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Earrings That’ll Have People Asking, “Hey, Do You Teach Art to Kids?”

25 pairs, to be exact.

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Gold geometric earrings
Baublebar India Drop Earrings ($34)

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Supreme Court Associate Justice Potter Stewart famously said about the difference between art and pornography: “I know it when I see it.” Like art itself, old-art-lady style can be tough to pin down, but oversized, sculptural jewelry is a reliable constant, the best of it devoid of complicated settings, faceted stones, filigree details, and other silhouette-cluttering minutia.

Want to try your hand at old-art-lady style? There’s no need to replace your wardrobe with several versions of a black-and-white uniform or maximalist, power-clashing ensembles. Instead, try starting small and relatively inexpensive with a few pairs of chunky, funky earrings, then see where your own creativity and preferences take you.

Below and above, 25 perfect pairs for any budding (or actualized) art lady — some soft and abstract, some harsh and geometric, some impressionistic, and some, fittingly, none of the above.


Under $100

A model in a black t-shirt and silver earrings
ASOS Abstract Wire Earrings, $13
Gold architectural earrings
Robert Lee Morris Linear Stick Earrings, $45
Gold and silver earrings
Robert Lee Morris Tri-Tone Earrings, $35
A model in a denim jacket and gold earrings
Madewell Abstract Link Hoop Earrings, $34
A pair of silver architectural earrings
Simply Vera Vera Wang Marquise Earrings, $22
A model in hand-shaped earrings
Young Frankk Hand Earrings, $82
A model wearing dangly gold earrings
Argentino Vivo Extra Long Linear Earrings, $58

Under $200

A model wearing geometric earrings, standing behind a geometric facade
Seaworthy Ilhan Earrings, $187
Cross earrings by Annie Costello Brown
Annie Costello Brown Double Cross Earrings, $197
A pair of gold cross earrings
Trademark X Earrings, $147
A model wearing gold chandelier earrings
Ricardo Rodriguez Brass Chandelier Earrings, $160
Circle gold earrings
Lele Sadoughi Nest Earrings, $150
Rose gold Tory Burch fish earrings
Tory Burch Fish Mismatched Earrings, $175
Gold triangle earrings
Alexis Bittar Gold Post Earrings, $145

Under $300

A model wearing large gold earrings
Faris Drape Earrings, $225
Silver faces earrings
Open House Sister Earrings, $280
A pair of mixed metal mobile earrings
Faris Mobile Earrings, $275
Circle earrings
Annie Costello Brown Split Circle Earrings, $244

$300 and Above

Gold paperclip-looking earrings
Jennifer Fisher Large Pipe Hoop Earrings, $445
Silver shell earrings
Leigh Miller Drip Earrings, $500