512-3

Linear vs Chandelier vs Hoop
By Louise McClure

 


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Which style earring is best for me? Where do I begin in the design process? The best starting point is to determine your face shape. There are four basic face shapes. Is yours round, square, oval or heart? Once you determine your face shape, we can explore the style best suited for you.

There are basically three earring styles – linear, chandelier, and hoop. Each of the three earring styles can accentuate and enhance your strengths and also visually balance areas you may consider a weakness. For example, as in clothing, vertical lines in earring styles will draw the eye upwards and visually elongate features. Horizontal lines will draw the eye from side to side and accent the width of your face.

Here are the basic face shapes and the styles best suited to each:
Round: vertical lines of elongated, linear, drop styles and narrow chandelier earrings will add height and provide an overall slimming effect for your face and emphasize vertical lines
Square: round contours of hoops, linear, long teardrops and long, narrow chandelier earrings will visually soften the edges of a square face while adding visual height.
Oval: hoops in circle, triangle and oval shapes, linear drops, teardrops and chandeliers will each enhance the oval face.
Heart: horizontal lines of hoops, teardrop shaped linear forms, chandeliers that are wider at the bottom than at the top will visually add width to your face and soften the effects of a pointed chin.

Now let's look at the basic components of design/construction with specific Fire Mountain Gems and Beads product examples:

I.    basic components

 A.)    post
                1.)    plain with loop: F14-1455FD, F14- 8869FD, F14-1590FN
                2.)    glue in pad with loop: F14-1594 FN, F14-1593 FN 
                3.)    decorative element with loop: F14-8868FD, F14-2104FD, F14-4973FN, F14-4251FN,                         F14-4225FN

B.)    earwire
                1.)    French
                        a.)    plain: F14-4324FN, F14-4320FN, F14-8877FD, F14-4334FN, F14-1423FN,                                 F14-1441FN, F14-1445FN, F14-8890FD, F14-1433FN
                        b.)    flattened: F14-4898FN
                        c.)    decorative: F14-8775FD, F14-7163FD, F14-4133FN, F14-8891FD, F14-1460FN,                                 F14-1466FN 
                2.)    Lever back
                        a.)    plain with loop: F14-1537FN, F14-1536FN
                        b.)    decorative with loop: F14-3712FD, F14-1545FN,  F14-4391FN, F14-1538FN,
                                F14-3707FD
                3.)    Elongated
                        a.)  add a bead: F14-1438FN, F14-8882FD
                        b.)  with loop: F14-3130FD, F14-8887FD

        C)  ear thread: F14-5462FD, F14-7070FD
        D)  hoop:
                1.)   with post: F14-5435FD
                2.)   with ear wire
                        a.)    French: F14-1900FN, F14-1909FN
                        b.)    part of hoop: F14-1689FN, F14-1685FN
                3.)    loops
                        a.)    with loops: F14-6514FD, F14-6591FD
                        b.)    without loops: F14-6731FD
           E.)    chandelier
                1.)    specific findings: F14-4546FD, F14-4697FD, F14-4090FD, F14-4889FN, F14-4099FD,                         F14-4927FD, F14-9006FD, F14-9001FD, F14-4435FD
                2.)    creative assemblage: F14-4987FD, F14-6774MB, F14-4323MB, F14-4871MB

II.    methods of attachment

        A.)    wire wrap
        B.)    headpin:
                1.)    simple: F14-8440FN, F14-5472FD, F14-4606FD, F14-8438FN
                2.)    decorative: F14-5834FN, F14-7047FD, F14-1794FN, F14-1793FN, F14-3116FD,
                        F14-6249FN, F14-9949FN, F14-5512FD, F14-3123FD, F14-6221FN         
        C.)    bail: F14- 8763FN, F14-2287FN, F14-2286FN
        D.)    cone: F14-4879MB, F14-5582MB, F14-4916FN
        E.)    bead cap: F14-2321FN, F14-8986FN, F14-8212FD, F14-8178FN, F14-1472FD, F14-4624FN
        F.)    chain: F14-1618CH, F14-1160CH
        G.)    links:
                1.)    wire wrap
                2.)    decorative: F14-4747FD, F14-8927FD

 

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