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Petite & Polished: My Go-To Earrings for Everyday Glow




A lot of you regulars here know that I've been blogging since 2009. I stopped for 10 years to take care of my son. I quit everything - my businesses, my career, and blogging to be a full-time, homeschooling mom. Now that he is older, I'm starting to miss that woman who loved beauty and fashion. That young woman who loved to dress up and was always attuned to the latest in beauty and fashion. 


I know I can't dress like my 20's and 30's anymore, (I'm 43 now, if you're curious) so I'm trying to discover and redefine my style. I'm a petite woman, 5'. Lately, I've been taking a hard look at not just my toiletries and makeup, but my wardrobe as well. 


As you may know, we had a vacation in Baguio recently (I have a ton of blog posts about it. Just scroll down the front page or type Baguio 2025 in the search for all 3 of my blogs) and I bought a bunch of earrings from Museo Kordilyera. While writing the OOTD blog post for my Baguio Fashion Haul, I got to thinking about the earrings that I have and how they look on a petite person like me. If certain clothes can make a person look taller, will earrings also have that same effect? 


So I laid out all my earrings and began sorting through them. Some looked amazing on me — they framed my face, added elegance, or brought out my personality. But others? They overwhelmed my frame, made me look shorter, or just didn’t spark joy anymore. That’s when I realized: earrings can make or break your proportions just like clothes can.


As a petite woman, here are the earring styles I swear by — and a few I’ve decided to retire for good.


✨ Earrings That Work for Petite Women


1. Small-to-Medium Hoops

These are my no-fail go-to’s. They’re flattering without being flashy, especially if they’re thin and sleek like the ones in my photo. They elongate the face without dragging it down — and they pair well with both ponytails and long hair.




2. Convertible Cluster Studs

You’ll see a sparkly blue floral pair in the photo — that one’s been a favorite since I bought it. You can wear it as a dangly, as a sideways climber, or as a simple stud. It's like having three earrings in one. Bonus: It’s always a conversation starter at events. So many of my colleagues love this piece!




3. Sculptural Statements (In Petite Scale)

I love a bold earring — but not when it overpowers my face. The fan-shaped black and gold studs give me that bold, confident vibe without adding bulk. They sit beautifully on the lobe and add flair without the noise.



4. Lightweight Dangling Earrings (Like My Handmade Lavender Beads)

You’ll spot the swirly lavender bead pair in the photo — I actually made those myself, back when I used to create bead jewelry to pay for my tuition! They’re sweet, feminine, and surprisingly versatile. Sadly, I can’t wear French hooks anymore (I now react to them), but I included them here to show that handmade pieces can be just as stylish as store-bought ones.





5. Earth-Tone or Ethnic Pieces

As you may know, these are from my Baguio Fashion Haul. I haven't used them yet, only the brass dangling earrings. I'll be sure to show them here on a future OOTD.





❌ Earrings I’ve Retired (for now)


🚫 Chunky Statement Earrings

Like the Parfois pair in the last photo — gorgeous on the card, but too heavy for my petite face. They flattened out my features instead of highlighting them.




🚫 Pearls (especially large ones)

I know, I know — they’re classic. But personally? I find them a bit too white, too attention-grabbing, and not in the way I like. For petites, I prefer smaller pearls or irregular baroque ones if I want something softer. The pearls are way up there at the top. I think I have 3 pairs of pearl earrings but I don't use them. They were all gifts. Plus I'm a deep autumn so these pearly whites aren't really in my palette. 




🌟 A Few Tips When Shopping for Earrings as a Petite:


Pay attention to scale. If it looks big in your hand, it might look huge on your face.


Go for movement or shape, not bulk.


Mix textures. Matte + shine, fabric + metal — contrast keeps things interesting without going overboard.


Trust the mirror. You’ll know if it lifts or drags your look.


I’m currently on a mission to streamline my collection and only keep the pieces that feel just right for this season of my life. I want everything I wear to feel intentional — whether it’s a serum, a sundress, or a stud earring.


Let me know if you want me to do a follow-up on necklaces for petites — or even how I store my jewelry now!


✨ PS: I’m thinking of making more jewelry soon! Maybe a few beaded stacks for a future post — would you be interested? Let me know in the comments!


Happy 4th of July to all my US readers! 🇺🇸 Thank you for all the love through the years — you're my #2 All-Time Audience here on the blog. I’m so grateful for your support!

🌟 A Little Love from the Glow Girls 💫


Hey Glow Girls! If you’ve been enjoying my posts and you’re a mom or teacher to a curious little learner, I just released my Pirates Past Noon Companion Workbook on Teachers Pay Teachers and Gumroad. It’s packed with activities that build reading, vocabulary, and writing skills.


💗 If you’d like to support this blog and help me continue creating content, consider purchasing the workbook or sharing the link with a friend who might need it. Every little bit helps this one-woman team keep going—and glowing! ✨


I also wrote a 3-Part Series about Pirates Past Noon, a book from the Magic Tree House Series. Read Part 3 here.


Thank you always for the love! 🫶

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