Ear Candy Earrings - The Fun, Colorful Jewelry Trend

Introducing Ear Candy Earrings

Earrings have been a beloved accessory for centuries. From simple studs to dramatic chandeliers, earrings allow us to add a touch of personal flair to any outfit. Recently a new style of earring has emerged that is quickly gaining popularity - ear candy earrings.

Ear candy earrings get their name from their delightfully playful and colorful designs. Ranging from geometric shapes to fruit slices, animals, and more, ear candy earrings feature a variety of cute and quirky motifs. Their bright, popping colors and bold designs are like eye candy for your ears!

The Origins of Ear Candy Jewelry

The ear candy earring trend seems to have emerged in the 2010s, with several jewelry designers embracing the style. The earrings evoke a sense of childhood joy and nostalgia with their bright colors and fun shapes. Many ear candy earring designers produce their creations using high-quality materials like gold, sterling silver, enamel, and crystals to create lasting pieces of wearable art.

Independent jewelers on Etsy and at craft fairs helped popularize the playful ear candy aesthetic. The style also caught on quickly on Instagram and Pinterest as influencers shared their favorite statement earring looks. Major retailers took note, and now ear candy earrings can be found at many popular fashion and jewelry stores.

Reasons for the Rising Popularity of Ear Candy Earrings

So what exactly is driving the growing popularity of ear candy earrings? Here are a few of the reasons why these playful earrings have become a hot trend:

• They're fun and whimsical - No outfit is complete without a bit of whimsy. Ear candy earrings allow you to incorporate a fun, playful vibe into any look.
• lots of variety - There are endless possibilities when it comes to ear candy motifs. Fruits, animals, geometric shapes, food, and more - you'll never get bored with the vast diversity of designs.
• Bold pops of color - The vibrant rainbow of colors used in ear candy earrings helps them stand out. They're an easy way to add some dramatic color to your look.
• Conversation starters - These eye-catching earrings are practically guaranteed to draw compliments and questions. They add an element of approachable fun.
• Cuteness overload - There's just something so irresistably cute about food-shaped earrings and colorful animal designs. The adorableness factor is off the charts!
• Nostalgic appeal - For many, ear candy earrings evoke a sense of childhood nostalgia. The retro candy-inspired motifs tap into fond memories.
• Self-expression - Ear candy earrings allow you to showcase your fun, playful personality. Wearing your interests on your ears is a form of self-expression.
• Artistic detail - While playful, many ear candy earrings feature an impressive level of fine detail in their designs. They showcase serious craftsmanship.
• Layering potential - The colorful earrings layer beautifully with other studs or hoops. Mixing and matching is part of the fun.

How to Style Ear Candy Earrings

When sporting ear candy earrings, you'll want to choose complementary pieces to let the statement earrings shine. Here are some tips for stylishly incorporating ear candy into your wardrobe:

• Go minimal - Resist overloading your look. Allow the earrings to be the star by keeping the rest of your jewelry simple.
• Consider casual settings - Ear candy earrings look great with jeans and tees or sweats. Their colorful vibe works for laidback looks.
• Compliment with colors - If your earrings feature blue and yellow, echo those colors subtly in your outfit with a striped tee or floral skirt.
• Add whimsy to workwear - Inject some subtle fun into professional looks by pairing ear candy with a blazer and slacks.
• Pop against neutrals - Grey, black, white, and pastels beautifully make those earrings stand out.
• Stack and layer - Mixing a few ear candy earrings and studs together can look amazingly chic.
• Show them off with updos - Put your earrings center stage by pinning hair back to better display them.
• Highlight with hair color - Vibrant hair hues like pink, blue and green compliment and accentuate the earrings.

Where to Find Ear Candy Earrings

Fortunately, the rise of ear candy earrings is making this fun, artistic jewelry increasingly accessible. Here are some top places to shop for ear candy:

• Etsy - This handmade marketplace hosts thousands of independent designers creating unique ear candy. Vintage candy-colored plastics are also popular here.
• Anthropologie - This bohemian-inspired retailer carries a wide assortment of creatively designed statement earrings.
• Claire's - The funky accessories store in the mall always seems to have the latest on-trend ear candy pieces.
• Madewell - Check Madewell's jewelry selection for modern, minimalist takes on ear candy.
• BaubleBar - This popular jewelry brand has an entire category dedicated to their candy-colored statement earrings in various shapes.
• Local boutiques - Small specialty shops and jewelers often carry handcrafted lines of ear candy you won't find in major stores.
• Subscription boxes - Earring-focused monthly subscription boxes like Rocksbox are a fun way to try new ear candy designers each month.
• Your own jewelry box - Upcycle old colorful plastic earrings from decades past for a vintage ear candy look.

