Are multiple ear piercings classy?

The title sums up the question. Are multiple earlobe piercings classy? Have they become as neutral as the standard single piercing in each ear? Or do the earrings alone determine whether the look is refined?

8 years ago

Dressing

33 replies

Latest reply was from RobinF

Gail

Veteran

IMHO I think that the earrings determine whether the look is refined.

8 years ago

plonkee

Active Member

They can look neutral, but there's a limit to how many together. And when considering 'refined' you need to take into account the juxtaposition as well I reckon.

8 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

I think it depends on the earrings and how they are worn.

8 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Depends on so many factors-the earrings (shape/size), the hair (length/texture), overall style...

In my neck of the woods they are pretty normal. I would think that in a very conservative environment you'd want to stick with one earring per ear except for studs, but anywhere else I don't know if anyone would bat an eye.

I honestly don't notice double piercings unless the earrings are very eye catching or there are LOTS of piercings on the same ear. I notice tunnels/plugs a lot more.

8 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Of course. Why not!

I don't think that sticking to one earring in a conservative environment is necessary either. Style is a sum of its parts. It's all in how it's executed.

If work environments "outlawed" body piercings and tattoos in Seattle, the unemployment rate would be sky high.

8 years ago

Anonymous

Yes, and the latter. I'm quite obsessed with them and wished mine had worked out.

8 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

I have two on each side, but I haven't worn anything in my second ones in a while. I don't like the symmetry of them - either I need another one on one side or I am probably going to stick to the classic single piercings. I've been thinking about getting another piercing on and off for years, but never did it. I do think it can look great, depending on the person, earrings, haircut and so on.

8 years ago

viva

Veteran

I hope so. I have them.

Multiple (3) only in one ear, and in the extra two holes I wear a matching set of tiny gold triangles.

I think it's all about what you do with them.

8 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I try to judge 'class' by someone's actions, I don't always succeed but I do try.

I would not assume anything from a piercing, usually I don't notice them at all.

Case in point, I had a forward helix piercing about a month ago, I work in a conservative field and yet not one person has noticed it.

8 years ago

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I hope so! I have 2 piercing on each side. I wear tiny diamond studs for the top piecing and another (slightly larger) diamond or pearl stud for the Lower piercing.

8 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I have three in one ear and two in the other... and my answer is still No. You can still have class and be a lady in the true sense. You can even be from uptown. But no matter what, I think it's a downtown style. And while I do think it's acceptable (as opposed to classy) most places, there are still plenty of places where you should be very mindful of saying 'Sir, yes Sir' to any cop you encounter wearing so many.

8 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I hope so. I've got five.

8 years ago

Anonymous

I don't have a problem with it. I think it's more the overall appearance that counts.

8 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I think it depends on the earrings worn. I would think that even several piercings on the same ear, if filled with simple diamond studs, for example, would look very refined.

8 years ago

April

Veteran

Hmm. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that no, the look of multiple piercings is not classy, but neither is it inherently classy to have one hole in each ear, or no holes at all in either ear.

Here's where it gets tricky, though. With one hole or no holes, the class factor is entirely determined by the earring. If you have a large number of holes, to my eye it's always going to be a more juvenile (or, as Rachylou put it so well, "downtown") look.

So by my calculus, one earring in each ear CAN be classy but isn't automatically classy, while multiple ear piercings (I'm going to define that as more than two holes, and/or holes up in the cartilage area instead of in the lobe) will always look a bit more "other", a bit more RATE, a bit more extreme.

Is it harder to look "classy" when you're looking other, RATE, and extreme?

Yep. That's kind of the point, isn't it?

8 years ago

Anonymous

It depends on your profession and on where you live, too. I live in a very conservative area, and doubt people would say that having multiple piercings is classy. I have a more open mind about it, but still think it's the whole package that counts. What type of earrings? What does the outfit look like? What about the hair style? Where does the person work and live?

8 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I agree with April. I wouldn't say it's "classy" but nor would I say it's "trashy", if that's the opposite. It's a look. And how you wear that look will depend on the earrings, and the rest of your style.

Full disclosure: I have three in one ear (one cartilage) and one in the other :). I wear small silver hoops in the extra holes, all the time, and only change earrings in the "normal" holes.

