Odd one out: How to wear mismatched earrings

Celebrate imperfection with mixy-matchy styling

Marni showcased mismatched geometric shapes and dangling jewels

It’s been a while since earrings stole the limelight but this season the concept of the curated ear is running the show.

From the rise of multiple studs to the lone ranger, earrings have resolutely returned to the fashion fold but, with a twist.

This time, it’s all about those beautiful wrongs that somehow just feel so right.

Proving that clashing isn’t reserved solely for prints, the runways attested that mismatched earrings deserve to have their moment too.

And, while losing one can feel disastrous this trend offers up a silver lining for those left behind.

At Marni, geometric shapes, gemstone studs and dangling jewels in white, red and emerald green contrasted perfectly against an almost-architectural collection bound by milky hues.

At J.W.Anderson the mismatch trend felt more daring

And the same can be said for Simone Rocha too. Here the buttercup yellows and cherry reds that adorned the designer’s clothes reflected onto elongated drop earrings, baubles and oversized pearls.

For J.W.Anderson though, a master of all things cut and paste, the mismatch trend felt more daring. Here, the designer went big with metallic, jewel-encrusted and larger-than-life earrings that, in some instances, fell way beyond the collarbone.

While the inspiration behind this trend remains elusive, one can’t help but relate it to fashion’s enduring love affair with punk. Wearing lopsided earrings is offbeat, imperfect, cool and rebellious.

Now, I’m aware that this might sound like yet another frightening and unwearable fashion trend but, it’s actually not that complicated.

This trend is all about having fun and creating an element of the unexpected - Marni SS17

Essentially, it’s all about having fun and creating an element of the unexpected.

For those that are wary, mismatching can be done subtly with clashing studs that hold very small difference. In fact, you can even purchase sets designed especially for that purpose.

But if you’re ready to take the plunge, the more unlikely the pairing the better.

Contrast colours in complimentary tones – think blue and yellow, black and white – or mix and match by exaggerated shape and size, the possibilities really are endless.