Ear Candy Earring Trends

Some of the hottest ear candy earring trends right include:

Charms

Cascade earrings with colorful dangling charms shaped like fruits, animals, flowers and more. These playful danglers add a lot of visual interest.

Sweets

Hyper-realistic earrings shaped like candies, cakes, ice cream cones and other sugary treats. They look good enough to eat!

Neon brights

Earrings sporting bold, intense neon hues like hot pink, lime green, and electric yellow. Guaranteed to make a statement.

Tropical fruits

Escape to the tropics with earrings shaped like pineapples, bananas, lemons, and other lush fruits. Perfect for summer!

Artistic shapes

Geometric earrings featuring abstract triangles, circles, squiggles and cubes. Quirky shapes that add artistic flair.

Cutesy critters

Darling earrings adorned with rabbits, turtles, flamingos and other sweet animals. Ideal for animal lovers.

Nostalgic candy

Earrings modeled after classic old-school candy like candy necklaces, gumballs, candy buttons, and more. Sweet vintage style.

Pop art

Bold, graphic earrings inspired by the iconic pop art style. Retro color blocks and imagery with a modern twist.

How to Make Your Own Ear Candy Creations

You don't have to buy ear candy earrings from a store - making your own is also a fun option! Here are some DIY ideas you can try:

Clay Earrings

Sculpt and bake colorful fimo or polymer clay into unique 3D shapes. Use cookie cutters or mold jewelry pieces.

Found Object Earrings

Upcycle colorful scraps of fabric, beads, game pieces, buttons and anything else you find into artfully assembled designs.

Shrinky Dink Earrings

Draw designs on Shrinky Dink plastic sheets, cut them out, bake to shrink, and turn into earrings.

Fruit Leather Earrings

Dehydrate fruit leather and cut into fun fruit slice shapes. Seal with a gloss and add hooks for fruity earrings.

Embellished Studs

Take plain stud earrings and add quirky touches like baubles, glitter, and mini feathers using jewel glue.

Paper Cutout Earrings

Cut colorful cardstock into unique designs, decorate with washi tape, then laminate or coat in decoupage medium to seal.

Candy Molds

Make your own faux candy earrings by pouring colored resin into gummy bear, gumball, jelly bean and other candy molds.

Nail Art Earrings

Cut colorful press-on nails into fun shapes and apply nail polish, glitter, and decals to decorate.

Ear Candy Earrings Make a Unique Fashion Statement

Ear candy earrings are the perfect accessory for injecting a sense of cheerful whimsy into your wardrobe. Their burst of color, quirky designs, and element of surprise allow you to express your fun, playful side through your jewelry choices. So go ahead - treat your ears to something sweet by picking up a pair of these conversation-starting statement earrings!

FAQs

What are ear candy earrings?

Ear candy earrings feature playful, whimsical designs like fruit slices, animals, and geometric shapes in bright, popping colors. They add a fun, youthful statement to any outfit.

Where did the ear candy trend come from?

Independent jewelry designers on Etsy and at craft shows began creating the uniquely colorful, quirky earrings in the early 2010s. The style quickly gained popularity on social media and with major retailers.

What are some popular ear candy earring motifs?

Some of the most popular ear candy earring designs include fruit slices, candies, cakes and other sweets, animals, shapes, and floral designs. Retro candy from past decades is also a popular motif.

How can I style ear candy earrings?

Keep other jewelry minimal and let the earrings stand out. Pair ear candy with casual looks, neutrals, and complementing colors. Show them off with updos. Layering with studs is also on-trend.

Where can I shop for trendy ear candy earrings?

Etsy, Anthropologie, Madewell, BaubleBar, and specialty local boutiques all carry great ear candy earring selections. You can also find fun statement earrings at stores like Claire's and in monthly subscription boxes.