Bring on the sparkling brooches
Photo for the Daily Telegraph: Claire Pepper
Happy New Year. I hope you had a lovely time. I took the whole week off and had a proper digital detox. No news, no social media, just lots of films and books and I even managed to do a quite-complicated jigsaw. Phew. My brain needed that. Anyhow, let’s talk brooches!
Maybe it’s a 1980s thing, but when I shared this picture from my Telegraph Ageless Style column on Instagram, one of my younger friends said, ‘Love a brooch – never thought of clustering though!’ Following this up over Christmas with a photo of a fine, tonally arranged lapel-gathering. Excellent accessorising.
My style inspiration this time round came from Ladies Gaga and Hale, and fashion revolutionary Orsola de Castro. Back in the day, I’d often wear a bevy of brooches – either vintage or costume – pinned onto a denim jacket. But when I looked inside my jewellery box expecting to find a sparkling selection there were two slightly disappointing diamanté designs, not enough to form a cluster. This dearth needs addressing. First stop, VV Rouleaux… In the run-up to Christmas, I walked past the store on Marylebone Lane and snapped this stunning, brooch-tastic display. Next time I’m in the area, I’ll be going inside that glorious treasure trove to treat myself to a decorative pin. Probably one of the glittering flowers, I prefer natural references and floral arrangements and it’s good, though not entirely necessary, to have a theme.
Brooch Heaven. VV Rouleaux
Being a lover of Casual Glamour (blending day and eveningwear, all year round), tried-and-tested everyday clothes form a reliable foundation, a great starting point on which to build and embellish. Adding a little sparkle to a cosy cardigan (I’m wearing a Jo Gordon in the photo and I also like this responsibly-sourced wool cardigan from Whistles, available in a gorgeous bright red and faded denim blue), a tweed overcoat or utility jacket, is the perfect pick-me-up. There is sartorial happiness to be found in revisiting old favourites, wearing something for yourself and not just because it’s in fashion. Putting together a refreshing, casually glamorous ensemble can make you feel good.
This year, I’m going to continue to make a conscious effort to experiment and make the most of the clothes I already own, to buy carefully and considerately, to embrace slow fashion. Sparkling brooch and statement earrings, why ever not?
Vintage Victorian brooch photo: Niki Groom
Other good places to buy brooches, include: Butler & Wilson, Susan Caplan (also available via John Lewis) and Bristol-based designer and illustrator Niki Groom creates fabric corsages to go with Victorian, silver-stamped keepsake brooches.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year, looking forward to easier times ahead. Don’t miss The Lost Daughter Maggie Gyllenhaal’s highly acclaimed directorial debut starring Olivia Coleman (my friend Edward K. Gibbon designed the costumes), and The Tourist with Jamie Dornan on BBC1. Perhaps he could be the new James Bond…
Style Notes: the burnt orange wool cardigan is from Jo Gordon. Organic cotton corduroy skirt is by Toast. The two smaller brooches are vintage from Susan Caplan, the larger is a newer version from Anthropologie (now sold out). All items were loaned for the Telegraph shoot and returned. The gold vermeil hoop earrings were a gift from Auree jewellery
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Discussion (41 Comments)
Rach with an E says:
Attach a larger piece of sturdy fabric – perhaps a felt square – to the area you are going to pin the brooches on to. Pin away and the felt should support, though if the pin is dragging the fabric too much, then use a smaller pin.
Julie Hockley says:
Actually if you put a makeup cotton pad under your clothes and pin through that it works a treat. Broochie tip.
Jennifer says:
I’m a member of a Royal watching group, many of whom are enthusiastically Team Brooch! Our main inspiration comes from Queen Elizabeth, who has seemingly hundreds of brooches. I collect vintage jewelry, and love to wear brooches. But I confess, I never thought of bunching them together. I’ll need to try it! I do have some scatter pins, which were intended to be worn together.
Fun article. Thx!
Thanks Jennifer – I mentioned the Queen in my feature for the Telegraph and the fact that her brooches can often be symbolic. For instance, when President Trump visited the UK she wore one given to her by the Obamas. Ma’am I like your style!
Lee says:
Do check out Audra’s Brooches, she sells via a stall at the Canopy market in Kings Cross and online: https://audrasbrooches.com
Hi Lee,
Thank you so much for the shout out.
Alyson’s article is really informative and as you know, I am a fan of a cluster of brooches.
Cheers!
Audra
You’re welcome, Audra. I was lucky enough to receive a selection of your wares as Christmas gifts. Am very much enjoying jazzing up my jumpers!
