https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 03 May 2026 06:02:49 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1431102 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 02:34:43 +0000 Jules 1431102@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I feel that earrings are even more personal than clothes and even cultural. For example, I know a lot of people for whom gold earrings, probably in a classic ie/ possibly frumpy and not current style, are pretty much a necessary part of getting dressed. Their clothes might not be super current but neither are they long term high quality and they do shop seasonally, are somewhat aware of trends etc, whereas I think the earrings are thought of as an investment, not something to be updated regularly or coordinated with each outfit. People will wear the same pair or small selection for years. I'm actually aiming for a small collection of quality basic earrings myself, to get away from disposable costume flings. But I don't really like the typical styles so the purchases will probably come slowly. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1431034 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 00:24:57 +0000 Mander 1431034@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, the hook style is frumpy? Man, I'm in trouble! I know it as a French hook and I sometimes even change post-type drop earrings to the hook style!&nbsp; I find that the posts poke into my head, plus I'm lazy and it's much easier to just slip the hook in. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1429442 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 16:59:50 +0000 Marley 1429442@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>MsMary - those Soho quartz stud earrings (Deb's #5)&nbsp;are so&nbsp;<i>not</i> frumpy!!!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1429438 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 16:54:53 +0000 MsMary 1429438@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I still have my oversized pearl earrings like Deb's #1, and I still wear them occasionally.&nbsp; But I wear them <i>ironically</i>, so that can't possibly be frumpy, right?&nbsp; ;)&nbsp; Also I wear my druzy quartz earrings, similar to her #5, at least once a week and I adore them and am honestly flabbergasted that anybody would think they are frumpy.</p> <p>Count me on Team Frump is in the Eye of the Beholder! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428764 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:36:43 +0000 jackiec 1428764@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great reading on YLF these days! Late to the party but I agree with Janet and UmmLila. I've never actually even put any thought into this topic! I wear my little diamond studs every day because I feel naked without them. I like the little sparkle, as Torontogirl says, next to my face. It never dawned on me that studs could be frumpy. I think whatever you wear is part of your style and if it makes you feel happy then it's wonderful. Good topic! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428744 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 16:56:58 +0000 Staysfit 1428744@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This was a lot to go back and read! &nbsp;Lots of strong opinions here. After reading what Angie wrote I will have to pull out my boldest earrings and see what you think! &nbsp;;-&nbsp;)&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428406 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 01:37:52 +0000 Marley 1428406@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What bettycrocker said. &nbsp;Earrings go out of style - just like clothing, shoes, handbags, etc.</p> <p>It's so funny how it's in the eye of the beholder! &nbsp;</p> <p>@Peri - those earrings, on me, would look frumpy! &nbsp;Seriously.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428189 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 18:50:25 +0000 Anonymous 1428189@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Absolutely Peri. I made that point earlier too.&nbsp;It's the meat and potatoes that count not the fastening. I agree that there are probably&nbsp;a lot of frumpy styles out there that happen to have that type of fastening, but the ones in your photo are fab! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428185 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 18:45:10 +0000 Peri 1428185@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428180 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 18:41:42 +0000 Anonymous 1428180@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've thought about it, and this is the only thing I can come up with. Earrings can be dated just like clothing can be dated; so unless you are deliberately dressing in a vintage manner, your earrings are going to look frumpy. Also, earrings that are not in any way related to the outfit can look odd. That's all I have, folks. I'm like all of the rest of you, though. Frumpy is in the eye of the beholder. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428146 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 17:36:28 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1428146@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Uh oh, I suspected but now it's confirmed - 75% of the earrings I own are shepherds hook. They are indeed easy to use during construction (I used to dabble in making my own jewelry once upon a time) and personally I find them much more comfortable than a post back for any kind of dangle. With a post back you have to tighten the back really tightly on your ear to deal with the weight of the rest of the earring, but with hooks there's a bit of a counterweight and they can move as you do. Not sure that most people would be able to tell which kind they were when on, as you can't really see the back at all.</p> <p>I agree with you, Alasse, about small studs versus small dangles but I guess it's just a matter of personal taste and what has been popular versus new. I freely confess that my earring taste is probably stuck in the 90s... