Brooches are Not for Grannies

 

Ahhhh. . .the sticky sweet smell of mothballs. . .My favorite recent activity has been to raid my “virtual grandmother’s closet” (aka eBay) for brooches.  I am well aware that smellivision has not yet been invented, but if my MacbookAir had a smelly screen, eBay would reek of mothballs (in a good way).

I bemoan the fact that no one wears brooches anymore!  I can only assume this is in an attempt to avoid looking grannypants.  Well buck-up lassies!  Where is your sense of adventure?!?!  It is entirely possible to wear a pin, brooch or other prickly adornment without looking dated as long as you walk the fine line between irony and old with care and precision.  It all comes down to 2 things:

Choose a funky brooch; or

Wear an old brooch in a funky way.

A vintage Lawrence VRBA eagle pin worn on a zara denim jacket, similar one here.

Vintage over-the-shoulder tiger pin worn on a YSL tuxedo jacket, similar one here.

Vintage VRBA pin worn as a pendant on Givenchy crystal necklace, available here.

As an accent piece to add interest to a simple neckline.

Updating a clutch or bag.  Bottega Venetta clutch, similar one here.

Need suggestions?  Here are some of my picks:

Jung Ee Eun, Drippings brooch.

Lanvin, crystal resin brooch.

Hannah Makes Things, Inch By Inch pin.

Cautionary note: Mind your proportions!  A brooch that is too small for the article of clothing or accessory it’s pinned onto will look dated.  To remedy this, consider clustering a few together.  If a piece is very large, try wearing it on a belt in place of a buckle, on a bag or on a piece of clothing that can stand up to the size and weight of the pin.  Not every brooch will work on everything (see picture above where the pin is bigger than my head).  Be discerning.

Big Kiss and Bigger Diamonds,

JZP