Last night as I was getting ready for a date, I sifted through my jewelry box, looking for something to accessorize my outfit. “Hey,” I thought. “Why do you never wear all these pretty earrings anymore?” I tried on a few dangly pairs, and promptly removed them—they really did change the whole vibe of my outfit. With some fancy vintage teardrop ones, I felt like I was coming from the opera. Gold medallion posts were pretty, but made me look a bit too grown up. I realized that I actually haven’t worn a pair of dangly earrings for about a year. And my friends? Not with any frequency that I can remember.

Looking at my collection, they just felt a bit dated and out of style. (Weirdly, not so much the earrings themselves, but how they looked on me.) What do you think? Do you reserve earrings for special occasions? Do you wear them regularly? Or are they a non-essential accessory?

At first look, these metallic earrings are rather cute. Not my style necessarily, but statement jewelry is in and there is nothing particularly off about them. At second look, I am permanently scarred and already have a call in to my therapist. I should actually be calling my gynecologist to see if these sperm and fallopian tube earrings are anatomically correct. If I am going to walk around with metallic reproductive organs on my lobes, I want to make sure they are at least realistically represented. I suppose they are unusual because no one in their right mind would think people would buy sperm earrings, but if I had remained in ignorant bliss I probably would have donned them on my next date. Good thing I have seen the light (and the contraceptive), for it would have been tres awkward if a date thought I was wearing sperm earrings to lure him in. [$70, Luna Parc]

I thought Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter had cornered the market on “random things to decorate your ears with” when she donned those radish earrings. Nope, not even close. Check out these freeze dried squirrel feet earrings and necklace. Taxidermy for your lobes—hot! I am not sure which disturbs me more: the knowledge that some poor squirrel in squirrel heaven has to watch his feet dangle around some random person’s neck in a very undignified fashion, or that the “designer” made them in the first place. Look, I’m not a vegetarian and I totally wear leather, but even I recognize that these earrings are just…wrong. Plus, they are truly hideous. [$20-$32, Etsy]

When you don’t have the money to buy a whole new outfit, it’s all about the accessories. For example, if you take a simple dress and add a jeweled brooch, you’re suddenly as stylish as Michelle Obama! The gems at 1928 Jewelry look as though you inherited your grandmother’s gorgeous baubles because they’re based on vintage jewelry from around the world. While you’ll look like a million bucks wearing this brooch, bracelet, or earrings, buying them will barely put a dent in your bank account. [prices vary, 1928 Jewelry]

We’re giving away the three 1928 Jewelry items pictured above to five readers, but you have to work if you want to shine like the top of the Chrysler Building. The five best commenters for this coming week—from today, Friday, Dec. 30 through Thursday, Feb. 5—will be awarded with a set. So, be as clever, smart, and original as you can! Click HERE to read the official rules.

Lulu Frost is a super-cool jewelry company that incorporates old hotel room numbers, antique charms, and rhinestone belt buckles into new necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. The only thing is, it’s a little too expensive for us, especially since the economy tanked. But now we can get budget-friendly pieces with the same family heirloom-feel from Lulu Frost’s Urban Outfitters line, Secret Garden. Oh, Lulu, how we love you! [$24, Urban Outfitters]

We’re obsessed with Margo Morrison’s jewelry line. She creates beautiful pieces out materials like abalone shell, peach moonstone, and labradorite. And we’re not alone in our love of Morrison’s unique pieces. Her fan following includes Whitney Port, Blake Lively and Julia Roberts. Not a bad roster. All of her jewelry—from dainty drop earrings to dramatic, multi-strand necklaces—look amazing with a white T-shirt and jeans or your favorite little black dress. We especially love these itty-bitty oval, turquoise drop earrings. They’re effortlessly classy—just like us! [$75, MargoMorrison.com]

We’re giving away five pairs of these Margo Morrison turquoise drop earrings, but you have to work if you want them. The five best commenters for this coming week—from today, Friday, Jan. 2 through Thursday, Jan. 8—will be awarded with a pair. So, be as clever, smart, and original as you can! Click HERE to read the official rules.

Every girl needs a little sparkle in her life, and these earrings provide the right dose—not too much and not too little. They definitely have an elegant vintage feel without the vintage price tag. These flower earrings are perfect for holiday festivities because they kind of look like snowflakes and a little razzle-dazzle is always appropriate this time of year. They’d also be a pretty addition to your outerwear ensemble because your earrings are usually visible when you’re all bundled up. But we also think these earrings would be equally smashing with jeans and a white tank when the temperature warms. [$25, Topshop]

These itty-bitty oxidized-silver bullet studs are perfectly feminine and edgy at the same time. It can be difficult to find an accessory that truly goes with everything, but these do the trick. They’ll balance out the frilliness of a girlie dress, and they’ll look just as good with an over-sized sweater, leggings, and bad ass boots. You’ll never want to take them out. [$40, Shopbop]

If you’re fortunate enough to have a mother who saved all of her Bakelite bracelets, wooden bead necklaces, and enamel pins, then passed her entire collection down to you, you probably have enough jewelry to last you a lifetime. If Mom wasn’t much of a pack rat, you’re going to have to stock up on baubles yourself, and lucky for you, Blue Canary Vintage sells brand new, never-worn vintage enamel earrings. We bet your mom had a pair just like these when she was your age. [$10, Etsy]

Gossip Girl and its amazing clothes return to TV September 1. If your style is more Blair than a Serena, but you don’t have a Waldorf-sized bank account, accessorize your ladylike wardrobe with these mini enamel bow earrings. [$9, FredFlare.com]

We don’t know anyone who actually uses the phrase, “My heart melts for you,” and the only time we actually see it is when we’re trying to find non-cheesy cards for anniversaries and Valentine’s Day and are stuck with sentiments like that. But if someone gave us these 14k gold Yayoi Forest earrings with a note saying, “You make my heart melt,” we have to admit, our heart would probably melt. [$320, Matter]

These coral earrings are both sophisticated and organic-looking. Although they do resemble real coral (your friends will think you took a secret weekend getaway), they’re actually made of painted wood, which keeps them from being too heavy on your earlobes. With their light weight and bright color, they’re the perfect finish to a light and airy summer ensemble. [$43, Pretty Little Thing @ RavinStyle.com]

These are so dainty and sweet, and totally cheap considering they’re sterling silver. Gimme gimme. [$20, Elsewares.com]

Even though we love buying jewelry from indie designers, we just read a somewhat disturbing report. In a sample of earrings bought at 34 different places in San Francisco, 30 percent tested positive for nickel, and studies estimate that 5.8 percent of American adults are allergic to nickel. You should be fine, but nickel exposure can cause dermatitis, which sounds nasty. Just try to buy nickel-free stuff. Anything made from platinum (and stainless steel and gold) is completely acceptable. [HealthDay News]

[Bows, $375, and Snakes, $315, at ShopBop.com. Why does it cost $60 more to be good?]