Be At Fashion’s Forefront With A Pair Of Edgy Front-and-Back Earrings
After so many seasons in which statement necklaces reigned supreme, this year jewelry designers are increasingly focused on using ears as their canvases, finding curious ways to embellish every area from the lobe to the helix and tragus. In February, we swooned over the ear cuffs hitting the stores, designed to give ears a punk yet glam attitude. And now, we’re obsessed with the latest trend: front-and-back earrings, also known as double-sided, 360-degree, or front/back earrings.
What in the world are front-and-back earrings? Well, these designs are meant to be enjoyed from every angle, so that, rather than a sad little post or clip tucked behind your earlobe, these pieces feature a secondary embellishment therein. Case in point: the double-sided pearl earrings from Dior Rihanna has been sporting everywhere, which feature a larger pearl on one side and a smaller pearl on the other end. Typically, these earrings feature thin posts that can be tucked inside a barely visible hole in the secondary part of the earring (think of a sword and its sheath), but there are also magnetic designs available so that even women without pierced ears can get in on the trend. Common motifs, meanwhile, range from pearls to spikes and cones, cubes, elephant tusks, ram horns, eagle talons, daggers, chains, shark teeth, screws, and pyramid studs.
Below, you’ll find some of our absolute favorite front-and-back earrings. Get up front and personal with these beauties!
Shaun Leane “Cherry Blossom” Rhodalite Earrings, $958.84. Available at FarFetch.com
A romantic take on the double earring trend, these charmers are crafted out of sterling silver and feature tiny pink pearls as buds and pink enamel cherry blossom accents with rhodalite gems at their centers. The earrings are designed so that each branch seems to penetrate the pierced lobe, creating a virtual archway.
Rebecca Minkoff Curbs Front Back Stud Earrings, $58. Available at Shopbop.com
These reversible earrings feature a polished, curved, silver-toned claw on one side and, on the other, a round, faux pearl stud over a rhinestone-encrusted, silver-toned disc.
Vita Fede Crystal Titan Double-Sided Earrings, $565. Available at NeimanMarcus.com
Baublebar Pearl 360 Stud Earrings, $28. Available at Baublebar.com
Love Rihanna’s Dior pearl earrings? Then try recreating the look — for a bargain price at that! — with these faux pearl studs, which are available in several shades including the warm champagne pink hue shown above.
Elizabeth and James Berlin Bar Earrings, $95. Available at BergdorfGoodman.com
A minimalist silhouette can yield maximum visual effects. Take, for instance, these bar-shaped Elizabeth and James earrings, which measure 2 1/2″ in length and 2mm in diameter. The longer side of each bar-shaped earring is designed to be positioned along the back of the lobe, slanting downward at a 45-degree angle, while the shorter end adorns the front area.
Givenchy Rhodonite Small Double Horn Shark Earring, $1160. Available at Barneys.com
For a tribal-inspired, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo-worthy look, try out this palladium-toned brass double horn shark earring with pink rhodonite stone inlays on both sides. Magnetic closures allow the earring, which boasts a 40mm drop, to be perfectly positioned on the lobe, lending the appearance of gauged ears without any of the piercing and stretching involved.
Vita Fede Double Cubo Pearl Earrings, $775. Available at Shopbop.com
With one end featuring gold-toned cubes covered with pavé-set stones and the other end incorporating a small pearl, each of these Vita Fede earrings is equal parts disco lounge and country club.
Pamela Love Eagle Claw Earrings, starting at $250. Available at PamelaLoveNYC.com
Featuring a total drop of 46mm, these sterling silver talon-shaped earrings feature a hammered and distressed surface to attain a realistic effect, with the dents, grooves, and indentations you’d find if examining an eagle’s sharp claws. Similarly, each curved claw is joined to an amorphous stud meant to resemble an eagle’s scaly hallux.