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428139 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 17:17:43 +0000 Angie 1428139@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My pleasure, Alasse. It was a good question, and you received passionate responses. Very interesting.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428136 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 17:12:41 +0000 Alassë 1428136@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This topic&nbsp;has generated a lot of opinions, I see. My thanks to everyone for sharing their thoughts, especially Angie who keeps coming back to clear up questions.&nbsp;</p> <p>KL, I have earrings like those and like them. To me, small studs are closer to something-in-the-ear/do nothing for the outfit than a small, elegant dangle. I think I'm in the minority. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428066 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:21:20 +0000 Angie 1428066@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>WOW. Look at the disagreement between us on the styles Deb posted.&nbsp;&nbsp;Fascinating.&nbsp;</p> <p>HAH. KL. I laughed at the cartoon. There is truth to the underlying message.&nbsp;</p> <p>Suz, you will recognize a shepard's hook right away:</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.thefind.com/jewelry/info-shepherd-hook-earrings">http://www.thefind.com/jewelry.....k-earrings</a></p> <p>Not ALL shepards hook style earrings look&nbsp;frumpy. Not at all.&nbsp;But there is something about the style that <i>can </i>make it look a little dated along with the rest of the style of the earring. The hook is very easy and cheap&nbsp;to manufacture - almost like fast fashion - so that's why you have to be discerning about the style. Just like with clothing.&nbsp;</p> <p>I don't think costume jewellery is necessarily frumpy at all. It can look the most hip and modern of all.&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428057 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 14:35:55 +0000 Anonymous 1428057@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think it's like any other piece of clothing or accessory and where you typically get your information regarding &nbsp;what's current and modern.&nbsp;&nbsp;Take a look at what's offered on sites like Net-A-Porter or in magazines and it's pretty apparent that the days of miscellaneous dangling things from those shepherd hooks ,or button earrings ,or &nbsp;combos of pearls and gold, etc are over. &nbsp;The easy/artsy pieces are a different story, and those have an appeal to lots of people. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428056 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 14:32:52 +0000 Helena 1428056@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I took it to say that earrings which don't really do anything for an outfit can look frumpy ... so studs are sort of understated and don't interfere per se, and can add a bit of sparkly to the face, big statement earrings make a statement (obviously), but some of the examples shared (esp. that sort of spirally one) would be big enough to notice, but then they are not really doing anything for the outfit ... they are basically just filling the hole in your ear and possibly adding a useless distraction ... definitely see the point about outfit context, but i can see that some earring would be LESS like to add to an outfit and thus more likely to add a frump factor.</p> <p>all that said, i think some of my earrings might fall into the frump category&nbsp;but i like them so i don't care ;)&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings/page/2#post-1428050 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 14:07:22 +0000 VernieJane 1428050@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well I never knew earrings could be described as frumpy, but I guess they can! I am on the bandwagon of everything being in the eye of the beholder, though I am one who tends to wear large and long earrings. I have a long neck and I think it looks good... but the ones listed here as frumpy are what I personally would have probably called "old lady earrings"... gold and pearl? Not sure I'm quite getting this whole concept... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1428041 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 13:29:07 +0000 Anonymous 1428041@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm wondering about this too. Most of my dangling earrings are probably about the size/scale of the ones Alasse posted, because really big statement earrings look overwhelming on me.&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm not sure if the ones I have are frumpy. I have a feeling some are, but not all of them. I hope? In particular, I have some that look similar to&nbsp;the second one Alasse posted, with some kind of small colored bead or stone hanging from a plain hook, and I'm not wearing those much lately because they seem sort of blah. I do notice that, with "in-between" earrings like this, the way the metal part looks seems to make a difference, with me wanting to wear them more if it looks like it was crafted as part of the design rather than just being a generic thing to stick the more decorative part onto.</p> <p>I also have a pair of pearl drops kind of similar to the ones KL posted, and hope those aren't frumpy either! I like how they add a little lightness to an outfit without being too dramatic. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1428013 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 11:18:53 +0000 Style Fan 1428013@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I find the earrings conversation to be confusing.&nbsp; I might not wear some of the earrings that are posted but I don't know if I would consider them frumpy.&nbsp; To me it is more of a style statement.&nbsp; Understated classic.&nbsp; My earrings probably have shepherd's hooks and are from an artisan.&nbsp; Most of my jewellery is from art shows.