Huggie earrings are small hoops that sit snug against the earlobe and close with a hinge instead of a post and backing. That close fit makes them comfortable for all-day wear, and it also makes them easy to stack. You may see them called huggie hoops, or gold huggies when the finish is gold. They are all the same style. This guide covers seven easy ways to wear them, plus the size, finish and care details for every huggie we sell, so you can pick the right pair before you order.
Quick Answer: How Do You Style Huggie Earrings?
- Start with one pair. A single pair of small huggies in your first piercing goes with almost any outfit.
- Let size set the mood. Small 8 to 12 mm huggies read as a line of sparkle. Larger ovals, up to about 24 mm tall, read as a statement.
- Match your metals, or mix them on purpose. Pick gold or silver to suit the jewelry you wear most.
- Add more in a second or third piercing once you know which pair you like.
All Our Huggie Earrings at a Glance
| Style | Look | Finish and stones | Size and fit notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Huggies Earrings | Thin hinged huggie with a row of small stones | Listed as 925 sterling with zircon stones. Gold color. | 8, 10 or 12 mm. The page says they can also be worn in a second hole. |
| Silver Huggies Earrings | The same thin hinged style in silver | Listed as 925 sterling with zircon stones. Silver color. | 8, 10 or 12 mm. |
| Huggie Hoop Gold Earrings | Slim hinged huggie lined with cubic zirconia crystals | Gold finish. The page does not name the base metal. | One size, with a hinge closure. |
| Gold Huggie Hoop Earrings | Hinged huggie with a larger center stone and a row of small stones | Stainless steel with PVD gold plating, cubic zirconia. | About 17 mm wide and 15 mm tall (size chart in the photos). Hinged clasp. |
| Crystal Drop Huggie Hoop Earrings | Small gold huggie with a rectangular, emerald-cut crystal drop | Stainless steel with PVD gold plating, faceted K9 crystal. Blue, green or pink. | One size. Most of the length is the crystal drop. |
| Pearl Hoop Huggie Earrings | Gold huggie with a dangling pearl | Stainless steel base with a gold coating, pearl drop. | The page lists hoops of about 1 inch with a 0.5-inch pearl drop. |
| Stainless Steel Geometric Earrings | Oval hinged hoop with one cubic zirconia stone | Stainless steel with gold plating. | 19 x 22 mm (size chart in the photos). Hinged clasp. |
| Cubic Zirconia Earrings (oval) | Oval hinged hoop covered in rows of cubic zirconia | Gold plating over stainless steel. | 24 mm tall, 19 mm wide, 5 mm thick (size chart in the photos). Hinged clasp. |
| 925 Dagger Huggie Earrings | Huggie lined with stones, with a small spike charm | Listed as 925 sterling with zircon stones. Gold or silver color. | Hinged huggie (see the photos). |
| Dangle Chain Earrings | A chain joins two piercings: a huggie and a stud (Single) or two huggies (Double) | 925 sterling with 14K gold plating, cubic zirconia. Gold, silver or rose gold. | Made for two or more piercings. The Single style uses an 8 mm huggie, a 3 mm stud and a 32 mm chain. |
| Double Piercing Dangle Chain Huggie | Two huggies joined by a delicate chain | Gold-plated metal with cubic zirconia. | Medium-sized hoops with a latch-back closure. Made for two piercings. |
7 Ways to Style Huggie Earrings
1. One Thin Pair for Every Day
The simplest version is also the one you will wear most: a thin huggie in your first piercing, with a white tee and jeans. The Gold Huggies Earrings and Silver Huggies Earrings come in 8, 10 and 12 mm, so you can choose how much of the hoop shows. The Silver Huggies page includes a sizing photo with all three sizes on an ear.
2. A Pop of Color with Crystal Drops
When the outfit is neutral, let the earrings carry the color. The Crystal Drop Huggie Hoop Earrings pair a small gold hoop with an emerald-cut crystal in blue, green or pink. Wear them as your only earring when you want color near your face, or stack them in a second piercing next to a plain gold huggie, as the product page suggests. A white shirt or black tank keeps the focus on the crystal.
3. Pearl Huggies for Dressier Plans
The Pearl Hoop Huggie Earrings add a pearl drop to a gold hoop. Wear them with a little black dress for dinner, or with a white blouse and jeans when you want something softer. They also suit a wedding-guest outfit. The page lists hoops of about 1 inch with a 0.5-inch pearl drop, so they hang a little lower than a plain huggie.
