If you’re looking for a glamorous piece of jewelry that can be worn in many ways, look no further than the brooch. Unencumbered by a need to fit a wrist, neck or finger, brooches give jewelry designers a canvas to really show their creativity. In earlier centuries brooches were once worn regularly by both men and women as a showpiece that indicated status, rank, or simply good taste. Today there are many wonderful vintage brooches, so you can easily find one that expresses your personality, especially when you style it your way. To get you started, here are a few of our favorite ways to style a brooch.
On a Handbag
You can take a basic fabric handbag and turn it into something really special by adding a brooch. A silk evening clutch gets an added pop of glamour with the addition of a diamond brooch. If the handbag is rectangular, an Art Deco bar brooch, or oval shaped brooch will fit right in, or use a dome brooch for a more three-dimensional effect. Larger bags also look great when adorned with a brooch. For a handbag that is long and vertical, try a vertical brooch that will flow with the height of the bag. Wearing a brooch on a handbag is a lot like a wink, it adds playful sophistication. We used a shield shaped diamond brooch with a beaded fabric hobo bag to add a touch of sparkling elegance.
To Hold a Wrap in Place
It’s always a challenge to keep an oversized wrap in place. One side always seems to fall off the shoulder. But there is a way to keep your wrap where it’s supposed to be while adding a dash of chic. A diamond brooch will work with any wrap because they are colorless and harmonize with everything. Alternatively, you may want to wear a brooch with a colored gemstone that complements the hues in your wrap. To wear a brooch as a clasp for your wrap, start by getting the wrap positioned the way you want it, then add the brooch. You may pin it in the front, or on the shoulder. It can be a little tricky to get the brooch positioned exactly the way you want it, so once the pin is in place, you can remove the wrap by pulling it over your head, the same way you would put on and take off a poncho. We used a brooch with an orange diamond center stone to complement the tones of the cheetah print wrap.
Bowtie Beauty
Hollywood A-listers and jewelry enthusiasts are making men’s formal wear much more fun and personal with the addition of a brooch on a bowtie. Actor Colman Domingo walked the red carpet with a brooch adorning his bowtie adding some sizzling glitz to his look. It’s really easy to pull off this look. Start with a bowtie that is already tied, whether its pretied, or you do it yourself, you’ll need a nice size center knot for the brooch. Once the bowtie is in place simply slide the pin under the side of the knot and out the other side then clasp it in place. A smaller brooch will work better for this style and a simple geometric form that flows with the tie will bring an urbane sophistication to your look. We used an Edwardian era amethyst, diamond and platinum brooch that covers the knot on the tie, it’s a look that will set you apart from the pack.
Necktie Brooch
There was a time when every well-dressed gentleman had a tie bar, a long metal clip that was worn horizontally on a tie. It was popular in the Victorian era through the 1960s and into the early 1970s to hold a tie in place so that it wasn’t flapping around in the wind, or dropping in your soup. For a more refined look try adding an Art Deco bar brooch worn vertically on a tie. For this look, a flat brooch is best as it will rest nicely on the tie. A simple line of diamonds, colored stones or precious metal accented with gemstones will work well. Placement is important, the brooch should sit on the sternum, or between the third and fourth shirt buttons, you can adjust the placement to suit your tastes. If you’re wearing a suit jacket, try putting the jacket on first and then adding the brooch, it will make it easier to get the correct placement. We used a gold brooch with sapphire and diamond accents worn vertically on the necktie to create an unexpectedly cool vibe.
If you’re looking for a versatile piece of jewelry a beautiful vintage brooch is just the item for you. A brooch may be worn in as many ways as you can imagine, creating a personalized look that is uniquely your own.
Top of Page: Edwardian Siberian amethyst, diamond, yellow gold and platinum brooch.
Art Deco diamond and platinum brooch; White diamond, colored diamond and platinum brooch, signed Mellerio; Edwardian Siberian amethyst, diamond, yellow gold and platinum brooch; Sapphire, diamond and gold brooch.
Authored by Amber Michelle