GillP says:
I’ve been cursing myself for a while now because I did have a lovely selection pf vintage brooches but a few years back donated them to a charity shop. reading this and looking at the gorgeous photos has made me want to restock! Most of my acquisitions came via antique fairs and shops where I was able to pick costume jewellery up relatively cheaply. Need to investigate.
Vintage markets and charity shops are my go to. I love the idea of a cluster and will see what I can find. I don’t wear single brooches as I think they can look a bit granny but this is a great idea, Alyson. I’m off to Emmaus for a rummage!
Jennie says:
Fabulous – have worn brooches for years as an allergic to metal jewellery (even gold and silver) so apart from costume jewellery, brooches are my go to. But like everyone else never thought of clustering and since reading this have been pinning together! Thank you for the idea. Have just recently acquired some of my mothers brooches from the 50s which although are heavier are still sparkly and lovely. And have sentimental value. Always good to sparkle!
Catherine Mendez says:
I love brooches and often cluster them!
Like Bev, I love a vintage find and have many from op shops.
A terrific product for avoiding pulling special fabrics is “MagnaPin”. Erstwilder, a maker of joyful brooches here in Australia, sell them on their website. But I believe the MagnaPin is from the US. They’re about AUD$20. Well worth it!
Happy new year to one and all. CxSusan Maxwell says:
Great to see a mention of Erstwilder. I also live in Australia and have only recently discovered the brand. Plastic or resin, not sure but look great on summer dresses and tops.
Patrish says:
Great post! Each business trip to London would find me getting over my jet lag with a walk from The Gore Hotel to Fulham Road to walk off my groggy head. Always, always stopped at Butler and Wilson for a brooch. Small, packable memories. The pins still make me think of those times decades ago. Antique fairs and shops are great sources for unique pieces. Fabulous on almost anything. The tip regarding the heavier fabric as an anchor is a good one. I pin the supporting fabric on the inside of whatever I am wearing to keep the brooch from drooping.
Mrs Tonia says:
Great post here Alyson to start the year. Happy new year to all.
As you express it above, “back in the day” I was a wearer of brooches on my suit or blazer lapels in the eighties and nineties. Recently I’ve worn diamanté ones with velvet jackets or added them to a chunky cowl necked or polo neck for a bit of sparkle and interest near to face. Tip for those like me with an ample chest wear above bosom towards the bony bit of chest or at high lapel level.
I’ve got loads of silver ones bought decades ago in antique market stalls or equivalent. Several Georg Jensen and abstract Mexican silver ones. Clearly this is a good moment to polish off the tarnish and wear as Alyson does grouped and thereby add interest to an everyday outfit. I’ve a small oval malachite brooch edged in silver from a Moscow jewellery antique stall. I wear this pinned to a dark roll neck jumper on the neck. Another make do approach that seems right for early 2022.
Thanks as ever Alyson for a really workable idea to enhance everyday dressing.bev says:
Mrs Tonia – the phrase ‘several Georg Jensen….’ brings my envy to the fore. Lucky you!
AppleEverAfter says:
Having a steady source of brooches from my vintage/charity shop-loving MIL, I have found an alternative display option is down the canvas strap of a crossbody bag.
Great article Alyson. Love the styling ideas.
I created a fashion hack to secure heavy brooches to lighter fabrics making them wearable on any item.
You can read my article here – https://audrasbrooches.com/pages/how-not-to-lose-a-brooch-everI am also a huge fan of brooches on shirt collars.
Cheers!
I looked at Audra’s website. The brooch sponge idea is one to try also the square of felt behind. Something to experiment with as a function of weight of what you pin on what fabric. Heavy knitwear holds brooches well.
Jenny says:
Thankyou for the article & great photo…I love to pin a brooch or two on a beret or woolly hat x
I must forward this to a friend who once was once seen admiring someone’s brooch with the words: ‘I do love your brooch and I wish brooches would come back into fashion so that I could wear mine again.’ She couldn’t understand why her compliment didn’t seem to go down so well, but she will at least be delighted that she can now take her brooches out of her jewellery box.
Maggie Alderson says:
Love this! I have a marvellous collection and sometimes wear five major rhinestone numbers, all different colours, pinned on a jumper. So cheery. And v interested to read Audra’s comment above, as I don’t wear them as often as I would because of the fear of losing one.
I love brooches. I have a little collection of them.