8 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I'm going to go with April here. Multiple piercings, including cartilage piercings, are inherently somewhat alternative. Typically, "classy" is not the primary point of wearing things or doing things (tattoos, piercings) that are alternative. I don't necessarily think there is anything wrong with any piercings or tattoos, but "classy" isn't my first thought, either. Living here in a very rural and conservative area (and I still ask myself regularly how I ended up here!), I can guarantee that things like this will often cause a person not to be hired (depending on the profession, of course). It may not be right, and it may not even be legal, but if no one can prove it, it didn't happen. There is considerable bias against such things in certain areas.

8 years ago

Cerinda

Veteran

Environmental norms. At this point, the only piercings I notice are the ones that make people lisp.

If classy = bourgeois, then multiple ear piercings may be classy in environments that lean alternative (thanks, Rachey) or hipster, like parts of Brooklyn or Portland.

8 years ago

Jules

Veteran

Well, my quite conservative friend had a cartilage/helix piercing (I had to go look up a piercing reference chart) 20 years ago. She wore studs and small gold hoops, plus pleated pants, blouses and basic bobbed hair to her office job...

8 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Relevant blog post. Warning there is swearing
http://wendybrandes.com/blog/2.....fe-rebels/

Plus personally I don't like the term classy.

8 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Wendy's blog introduces a new problem... Multi piercings have been around a long time and now I'll be mistaken for a woman having a midlife crisis... Oh man!

8 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

By modern standards my whole life has been one mid life crisis, what would be the term for a series of events, April?

8 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

I actually always thought of it more as a teenage thing - probably because I got my second lobe piercings with fourteen and always wanted a helix but wasn't allowed. A lot of people I know who have piercings got them either as teens with the consent of their parents or when they turned eighteen. I've always felt another piercing would mean I'd be trying to relive my teenage years so I didn't do it. Although that is kind of silly...

8 years ago

Colette

Veteran

I'm pretty neutral here, I don't think multiple ear piercings look classy or not classy, I just think it's part of an overall look. And a great way to way get more wears out of your jewelry.

I have two in each ear but I haven't worn earrings in the second holes in years and years. I had wished they would just close but they won't. I don't even remember why, when or where I got the second holes, I probably got them around eighth grade and most likely, it was the trendy thing to do. I wore the teeniest tiny gold pearl studs in them. I do remember in college going with my Aunt, who also has two holes in each ear, to get a third hole in one ear. I think she convinced me to do it. My ear got so infected the next day, it was bright red and huge. I had to take enormous antibiotics and just let it close.

8 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

April has a point. A collection of earrings is a component of RATE style, the whole point of which is not to look conservative.

From my perspective, though, I think there is a slight confusion between "classy" and "conservative". I don't see them as the same thing. Here's an example: Angleina Jolie has obvious tattoos that permanently remove her from the "conservative" style box. However, I've seen her look absolutely classy at many awards ceremonies.

Same goes for multiple earrings. Depending on what kind of earrings you wear in them, and depending what you're wearing them with, you can have several earrings and still look classy. I'd even argue that a simple double-piercing on both sides, worn with small diamond studs, is actually conservative (whereas a row of twelve rings, or a tragus piercing, is certainly not!).

8 years ago

Anonymous

Agreeing with April. I'm not sure what's prompting the use of the particular descriptor "classy" but if I replace it with "elegant" I have to say no, not obviously, but still possible!
I think the piercings would have to be integrated into or even a defining factor in the total look, and not in a hostile anti society way. Although...done really well..even aggressive could be elegant..

8 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I think Angelina Jolie is a fascinating example in that she can do edgy, elegant or conservative depending on the occasion. Just look at her collecting her dame hood.

On the other hand piercings can be more visible than tattoos.

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8 years ago

jaccusette

Member

I won't win fans for saying this, but no, multiple piercings are not "classy." I am not saying that they are trashy, either. I just think that they add nothing to any woman's beauty. Everyone I see with many piercings is wearing lots of tiny, meh, earrings. It's very busy looking, and not at all chic. And, what happens on the days when you don't want to wear jewelry? You are walking around with an ear full of holes- not a great look. Plus, there is an issue of hygiene. Ideally, people would remove all that stuff daily and clean their ears AND the earrings-thoroughly. From what I see it doesn't always appear that people do that. And, like tattoos, multiple ear piercings are so common these days that they are no longer edgy or cool.

Angelina Jolie is a movie star. She can get away with all SORTS of things.

3 years ago

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