quickly becomes too many circles. |
| Drop earrings | delicate metal frames and slim shapes | They draw the eye downwards, so the frame can stay calm. |
| Statement earrings | simple, lightweight frames in neutral tones | Next to bold glasses, they compete for attention. |
Glasses and hoop earrings: when is it too much?
Round glasses and hoop earrings make a lovely pair, as long as the circles don’t take over. Very large hoops with a large round frame can quickly look like Saturn and its rings. “The bigger, the better” only applies to hoops when they are the only eye-catching accessory around your face.
If you don’t want to give up big earrings, choose glasses with corners and edges, or a thin metal or rimless frame that takes a back seat. The same goes for unusual earrings with fringes, stones or figurative shapes.
Proportions and colours: matching frames and earrings
Proportions
The more space your glasses take up on your face, the smaller your earrings can be, while a delicate frame can handle bigger ones. On a narrow face, long drops add even more length; shorter, wider earrings balance it out. You can repeat shapes or break them: angular earrings with angular glasses look graphic, round ones soften the look. To find the frame shape that suits you, read our guide Which glasses suit me?
Metal tones: gold, silver and rose gold
Repeating colours is an old trick. If you wear gold earrings, it’s enough for your glasses to have gold details, for example on the bridge or the arms. A frame that is gold all over plus large gold earrings can quickly turn your face into a treasure chest.
Silver earrings go with silver, grey or black frames, rose gold with warm shades such as pink, beige or light tortoiseshell. Mixing metals is fine as long as it looks deliberate, for example with a two-tone earring or a frame that combines acetate and metal.
Frame colour
Black frames go with almost any jewellery. Tortoiseshell and warm browns work well with gold and pearls, clear and light frames with silver and fine stones. If your glasses are a strong colour, pick it up in a small stone on your ear and keep everything else simple.
In our shop you’ll find women’s glasses from Miu Miu, Prada, Ray-Ban, Isabel Marant, Tom Ford and other brands, from simple metal frames to bold acetate styles.
Miu Miu MU 01XV VAU1O1£134.56
Miu Miu MU 09XV VAU1O1£134.56
Miu Miu MU 04UV 1AB1O1£134.56
Miu Miu MU 01XV 19P1O1£134.24
Ray-Ban ALAIN (RX7239 2001)£60.29
Miu Miu MU 09XV 16K1O1£135.40
Miu Miu MU 01XV 26E1O1£134.56
Ray-Ban RX5698 2012£73.55Day or evening: how much jewellery with glasses?
For the office and everyday life, a simple formula works: the glasses you wear all day plus studs or small hoops. It looks polished and goes with almost any outfit.
In the evening you can go bigger, but still let one piece lead: statement earrings with a calm frame, or bold glasses, such as a black cat-eye with sparkly details, with simple studs. The same applies to sunglasses with earrings: large sunglasses pair well with studs or slim hoops, small round ones can take more striking earrings.
Earrings and the arms of your glasses: no pressing, no catching
The arm of your glasses rests on top of your ear and runs down behind it, exactly where earrings, backs and piercings sit. Here’s how to keep them out of each other’s way:
- Glasses off first: take them off before changing earrings or pulling a jumper over your head.
- The upper ear gets crowded: ear cuffs, climbers and helix piercings sit right where the arm rests. Flat studs are more comfortable here than rings, and slim metal arms take up less space than wide acetate ones.
- Take them off towards the front: large hoops and long drops catch most easily when you pull your glasses off to the side. Use both hands and lift them off forwards.
- Have the arms adjusted: if an arm presses behind your ear or on a piercing, an optician can bend the tip to fit.
- With a hearing aid: a behind-the-ear hearing aid shares the space with the arm. Studs and slim arms are usually the most comfortable choice. Ask your optician or audiologist to adjust your glasses so both sit well.
Like the look of glasses with earrings attached? A glasses chain creates a similar jewellery effect; just pair it with shorter earrings so nothing tangles. Ideas can be found in Glasses Chains: More Bling for Your Specs.
Short hair and glasses: which earrings work?
With short hair your ears are on show, so earrings stand out more and sit closer to your glasses. If your frame is bold, a pixie cut works well with studs, small hoops or a single ear cuff. With a delicate frame, short hair leaves plenty of room for big earrings.
With a bob, length matters: if an earring ends exactly where your hair ends, it gets lost or caught. Studs and hoops that end well above that line, or drops that hang below it, work better. With a fringe there’s already a lot going on around your eyes, so smaller earrings keep things calm. For more ideas, see 5 Flattering Glasses and Hairstyle Combinations.
How to wear jewellery with glasses: tops, necklaces and scarves
You can also choose your earrings to match your top, for example a pattern or an embellished collar. Then it gets tricky to add your glasses as a third matching element. The advice here: keep it simple. Choose plain glasses that don’t compete with the overall look. The same goes for statement necklaces and scarves in the same area.
Glasses and earrings for men
Men in many cultures have worn earrings for thousands of years. Large, shiny studs or hoops, popular in hip-hop culture, look best with a delicate metal frame such as a thin-rimmed pilot style. Tunnels and plugs from the hipster scene go well with browline glasses, a classic of the 1950s and 60s, or with bold horn-rimmed frames. A small stud in one ear goes with any frame.
Frequently asked questions
Which earrings go with bold glasses?
Subtle ones: studs, small hoops or pearls. That way your glasses stay the focal point.
Can I wear gold earrings with silver glasses?
Yes, as long as it looks intentional. The easiest way to combine both metals is a two-tone piece of jewellery or glasses that pair metal with a neutral acetate front.
So take a look in your jewellery box, see what you wear most often and then choose the glasses that go with it.