I have worn them together as a group several times. It’s a lot of fun! I love recycling and retro.Char says:
I love this post and what a great reminder to revisit this look! Love the cluster look..now I need to see what I have stuck
away ! Or visit some places to find a few additions! Also love that color on you!Cheryl Grant-Gamble says:
Lovely post! I’m a big fan of the brooch, it provides a wonderful means of personal style and artistic expression! I’ve found tremendous inspiration on Pinterest, some
great ideas to be had!
Look at this…
https://pin.it/6amGbwW
Happy New Year!Joan davies says:
I have been wearing and intermittently collecting brooches since l was 6 years old now being 75 with a lovely large collection 468 at the last count. So interesting to collect with a never ending range of designs and materials, one of my favourite is a plastic one but quite rare as was designed to be worn whilst swimming, so not too many survived the chlorine.
I want to see my collection not hide them in a box so display them on pads on my bedroom wall which also makes it easy to choose one to wear. It’s been a great hobby and it is a shame brooches are not in fashion at this moment but on the other hand they are more available and until the fashion returns a very inexpensive one.mrsglimmer says:
I also have a fear of losing a brooch (I’ve got form…) but this article has inspired me to rummage through my jewellery box and resurrect some of my sparkly ones. Good tip to pin a robust piece of fabric to prevent pulling on a top. Also appreciate the tip to wear them above a generous bosom!
Great start to your 2022 blogs, Alyson. Happy New Year to you and all the TNMA readers.Karen Buel says:
I have a few pieces from my Mom. One pink sparkly brooch with a pair of clip-on (ouch!) earrings I wear with a navy cowl neck sweater tunic. I’ve also dressed up a Levi’s denim jacket. With the sparkly pink brooch. —love your articles!
Sara Lubowitz says:
My mother died in 2003 and she left me and my sister her jewellery….some of which was bought at Garrards London by her 2nd husband…who spent way too much money even though my mother loved him and jewellery. One piece that I am lucky to have is a Gold Bird swooping wings out with Ruby Red Eyes…..I don’t wear it because I am so scared I will lose it….but if brooches are ‘back in’ maybe I will get it out of its beautiful blue box and shiny blue Garrards bag and start wearing it.
I also love brooches and have bought a few Georg Jensen over the years.
Also love the cheaper sparkly brooches and the Lea Stein resin.Zoe Taylor says:
What a great idea Alyson – perfect for revitalising your look and bringing a smile at this time of year.
And a great look for all those Zoom meetings. I have a number of brooches that I love but just wasn’t wearing.
Currently sporting three different sizes and styles of bee brooch around a crocheted flower!
Thank you for cheering up my JanuaryMary says:
My grandmother and great aunt always gifted “brooches” to my older sister and I. I was foolish and have none of them in my possession and wish I did.
JC says:
I have a lot of my mom’s. I wear them on all my wool winter coats and always get compliments.
Rebecca says:
I own many many beautiful brooches being a collector of jewelry…I love them.I wear them many ways but on a hat is probably my favorite….I have started to group them as well.I will try some of your ideas…love the article and all the comments! Happy New Year.
Joanie P says:
The Swagmans Daughter is a great place to buy original vintage brooches online – unworn and very reasonably priced.
https://theswagmansdaughter.com/
Sometimes I’ve worn several delicate vintage necklaces together for more impact, but haven’t done this with brooches so far – good idea!
I’m happy to revive a bouquet of brooches on this side of the pond! They were a delightful trend in the early 2000’s here, and I never quite got around to culling the jewelry drawer. What a fun way to show off your style and a treat that won’t break the budget (if you stay out of Cartier).
Auntie Sue says:
I used to make small assemblages on my jackets and sweaters and this post makes me wonder why I stopped! I still have my assorted sizes of vintage and/or souvenir pins. I will have to revive my practice, as I so enjoyed mixing things up. A word of caution to those who wear cross-body bags – make sure the strap does not interfere with your collage. I lost one of my favorite antiques in a Venetian canal that way while boarding a vaporetto. That was 23 years ago and I still miss it…
Hazel Abbott says:
When Madeleine Albright was Secretary of State in the Clinton administration she used her large collection of brooches, although being American she called them ‘pins’, to indicate her political mood and attitude. She became well known for this and dignitaries and diplomats she was meeting with were reputed to check which brooch she was wearing before seeing her! I remember looking at a small book she wrote with photographs of her wearing some of her brooches with recollections of what they meant to her and who she had met whilst wearing them.
kcf 
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………….have you had a wander around the Covent Garden vintage Jubilee Market on a Monday? Brooch heaven.