It's Time to Brooch the Subject

Antique brooches turn a banal look into a ballin' one! OK, maybe not ballin', but certainly a retro-cool brooch improves the look of so many outfits in so many ways. Interview? Maybe you are going to play it safe and wear a suit. Add a brooch. (I did--every year.) Wearing a single-color sweater? Add a brooch. Want to feel special for a day? Wear a brooch.

Where can you find vintage brooches? Garage/yard sales, estate sales, antique stores, or online. Maybe you can find them in your own jewelry collection. Grandma or mama gave you her jewelry? Get that stuff out of the drawer. Family heirlooms are priceless! They probably look super cool. They remind you of a loved one. No one else is going to be wearing it. A unique look is ahead of you.

My mom works in estate sales and sells antique jewelry, so I have had plenty of chances to get my hands on some amazing pieces. Most of them have rhinestones--OMG, love rhinestones--and are flashy as all get out. Oh, I love me some bling! ;)

Here's a brooch my mom gave me a few years ago. Notice the intricate flower bunch design and the bling.

I'm not exactly sure how old this brooch is, but I can tell that it is at least half a century old, probably almost a century old. Here's how I wore it today:

I wore the brooch on a taupe cowl neck sweater. The brooch is not as big as the previous picture might have implied--maybe it's the size of a half dollar. I wore it on my right side because I knew that I tend to sling my backpack over my left shoulder. Pro-tip: protect your brooch. Do not hang a bag or purse over it. That would be a great way to knock out a stone or possibly rip it off the shirt.

The next time you put on a sweater or suit jacket/blazer, add some brooch pizzazz. Got a favorite brooch? Send me a picture of it!