Bold, gold earrings are back, inspired by Dynasty-style 80s excess – and Madonna, Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber are getting in on the act
Designers like Schiaparelli, Saint Laurent, By Pariah and Rachel Boston are all lending an ear to 80s opulence
Think Joan Collins as the vengeful Alexis Carrington Colby in Dynasty or Princess Diana’s enormous button earrings or Ines de la Fressange on any Chanel runway in the 80s. The era of excess has influenced recent runways, including Saint Laurent, Versace and Schiaparelli, where creative director Daniel Roseberry’s jaw-dropping earrings are wearable works of art.
The original material girl, Madonna, sat front row at Dolce & Gabbana’s ode to glamorous blondes at Milan Fashion Week in September, where the models wore exuberant gold and gemstone earrings (some of them enormous crosses) with the design duo’s lingerie-inspired looks. Madonna remains the patron saint of piling on bling and bijoux.
All of it is gleaming, molten proof that too much can never be enough. Many jewellery designers are primed for the look – not to mention vintage stores and resale sites where you can pick up the real deal.
For Sophie Howard, founder of celebrity-favourite brand By Pariah (fans include Hailey Bieber, Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes and more), the decade is a huge source of inspiration.
“I love the 80s for scale and boldness but my interpretation while staying bold feels softer, more feminine, more refined,” she says.
Howard adds that the appeal of bold gold earrings is their sense of being “sculptural and clean” – and that they add serious oomph to any ensemble.
“They instantly elevate any look without being overly flashy. They’re an easy way to take any outfit, even a simple one, to the next level and strike the perfect balance of sophistication and boldness. Gold is such a versatile metal and I find it complements almost every skin tone,” she says.