&nbsp; Etsy is probably a good place for this kind of jewellery. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1428005 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 10:26:41 +0000 Archer 1428005@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>#3 - not frumpy<br />Think the other two are just not interesting enough in themselves to warrant drawing attention to.<br />Deb's list - yes agree - costume- slam dunk<br />Last pair - I agree with Janet that the concept is nice. It's the execution of it that makes it frumpy - clunky.<br />I have worn all of the above at some point in my life and even aspired to have the pearls with the black and gold rims at some distant time.</p> <p>Getting older has given &nbsp;me&nbsp;a very fussy approach&nbsp;to dangly earrings. Big factor in the earring discussion don't you think? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1427995 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 09:11:24 +0000 Anonymous 1427995@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah, now I'm really confused because I've seen many a dramatic, bold trendy earring that has a shepherds hook at the back as the style sometimes&nbsp;needs that to give it balance in the ear doesn't it? Why would a fastening be regarded as part of the consideration? Surely it's the design of the main part of the earring that causes frump or no frump?</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1427981 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 06:32:24 +0000 qfbrenda 1427981@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If shepherds hooks automatically makes earrings frumpy, then I'm in trouble. This is all so subjective. A couple of deb's suggestions look frumpy to me but I've never thought of shepherds hooks as looking frumpy, but kinda artsy. </p> <p>That said, looking at this site with a ton of shepherd hook earrings, I'm not a huge fan of the first page of them. When I think of shepherd hook earrings I personally like, they are from art shows with polished rocks, or a simple semiprecious stone, polished wood, a simple sterling silver shape, or something else simple. </p> <p><a href="http://www.thefind.com/jewelry/info-shepherd-hook-earrings" rel="nofollow">http://www.thefind.com/jewelry.....k-earrings</a></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1427965 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 04:44:48 +0000 unfrumped 1427965@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ha. I pretty much have ALL the earrings Deb showed, I clip- on style, and now have not worn them for some years. And to think I collected them so carefully to complement various outfits. Carollee, even. I have let some go.<br /> I'm pretty sure I'll never be able to wear clip ons and not think someone else thinks I'm granny, even if secretly I like some of them. And I probably won't pierce my ears. So, ear bobs are out even though they'd be good to frame face, with short haircut.<br /> Maybe time to toss the lot and close that chapter. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1427947 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 03:53:15 +0000 Suz 1427947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachy, can I sit with you on the bench?&nbsp;</p> <p>Also, I think I know what a shepherd's hook is, but I'm not 100% sure. Can someone please enlighten me?&nbsp;</p> <p>I know, without a doubt, that the two pairs of earrings I wear most frequently are not frumpy. Don't ask me how I know it. I just do. They are very modern.&nbsp;</p> <p>But I don't have a clue about the others in my collection.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1427944 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 03:51:12 +0000 Deborah 1427944@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As has been said, I agree it is different for each person. &nbsp;That first pair that Deb linked to are exactly what I have in mind as frumpy... for me:) &nbsp;I had a pair very similar to that in the 90's and &nbsp;couldn't wear them now if you paid me to. I think it depends on the individual's, hair, outfit etc. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1427941 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 03:45:44 +0000 DonnaF 1427941@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Guess I need to review my earrings.&nbsp; I will NOT give up the black ceramic(?) buttons my mom passed on to me because I like their matchy-matchiness with my black polka dot scarf.&nbsp; But I think I have dozens of pairs I haven't worn for years. . . . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1427936 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 03:34:35 +0000 rachylou 1427936@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ok. I officially don't know what frumpy earrings are. I can see earrings making an outfit frumpy but not being frumpy like alone in a box. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1427900 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 02:35:18 +0000 Anonymous 1427900@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have gotten rid of almost all the earrings i had worn in the 80s and 90s, not because I found them frumpy, but because it is not who I am now. I have a pair of small sapphire diamond studs that my parents gave me when I was 16 and still wear at age 58. I also still wear my 1st ever pair of gold ball studs at times, but love wearing my diamond studs most of the time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1427879 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 02:04:18 +0000 rachylou 1427879@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Um... I see I have a blog post to read... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/can-someone-explain-frumpy-earrings#post-1427877 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 02:00:13 +0000 Jaime 1427877@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Definitely relative to the person and their style, but like Lisa I did know what Angie meant right away. </p>