Wow, such great advice from all of you. Thanks ladies!! And it's quite reassuring to hear that I'm not the only one with short hair struggling with this 'earring dilemma'.
I'm going to answer your suggestions one by one, so sorry in advance for the long reply.
Rosebud: I am going to try your suggestion of the small oblong, 'slim look' hoops as soon as I can. (and thanks for linking to that website)
Becky: do tell if any of the suggestions here work for you.
Angie: thanks for the compliment. It's funny really, I have been noticing lately that I'm often naturally drawn to exactly those styles and shapes that seem to suit me best.
And of course, why didn't I think of Antje sooner? She seems to have developed her very own earring style that fits here personality perfectly, but Patience is right, my style is less bold and I too am more attracted to delicate jewelry.
Antje: do tell where you find all those fantastic earrings!!
Shiny: loads of excellent ideas! I really loved the look of the Argento Vivo earrings in the picture, but when I tried on something similar today (can't say I'm not eager, can you), they didn't look good. That style appears to have just too much 'metal' going on for me. I think Nicole is definitely on to something, and that I should experiment with 'thinner wire' ones.
About the diamond studs: I don't have any. As a matter of fact I think pearls are my diamonds if that makes any sense (I'm guessing Angie can relate to this). Too much sparkle just doesn't work for me (I also tried a pair of peridot studs today - the colour was great with my eyes, thanks! - but they were set in some sort of sparkly prongs and even that put me off. I like them on other people, but a pearly stud just seems to fit my style, face and personality better - and they too can be dressed up or down for any occasion methinks.
(your tiny hoops with the pearl sound marvellous by the way)
Shannon: you're absolutely right that a statement necklace AND statement earrings would be too much. I'm trying new necklace looks too and I'll definitely stick to small earrings or no earrings at all when wearing a bolder necklace.
Monica: I did own one pair of small, subtle short dangly earrings (or were they droops? what's the difference people?-) years ago, can't find them anywhere now. Something with a tiny amethyst set in a sort of small teardrop wiry thingie, and they looked nice. So thanks for reminding me. And I know what you mean, for me there's a difference too, between my pixie cut straight from the hairdresser's and just before I'm due for a cut again.
Nicole: of course I would do that for you if I had larger earrings around, but I don't at the moment;-) But I love your suggestion and actually think you are on to something there. Will keep you posted!
Button styles: I think I have (if you mean flatter studs, a bit in the shape of real buttons;-) For me they fall under 'studs' I guess, and fortunately these suit me too (yeeha!).
And I can go a little bigger in circumference as long as the earrings lay fairly flat against my ears (spot on again Nicole). As soon as there's any 'build-up in upward direction' and they start to stick out more, it just looks like there's something on my ear that really doesn't belong there;-)
Patience: aha you like Etsy as well, amazing what's on there, isn't it. And you're not going to believe this, but I've had those white rose buds bookmarked for quite some time now!! I think I like the white violets even better, but my only concern is, again, the possible 'sticking out too much factor'.
Those pussywillow earrings are something that I would certainly consider, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that style will work for me.
The eighties chain earrings: not sure what you mean, could you link to an example?
Anyway, I'm really chuffed to hear from all of you that studs do look quite good on me.
I'll keep looking and trying on different styles, but if they don't work out, then that's fine too. It's not like there aren't enough beautiful studs and buttons and other small earrings to keep me busy for a long, long time. I'm going to experiment a bit more with different colours and shapes (bought a pair of small silver square studs with rounded corners this afternoon, oh la la, how daring of me;-), and I will look into gemstones too.
Maybe studs can be my signature look, as far as earrings are concerned. Hey, I quite like the sound of that!
Inge, maybe just a tad fussy in the earring department...