Front-Back (Earrings)

Two elements make up this earring: one in front of the lobe and a second, usually larger, sitting behind and below it. From the front you see a stud with something peeking out underneath. From the side you see the full back piece. That two-sided effect is why the style also goes by ear jacket.

The post runs from the front element through the piercing, and the back element slides onto that post and locks behind the ear. Posts have to be longer than a normal stud, roughly 11 to 13 mm rather than 9 to 10. The jacket needs its own hole sized to grip without wobbling. A loose fit is the common flaw, since the jacket then rotates and hangs crooked all evening. Most sets also work as a plain stud with the jacket left in a drawer, which is two looks from one purchase.

Studs put a single element flat against the lobe and stop there. Drop earrings swing on a hook or a loop. A front-back does not swing at all, because both parts lock onto a rigid post and give visual size without movement. Ear climbers run upward along the outer edge of the lobe, where this style extends downward and backward. The two can be worn on opposite ears without clashing.

These suit people who like the presence of a drop but hate hair catching in dangling metal. They photograph well because they hold their position. Thick lobes are the fit problem, since a post that barely clears leaves the jacket nowhere to seat. Sleeping in them is out, as a long post presses into your neck, and so is wearing them under a high collar that shoves the jacket forward.

Slide the jacket on and off five times before buying. It should take gentle pressure and stay put when you shake the earring, not slip freely. Match the post length to your own lobe thickness rather than trusting the photograph. Clean the post itself as well, because it passes through the piercing twice as far as an ordinary stud and collects more.