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...

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.

all that said, i think some of my earrings might fall into the frump category but i like them so i don't care

I think it's like any other piece of clothing or accessory and where you typically get your information regarding what's current and modern. 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 combos of pearls and gold, etc are over. The easy/artsy pieces are a different story, and those have an appeal to lots of people.

WOW. Look at the disagreement between us on the styles Deb posted. Fascinating.

HAH. KL. I laughed at the cartoon. There is truth to the underlying message.

Suz, you will recognize a shepard's hook right away:

http://www.thefind.com/jewelry.....k-earrings

Not ALL shepards hook style earrings look frumpy. Not at all. But there is something about the style that can make it look a little dated along with the rest of the style of the earring. The hook is very easy and cheap to manufacture - almost like fast fashion - so that's why you have to be discerning about the style. Just like with clothing.

I don't think costume jewellery is necessarily frumpy at all. It can look the most hip and modern of all.

This topic 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.

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.

My pleasure, Alasse. It was a good question, and you received passionate responses. Very interesting.

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.

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...

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.

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Absolutely Peri. I made that point earlier too. It's the meat and potatoes that count not the fastening. I agree that there are probably a lot of frumpy styles out there that happen to have that type of fastening, but the ones in your photo are fab!

What bettycrocker said. Earrings go out of style - just like clothing, shoes, handbags, etc.

It's so funny how it's in the eye of the beholder!

@Peri - those earrings, on me, would look frumpy! Seriously.

This was a lot to go back and read! Lots of strong opinions here. After reading what Angie wrote I will have to pull out my boldest earrings and see what you think! ;- )

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!

I still have my oversized pearl earrings like Deb's #1, and I still wear them occasionally. But I wear them ironically, so that can't possibly be frumpy, right? 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.

Count me on Team Frump is in the Eye of the Beholder!

MsMary - those Soho quartz stud earrings (Deb's #5) are so not frumpy!!!!!

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! I find that the posts poke into my head, plus I'm lazy and it's much easier to just slip the hook in.

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.