The Evolution of the Earring: From Slavery to Modern Fashion

For centuries, earrings have been a style staple for both genders. The history of the earring has changed over time and what an ear piercing symbolized in ancient times is different than what it means today. In this post, we will discuss the evolution of style trends that are visible in body jewelry worn in the ear.

In ancient Mesopotamia, an ear piercing meant you were a slave. This is because in Mesopotamia style was worn to denote social status and slaves had their ears pierced as part of the process of paying off debt for seven years. The style soon became adopted by other cultures such as Ancient Egyptians who experimented with luxurious gemstones like rubies, sapphires or emeralds as ear adornments. Men and women wore these long style earrings that grazed their shoulders. The style, adornment and metals in the earrings signified what social and economic class one belonged to. In Ancient Greece, earrings were a sign that one was a prostitute. (talk about a change in meaning!)

In the Victorian Era, jewelry style changed dramatically to more "proper" rings and necklaces (which seemed more modest and less intimate like the earlobe. The style was short-lived, however, as the 1920s brought back more free styles with bootleg trousers and flapper girls that wore their hair in bobs, allowing for the ear to be on full display once again. Interestingly enough, Art Deco jewelry does have themes of Egyptian influence.

Wider available, more experimental materials such as resin and synthetic stones led to a diversity of style in costume jewelry in the time period after world war 2. Costume jewelry gained popularity with the influence of popular fashion houses like Dior and Coco Chanel, who believed all women should wear pearls (even if they were synthetic.) This bold new chapter in earring history aligned with the free spirit of the hippie era and hoops of all types became the trend.

in the past few years, the idea of "Constellation" piercings has become trendy; The idea that one can make their ears look like a cluster of stars with many small piercings is intriguing and can be strikingly beautiful.

Meaning and style have changed over the years, but earrings seem to have been interwoven with humankind's desire for self expression. What do earrings mean to you?