The Best Earring Styles For Your Face Shape, According To Our Stylist

Your face shape can affect several elements in your overall look. From makeup techniques to the bangs you cut (or don't cut), the proportions of your face can have a lot of influence over what suits you and what doesn't. While we often talk about the best hair and beauty pairings for your dimensions, including how to part your hair based on your face shape, this rule also extends to accessories and jewelry; namely, it impacts which earrings will look best on you. 

"When selecting earrings, face shape is certainly a consideration, but the overall outfit and cohesive look should take precedence," explains fashion stylist and lifestyle expert Joseph Katz, who offers personal Skype Style sessions and gives exclusive fashion insights, celebrity interviews, and style tips on his The Katz Walk YouTube channel. The expert believes that earrings can be the cherry on top of an overall style story, so it's important to choose them wisely. "I love using earrings as statement pieces that frame the face while tying the entire look together," he shares, adding that you should also take your hairstyle into consideration, along with your face shape. "Small or medium earrings might disappear beneath voluminous locks but create stunning focal points with a short haircut."

In our exclusive chat, Katz notes that round and oval faces tend to suit earrings that elongate the face, such as drop earrings, while hoops are a match made in heaven for square and rectangular face shapes since they have a softening effect. Teardrop pieces, meanwhile, bring balance to heart and diamond faces. But regardless of what face shape you have, Katz recommends taking risks: "Try wearing something just a little larger than you normally would — I always say that slightly bigger is better, as it helps you stand out and create a more stylish appearance." 

The first step in the earring-selection process, if you haven't done it already, is determining your face shape once and for all. Those with round or oval faces tend to have softer features rather than harsh angles. Both are widest at the cheeks with rounded chins, though oval faces also tend to have a longer forehead, and their faces are longer than they are wide. To balance this softness, Joseph Katz advises going for earrings that dangle or drop. "These are great because they elongate the face for a slimming look," he shares exclusively with Glam. For instance, the extra-long earrings that trended in 2023 would provide a glamorous, effortless look while also complementing these dimensions. 

For round faces, in particular, Katz loves the On the List Earrings by Uncommon James thanks to their "subtle detail." Angular and geometric shapes, he says, also "create a contrast and definition." Another style to try is Mejuri's Block Medium Hoops. "This opposition creates definition and enhances your natural features, resulting in a more balanced and flattering look," he notes of the contrast. When it comes to oval faces, you could also explore larger studs in addition to dangle earrings that provide great balance, like Missoma's Beaded Waterfall Drop Earrings. Finally, classic hoops also work wonders on an oval face. Katz especially loves the Polished Chubby Mid-Sized Hoop Earrings from Orelia, which are plated in either sterling silver or gold. 

Unlike round and oval faces, square and rectangular faces have harsher features. Square faces, like round faces, tend to be equally wide and long, while rectangular faces are longer than they are wide. Still, both have minimal roundness at the chin with a sharper bone structure. Following the advice of Joseph Katz, wearing earrings that contrast these sharp angles will be the most-flattering route, which is why round hoops work for both face shapes, adding width, curves, and balance. For square faces, Katz recommends By Alona's Blair Earrings, which are round and enamel-filled rather than hollow but still soften the jawline. Rectangular faces, on the other hand, are perfect for Hey Harper's Chunky Amelia oval hoops. "They add width to the face and balance out the length of the face ... and [are] great to pair with different looks," Katz exclusively tells Glam. Hoop earrings are eternal classics, so check out our favorite ways to style them if you need some inspo.

If you're not feeling hoops or round/oval earrings, Katz is a fan of teardrop styles for square faces, too. "These earrings balance the face by drawing the eyes downward to soften edges," he explains, highlighting the Ana Luisa Paloma Medium Statement Earrings. Cluster earrings and studs are equally flattering for oval faces since, according to Katz, they "create focus on the cheekbone area and break up the vertical shape of the face." The Madelyn Gold Knot Swirl Earrings from Wolf & Badger are the expert's top choice. 

Speaking of teardrop earrings, this style is well-suited to heart and diamond-shaped faces (the latter of which has been revealed by an expert as the rarest face shape). Though both shapes are self-explanatory, heart-shaped faces feature a prominent chin and a wide forehead, while diamond-shaped faces have a similarly prominent chin with a slightly narrower hairline. Teardrop earrings work well because they draw attention down to the jawline, which balances out the pointy chin with the wider upper half of the face. In an exclusive chat with Glam, Joseph Katz recommends Astrid & Miyu's Teardrop Charm Piercing Hoop in Solid Gold for heart-shaped faces and the statement-making Capri Disc Cocktail Earrings from Monica Vinader for diamonds. Chandelier earrings tend to produce the same balancing effect, and Katz points to the Tesoro Chain Drop Earrings from Ottoman Hands for heart-shaped faces especially.

The main quality to look for is softness rather than sharpness, so Katz also advises going for curved earrings if you have a heart-shaped face, like Monica Vinader's Swirl Small Hoop Earrings. "These earring soften the angles of the chin to enhance the face shape," Katz explains. For diamond-shaped faces, in particular, studs and even medium-sized hoops can "soften the cheekbone width, enhancing your greatest feature." To this end, he loves the dainty and textured Shimmering Sun Medium Hoop Earrings from Rachel Jackson.