This Jewelry Makes Versatility Its Earmark

If you want to add dramatic flair to an outfit, no piece of jewelry does the job better than earrings. From funky to formal, elegant to casual, earrings are often the life of the party.

“When it comes to earrings, women want something wild that will really spice up what they’re wearing,” says Terri Kennedy, owner of Ipso Facto in Fullerton.

“Women look for unusual and unique earrings,” agrees Rose Ledonne, owner of a store by the same name in Laguna Niguel.

That earrings are comfortable and lightweight is also a consideration, says Judy Curtis, owner of Ear Abstracts, Etc. in Yorba Linda.

The following is a selection of stores that carry a wide variety of earrings from casual to dressy and contemporary to antique.

ACCESSORY LADY

This store specializes in custom-made plastic and crystal earrings. For Valentine’s Day, it offers clip-on red heart-shaped Austrian crystal earrings. These are heavyweight and large-sized ($50).

Also in stock are small lightweight V-shaped rhinestone earrings that are clear at the top and teal on the bottom. These earrings come in pierced or clip-on styles ($20).

The store has two-tone black and clear crystal earrings that are button-shaped on the top and have a large drop circle at the bottom. These heavy earrings clip on ($100).

Brea Mall, (714) 256-4117, and MainPlace/Santa Ana, (714) 543-1358.

ACCESSORY PLACE

These shops have a large selection of earrings made exclusively for the store, including a pair of Greek bead earrings for pierced ears popular with teens. They are small, light silver-plated “captive beads”--beads strung onto hoops ($6-$8).

The stores also carry earrings with a white pearl surrounded by clear rhinestones. These earrings are for pierced ears and are very light ($16).

For people with sensitive ears, the store has earrings with surgical steel posts covered with 24-karat gold. “These earrings have a lifetime guarantee that they won’t irritate the ear,” says Liz Hyatt, floor manager at the Mission Viejo Mall store. The lightweight stud earrings are decorated with a small pink rose ($5-$8).

Brea Mall, (714) 990-0294; Buena Park Mall, (714) 828-6112; Huntington Beach Mall, (714) 897-9982; Laguna Hills Mall, (714) 768-5331; MainPlace/Santa Ana, (714) 543-3343; Mission Viejo Mall, (714) 364-2877 and Mall of Orange, (714) 998-1380.

B. MAGNESS FASHION

“We have a wide variety of fun and unique earrings that are casual but dressy,” says store owner Barbara Magness.

The store’s handmade “Snack at the Ritz” dangling earrings consist of one cowboy hat earring and the other a cowboy boot. The hat is white with clear rhinestones and black trim, and the boots are white and black with clear rhinestones. They are lightweight and for pierced ears ($85-$125).

The store also has the “Lunch at the Ritz” earrings from the SockHop line. These handmade earrings start with a record at each earlobe. From one record hangs a metal charm of a girl in a pink poodle skirt and her boyfriend, and from the other record dangles a pink ice cream soda charm. These clip-on earrings are heavy ($125).

Or there are the “It’s a Jungle” earrings, custom-designed to specification with three or five dangles. The earlobe is covered with a round scalloped piece of leather (gold, silver or denim) which has a gold or silver stud rimmed in rhinestone. From the stud hangs matching leather dangles with attached miniature charms of flowers and shamrocks ($52, three dangles; $68, five dangles).

1280 Bison Ave., Suite B3, Newport Beach, (714) 644-4477.

COST PLUS IMPORTS

At this store, you’ll discover a large selection of out-of-the-ordinary earrings, says Susan Watts, who runs the jewelry department. The store has multicolored peacock earrings with gold or silver beads sewn on the tips of the feathers. The earrings are light and are made for pierced ears ($5).

There are sterling silver earrings from Nepal that resemble prayer wheels, Watts says. These light, pierced earrings have a burgundy-colored garnet bead hanging from each wheel ($25).

The store also carries oversized papier-mache red heart-shaped earrings, which have a cut-out heart in the center of each earring from which dangles a smaller heart. They are handmade, light and made for pierced ears ($7).

1313 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 957-6553.

EAR ABSTRACTS ETC.

One-of-a-kind earrings are designed at this store. There are light, Western-motif cowboy hat earrings which can be accented with small stones in any color. These come in pierced or clip-on styles ($18-$30).

Dangling crystal earrings have attached pearls and charms of your choice. “With these earrings, the view from the back is as flattering as from the front, which makes these really good earrings for people with short hair,” Curtis said. They are light and come in pierced or clip-on styles ($30-$45).

There are also large rectangular-shaped earrings made of Austrian crystal. They are red, green, blue and clear and come in pierced or clip-on styles ($78).

18310 Imperial Highway, Yorba Linda, (714) 996-3505.

IPSO FACTO

This store carries a wide selection of custom-made earrings especially for young people, Kennedy says. There are captive bead ring earrings made of surgical stainless steel. The beads are purple, green and blue. The earrings are light and made for pierced ears ($11-$30).

Another pair of sterling silver earrings shaped like the sun have a face and wavy rays. These one-inch earrings are light and made for pierced ears but can be converted to clip-on style at no extra charge ($11).

The store also has an unusual pair of dangling earrings that picture a nude couple embracing. The light 1 1/2-inch-long earrings are sterling silver and are made for pierced ears ($17).

517 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, (714) 525-7865.

NORDSTROM

Nordstrom has a large selection of earrings, says Elizabeth Freitas, fashion jewelry buyer for the Orange County stores.

A pair of earrings designed by Ryan II are composed of one large Austrian clear crystal oval drop connected by two gold hoops to another oval drop. These clip-on earrings have a gold border and shiny finish ($84).

The stores also have one-of-a-kind Chipita earrings made of semiprecious stones. These have black onyx and mother-of-pearl triangles from which hang alternating dangling strands of onyx and mother-of-pearl. They clip on with a leather back ($143).

The Swarovski earrings are made of a small cluster of emerald-colored Austrian hand-set crystals. The earrings clip on ($67).

Brea Mall, (714) 529-0123; MainPlace/Santa Ana, (714) 972-2020, and South Coast Plaza, (714) 549-8300.

ROSE LEDONNE

“Our stores carry romantic antique jewelry with a contemporary flair,” Ledonne says. The Robert Lahaye earrings have a cross with a heart at the end of it. Semiprecious mother-of-pearl is inset in the cross. The earrings are 24-karat gold-plated. They are light and made for pierced ears. ($40).

The Facets small drop earrings are made of an imported aquamarine semiprecious stone. They are emerald-cut, and each earring is decorated with a fresh-water pearl. The posts are 24-karat gold-plated ($39). The store also carries silver-plated “Pididdly Links,” heart-shaped earrings with an engraved cherub. They are light and made for pierced ears ($12-$15).

24981 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, (714) 496-7751, and 28251 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel, (714) 643-2428.