A guide to huggie earrings

Huggie earrings are the unsung heroes of earring curation, often confused with hoop earrings. To set the record straight, we spoke to Deborah Allen, OB’s Senior Jewelry Designer, to learn more about the design of huggie earrings and how to style them.

What are huggie earrings?

‘As the name suggests, a huggie earring hugs the ear all the way round, leaving no gap between the earring and your earlobe,’ explains Deborah. This distinguishes them from hoop earrings, which tend to have removable backs, creating more space between your lobe and the earring. Huggie earrings usually have a lever or hinged latch back closing.

What size are huggie earrings?

‘Our huggie earrings usually range from 10mm to 15mm inside diameter, with 12mm being the most popular,’ says Deborah. If you’re unsure, check each earring product page for specific measurements.

Depending on the position of your ear piercing, huggies will fit differently. If you know you have wider earlobes, choose a bigger huggie hoop for a comfortable fit.

Why wear huggie earrings?

1. One of the best things about huggie earrings is their all-in-one design, meaning you can’t lose the backs. No more scouring the floor for a tiny butterfly that’s impossible to find.

2. Thanks to their compact design, huggies sit much closer to your earlobe than hoop or drop earrings. This makes them much less likely to catch on your clothing as you pull it over your head.

3. Huggies are super-lightweight, making them more comfortable for long-term wear than larger, chunkier styles. If you do end up keeping them in overnight, make sure you give them a good clean to prevent build-up and keep them shining. Our how to clean and care for your jewelry guide has got you covered.

How to style huggie earrings

1. Huggie earrings are great for stacking. If you’ve got multiple piercings, team a huggie hoop with a charm hoop earring, or a simple stud. As they are relatively dainty, you can wear them in your first lobe piercing, or higher up. Take a look at our collection of stacking earrings and read our earring stack guide to help you get started.

2. Nothing quite compares to the versatility of a huggie earring. As they are super-comfortable, choose a stylish daytime pair and they’ll take you through to evening, no problem.

3. Depending on what look you’re after, a huggie usually fits the bill. Our collection spans from simple designs with hammered finshes to gemstone drops and freshwater pearl charms. Whatever occasion you’re dressing for, there’s a huggie to match.