Star Front/Back Earrings, $14. Available at UrbanOutfitters.com
Talk about a cosmic connection! You’ll be lovestruck and starstruck by these dainty and reversible stud earrings, each of which features two gold-toned metal star studs of differing sizes.
Jules Smith Love From Paris Dagger Earrings, $79. Available at JulesSmithDesigns.com
Mixing a medieval energy with some streetwise moxie, these Jules Smith earrings slay the competition thanks to their dagger-like silhouettes. Each earring features an elongated conical end with a sharp point that recalls a dueling weapon’s blade, as well as a cylindrical stud with pavé-set stones that resembles the handle of a sword.
Shaun Leane Gold-Plated Talon Earrings, $275. Available at ModaOperandi.com
Ever wondered how goth girls manage to loop those bone and wood spirals through their gauged ears? Well, now you don’t have to! You can fake the funk — and keep the holes in your pierced ears nice and tiny — with these earrings, which feature hooked gold-plated talons in both the back and front, with the longer end featuring a 0.9″ drop.
Givenchy Pave Crystal Cone Magnetic Earrings, $575. Available at SaksFifthAvenue.com
The futuristic shape of these double-ended earrings is reminiscent of that of the time capsules shown in sci-fi movies.Each earring consists of two palladium metal cones sitting atop pale gold-colored metal magnetic closures which are, in turn, lined with pavé-set, lavender-toned crystals.
Dior “Shine in Dior” Earrings, price available upon request. Visit Dior.com for stores.
Dior swept us away this year with its stunning Mise en Dior pearl earrings, which add a fierce vibe to classic pearls via the use of asymmetry and contrast. Each of the Shine in Dior earrings features a large, round, pink gold pearl that’s meant to peek out from behind the love and a smaller stud with a faceted, clear stone at its center surrounded by two rose gold-toned chain strands with tiny rectangular links.
.
Betsey Johnson Pretty Pearl Punk Double Sided Earrings, $45. Available at BetseyJohnson.com
Always an advocate of the “girls just wanna have fun” mantra, Betsey Johnson designed these rocker chic earrings, each of which features a rhinestone-encrusted, sterling silver-toned, rhodium, cone-shaped stud along the front and back of the lobe, both sides joined together by three draped chains embellished with faux pearls, rhinestones, and cheeky spikes.
Asherali Knopfer “Mix and Match” Earring, $600.21. Available at FarFetch.com
Imagine you could thread a cane-shaped, bar-thin, metal earring through your lobe and pick the embellishment of your choice for each of its two ends. Well, that’s the idea behind these Asherali Knopfer earrings, which come with pearl accents that can be unscrewed and swapped out for other accents like pink opal, turquoise, or onyx beads, as well as yellow gold or sterling silver spikes.
Elizabeth and James Vogel Earrings, $95. Available at SaksFifthAvenue.com
Each of the Elizabeth and James Vogel earrings features two gold-plated arrowhead-shaped studs pointing in opposite directions but, somehow, it successfully hits the style bullseye.
Ana Khouri Pearl and Black Gold Spike Stud Earrings, $2800. Available at Barneys.com
Shiny pearl studs epitomize classic style while conical spikes in 18k black gold add a gothic element, which is magnified via the addition of bezel-set diamonds along the spikes’ bases. Together, these various elements create a fascinating visual contrast, a push-and-pull between sweet and sinister, delicate and dangerous.
Rachel Rachel Roy Gold-Tone Evil Eye and Spear Chain Earrings, $26. Available at Macys.com
An early adopter of the double earring look, Rachel Roy recently releases these danglers, which feature two conical studs joined by a gold-toned ball chain strand and a bedazzled evil eye charm meant to ward off negative energy.
Rebecca Minkoff Front Back Hoop Earrings, $58. Available at RebeccaMinkoff.com
Pyramid-shaped studs are ubiquitous in Rebecca Minkoff’s handbag designs and, here, they’re paired with 1″-long claws to create a more visceral, primal, savage effect. Go wild!
