How to wear mismatched earrings

Logo by SamIn last Friday’s post, when I mentioned that mismatched earrings are on trend this season, I included a photo of this pair, which I love. Unfortunately, I found the picture on Pinterest with no explanation of where or whether they’re available, so I guess I won’t be adding them to my collection.  ðŸ˜¦

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This pair from cabi’s fall 2021 collection is my only mismatched pair. They’re among my favourite earrings and I wear them quite often. The difference between them is subtle and might not even be noticed by some because they are identical in length and the shape doesn’t differ much.

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While there are plenty of mismatched pairs to be found, some cutesy and others elegant, you don’t need to buy more earrings to try this trend. Instead, why not mix and match from your existing collection? The key is to ensure that your choice looks intentional, not like you crawled out of bed and accidentally put on the wrong earrings! Here are a few tips to help you do that effectively. 

  • Choose two earrings that are obviously different from each other so that it doesn’t look like you simply mixed up two similar looking pairs.
  • Ensure that there is some correlation, some connection, between the two. It could be a common theme. For example,  earrings that are sold as mismatched sets often feature moons and stars. Choosing earrings made of the same metal  could also be a connecting factor as could colour. 
  • Play with lengths. Perhaps try wearing a stud in one ear and a longer or more dramatic earring in the other. 
  • Mix up shapes. For example, wear a round stud in one ear and a star shaped one in the other. Try a round hoop in one ear and a square or triangular one in the other. 
  • Experiment with sizes. Wear a small hoop in one ear and a larger one in the other. 

Here are a few examples from my earring collection that I’m going to try wearing. 

Wearing mismatched earrings might seem a little quirky. It’s a departure from tradition and may take you outside your comfort zone, but it’s an easy way to add an element of creativity to your look. There’s also one more advantage to this trend… if you’ve ever lost a favourite earring and it’s partner is sitting alone in the bottom of your jewelry box because you can’t bear to part with it, now’s the time to take it out and find it a new companion! 

Do your ears hang low?

Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?

When we sang this silly ditty around the campfire at girls’ camp when I was growing up, we didn’t know that when we reached our senior years, our ears might, in fact, begin to droop! As we age, our skin loses elasticity causing the tissue of our ears to sag and stretch. Sometimes this is worsened by wearing heavy earrings which can also cause the piercings themselves to stretch. 

Logo by SamI’ve been wearing pierced earrings for approximately 50 years, but I’ve always been very careful about their weight. I clearly remember two pairs over the years that felt heavy when I put them on for the first time. In both cases, that first time was also the last. I wasn’t going to take a chance on developing droopy earlobes if I could help it! Thankfully, there are many earrings, even large ones, that are made of very lightweight materials including aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel as well as plastic and acrylic. 

When my children were very young and there was the possibility of one of them grabbing an earring and pulling, I wore mostly studs. While a torn earlobe can be surgically repaired, I certainly didn’t want to have to go that route! 

If you have a pair of heavy earrings that you can’t bear to part with or if your earlobes are beginning to sag, there’s help for you! Easy to use, clear and unnoticeable, EarLite patches applied to the backs of the earlobes Screen Shot 2022-11-16 at 4.56.24 PMprevent stretching or tearing or provide relief for already damaged lobes. While I haven’t used these myself, I’ve been told that they are effective. “Bullet clutch” earring backs with plastic pads also provide extra support for larger, heavier earrings.  

And finally, while we’re on the topic of earrings, let’s look at some of the popular trends for fall and winter 2022. These include hoops, geometric shapes, florals, colour, pearls, crystals, chain links, and mismatched sets. 

Stripes and other trends for spring and summer

logoMy oldest son was born on February 21st. That was back in the day when they kept you in the hospital for a full week following a c-section. Though 37 years have come and gone, I clearly remember entering the hospital in the depths of an Alberta winter and coming out a week later into what felt like the beginnings of spring. Of course, we saw more of winter before it finally relinquished it’s icy grip, but ever since that year, as the end of February approaches, I begin to think that spring must be on its way.

What does that have to do with fashion, you ask? It will be awhile before those of us living this far north can begin switching over to our warm weather wardrobes, but it’s time to start thinking about the trends. What’s new for spring and summer 2017?

My favourite trend for the coming season is stripes! Stripes were all over the spring and summer catwalks in every form you could imagine. Horizontal, vertical and diagonal stripes; stripes of all colours and sizes; broad bands of colour and skinny hypnotic stripes. There were striped t-shirts, striped pants, striped dresses, striped swimsuits, even handbags and shoes with stripes. Stripes everywhere!

There’s nothing really new about stripes which is one of the reasons that I’m happy about the trend. I already have a couple of classic striped tees in my closet as well as my Ernest Tee from cabi and the striped swimsuit that I bought last summer. I don’t even have to go shopping to be on trend!

If stripes aren’t your thing, what are some of the other trends for spring and summer that you might find more to your liking? Apparently pink is the colour this season, especially shocking pink and shades of fuchsia, but bubblegum pink is also trending. Sadly, there’s only one pink item hanging in my closet right now, a t-shirt that’s past its best and only good for wearing around the house or to exercise in. Come to think of it, there’s also a bright pink sleeveless golf shirt and cap waiting for the snow on the golf course to melt, but perhaps another basic t-shirt like this one would be a good addition to my wardrobe. After all, it would kill two fashion birds with one stone.

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Apparently shoulder grazing statement earrings are also going to be big this spring and summer. Though I don’t have any that are quite that dramatic, I might have to go through my earring collection and pull out a few dangly pairs that I haven’t worn in quite awhile.

Speaking of shoulders, apparently shoulder pads are also coming back this season. Romantic ruffles will also be popular and so will t-shirts bearing slogans, particularly of the feminist variety.

Do any of these trends appeal to you? Which ones will you be adding to your shopping list?