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We're all about staple jewelry that transitions through the seasons right along with our wardrobes. Mixed metals tend to go with just about everything, and when summer rolls around, there's something about a pair of airy hoop earrings that feels particularly easy. Hair goes up, necklines get lighter and suddenly those hoops get a little more room to shine.
Hoops have always been one of those pieces we reach for without thinking too hard about it. They're easy enough for an ordinary day but still make you feel a little more pulled together when you're heading somewhere after. That's exactly what I want from everyday jewelry.
These earrings rarely leave our lobes from June through September. Whether we're out for a night on the town, making jewelry in the studio or tucking our toes in the sand, hoops work with just about all of it. And yes, they're still an especially lovely complement to a floppy beach hat.
One of my favorite things about hoops is how much the size, shape and metal can change the feeling. A smaller pair is easy and understated, while a larger oblong hoop adds more presence without feeling heavy or overly dressed up. Throw them on with a T-shirt and denim, a breezy summer dress or whatever you're wearing over your bathing suit and somehow they just work.
If you have multiple ear piercings, I also love pairing a larger hoop with a tiny stud or smaller hoop beside it. There's no need for everything to match perfectly. In fact, a little variation in scale and shape usually makes the combination more interesting.
Mixed metals make hoop earrings especially versatile because they take away the question of what the rest of your jewelry is supposed to match. Yellow gold can sit alongside sterling silver, and oxidized silver can add a little contrast. If your earrings already combine metals, you have an easy excuse to wear whatever rings, necklaces and bracelets you're in the mood for that day.
When I originally wrote this post in 2017, we were showing off a now-discontinued pair of CMD Tri-Toned Multi-Hoop Earrings in rose gold, yellow gold and silver, with another version combining yellow gold, silver and oxidized silver. The exact styles in the CMD collection have changed over the years, but my love of mixed metals and a really good pair of hoops certainly hasn't.
Of course, there's nothing about a good hoop that's actually limited to summer. That's the whole point of a staple. The pieces I love most are the ones you can wear on a hot August afternoon, pull out again with a sweater in October and still find yourself reaching for years later.
Summer just happens to be a particularly good time to let your hoops have their moment.
What jewelry always makes your summer staples list? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.
Here's to hoops and hair-up weather,
Colleen
© Colleen Mauer Designs. All rights reserved.
Published: July 3, 2017
Updated: August 13, 2026
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