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Earrings. Such a simple piece of jewellery, yet there are so many opportunities to completely transform your look. While your neck has plenty of space to experiment with layering necklaces and hands offer a blank canvas perfect for stacked rings, ears are often overlooked.

Despite having such a small amount of space to work with, there are many ways to up your style and accessorise. While anything other than a subtle earlobe piercing has historically been seen as an alternative statement, multiple ear piercings have recently gone mainstream.

The curated ear has been dominating everywhere from Instagram to Vogue, and it isn't hard to see the appeal. Effortlessly chic with just a hint of fashion-forward edge, this trend is all about embracing your personal style and getting creative. In this blog, we're taking you on a guided tour of the trend and showing you how to cultivate your own ear stack.

What Is The Curated Ear Trend

Coined by Maria Tash, a curated ear is a unique combination of different earrings and other jewellery styled in multiple piercings for a singular effect that's different every time. The key to perfecting this trend is to treat it the same way you would an outfit, with each component carefully chosen to build and complete the look.

There are no rules when it comes to planning your earring stack, and no one way to style them. The beauty of a curated ear is that it can be completely different from person to person. However, it does require a bit of planning to get the effect just right.

We recommend starting with a lobe piercing and building from there, but choosing which piercing to go with next can be tricky.

Which Ear piercing Options Are There?

Despite the canvas an ear provides being quite minute in size, it offers a surprisingly diverse range of opportunities. It's important to take the shape of your ears into account when looking for inspiration, as what might work for you may not be the best choice for someone else. If you're unsure, any good piercer will be able to recommend the best place for your earrings.

There are heaps of options, and a curated ear can be done with as little as three, but a few of the most popular areas are:

• Lobe
• Helix
• Tragus
• Anti-Tragus
• Industrial Piercing

Like any body piercing, the healing process will differ depending on which option you go for. Some piercings take far longer to heal than others, so choose carefully. Creating a curated ear isn't something you can do in one session, so make sure to plan around this to avoid infections.

A reputable professional won't do more than four earrings in one session to avoid infected piercings and ensure they heal properly, so keep this in mind when planning. If you're a little squeamish and don't love the idea of sitting through multiple ear piercings, a well-placed ear cuff can make all the difference.

What About Placements?

Sporadic piercings accessorised with hoop earrings are a subtle yet effective way to create a stylish curated ear and can be achieved with even three piercings. Or, stick to a cluster of piercings on your earlobe to upgrade simple studs. Keep in mind that uneven spacing is all it takes to turn the look from chic to crowded, so ensure that your piercings are kept distanced.

Rather than opting for a mirror-image collection, it's usually recommended to keep your placement asymmetrical. They should be totally unique to each ear, and different piercings per ear allow you to get imaginative and look far better.

How Should You Choose The Jewellery

When it comes to which earrings to choose, the best way forward is to find a theme and stick to it. When creating a curated ear, select earrings that complement each other. For example, if you prefer a delicate look, white gold earrings with dainty details create an elegant effect when spaced evenly.

If you can't resist adding some gems to your look, make sure to keep the theme throughout the entire ear stack. While mixing metals is usually seen as a major disaster, we're seeing a rise in the trend. If you want to try out this look, we recommend mixing metals on both ears.