4. Oval Hoops with Your Hair Up
Pull your hair back to show off a bolder shape. The Stainless Steel Geometric Earrings are an oval hoop with a single cubic zirconia stone and measure 19 x 22 mm. The oval Cubic Zirconia Earrings are covered in rows of stones and measure 24 mm tall. Both look good with a ponytail or low bun and a simple knit or blazer. For a bracelet to match, see our guide to styling zircon bracelets.
5. Evening Sparkle
For a night out, choose a pair that catches the light. The Gold Huggie Hoop Earrings have a larger center stone with a row of small stones, and measure about 17 x 15 mm. The Huggie Hoop Gold Earrings are slimmer, with a row of cubic zirconia crystals. Wear either with a black dress or a satin top, and keep the necklace simple so the earrings stand out.
6. Stack Them in Graduated Sizes
A curated ear is only a few small earrings in different piercings. An easy way to start is to wear 8, 10 and 12 mm huggies from smallest at the top to largest at the lobe, which is what the Silver Huggies sizing photo shows. For more movement, try a chain style. The Dangle Chain Earrings link two piercings with a chain, using either a huggie and a stud (Single) or two huggies (Double). The Double Piercing Dangle Chain Huggie joins two hoops the same way. The Dangle Chain page says they are designed for people with two or more piercings.
7. A Little Edge
The 925 Dagger Huggie Earrings hang a small spike charm from a stone-lined hoop. They come in gold or silver. Wear them with a black tank and a leather jacket for something sharper, or with a graphic tee and denim for a relaxed version. Our guide to styling a pleated denim skirt has easy outfits to pair them with.
Choosing Your Size, Finish and Closure
- Size: Our thin Gold and Silver Huggies come in 8, 10 and 12 mm. The statement pairs are larger: about 17 x 15 mm, 19 x 22 mm and 24 x 19 mm, per the size charts in their photos. Not every page lists a size, so check the photos before you order.
- Metal and finish: Several of our styles are stainless steel with gold plating, including the Crystal Drop, Gold Huggie Hoop, Geometric and oval Cubic Zirconia styles. The Pearl Hoop Huggie has a stainless steel base with a gold coating. The 925 Dagger Huggie and Dangle Chain styles are listed as 925 sterling, and the Dangle Chain page lists 14K gold plating. If you have a known metal allergy, check the material on the product page before you order.
- Closure: Most huggies close with a hinge. Open the hinge, slip it through your piercing, and close it until it clicks. The Double Piercing Dangle Chain Huggie uses a latch-back closure.
- Gold or silver: Choose the one that matches the jewelry you wear most. Mixing the two is fine if you do it on purpose. The chain styles also come in rose gold.
How to Care for Huggie Earrings
- Wipe them with a soft cloth and store them somewhere dry.
- Keep them away from perfume and lotion.
- Several of our product pages recommend taking them off before sleeping or exercising, and avoiding water. Other pages call the finish water-resistant, so follow the page for your pair. If it does not say, take them off.
Huggie Earrings FAQs
Are huggie earrings the same as huggie hoops?
Yes. Huggie earrings, huggie hoops and gold huggies are different names for the same style: a small hoop that sits close to the earlobe. For bigger hoops, see our guide to styling hoop earrings.
What size huggie should I choose?
For a subtle look, start with 8 to 12 mm. For a bolder look, choose an oval pair such as the Geometric (19 x 22 mm) or the oval Cubic Zirconia style (24 mm tall). Check the product page for the size of the pair you are looking at.
Can I wear huggies in more than one piercing?
Yes. The Gold Huggies page says they can also be worn in a second hole, and the Dangle Chain styles are designed for two or more piercings.
Should I choose gold or silver huggies?
Choose the metal that matches the rest of your jewelry. If you like both, wear one of each on purpose rather than mixing at random.
Can I sleep or shower in huggie earrings?
Care details vary by listing. Several pages recommend removing them before sleeping or exercising, so take them off unless the page says otherwise.
Find Your Huggies
Ready to shop? Browse all of our huggie hoop earrings, or look at our hoop earrings and stud earrings. For bolder pieces, see our statement earrings guide.
