How to wear a brooch

Whereabouts do I pin my brooch?

When I have the pleasure of helping customers at my Pop Up Shops, I often hear this question. 

Many women love the colour, personality and sparkle of brooches, but having never worn one before, they don't feel confident to experiment with where to place their brooch. 

The beauty of brooches is that they are very versatile and can be worn in a multitude of ways. You can pin a brooch absolutely anywhere, and part of the fun of brooches is playing around with this, and expressing your unique style.

They are creative accessories and there is no right or wrong when it comes to getting creative!

Are brooches old fashioned?

If you'd like to wear a brooch, but you associate them a little too much for comfort with your great aunts, then here's a suggestion for you.

To wear your brooches in a modern way, getting creative with your brooch and thinking outside the box is the key,

In this go-to list, I've highlighted some classic ways to wear a brooch, and also some alternative ways. None of them feel old-fashioned - it's simply a question of mixing things up to keep your brooch styling feeling fresh.

For example, try wearing your brooch on denim, as I have in the first photo here.

If you particularly love a modern feel, then choose a quirky animal brooch, for example, over a pearl brooch. 

1) Wear your brooch on your lapel

This is the easiest and most classic way to wear your brooch. This style works with any blazer, coat, or denim jacket, like the one I'm wearing here.

Virtually any lapel looks great with a brooch added! It's such a simple and effective way to elevate your outfit in an instant. 

This brooch styling works with any shape of brooch too. Circular brooches are always great on a lapel, as well as a longer pin shape like our crown brooch. 

If you love colour and fun motifs like I do, why not go for an animal brooch in a colourful design like our ladybird brooch? For an extra shot of colour, try matching your nails to your brooch!

2) Wear your brooch as a clothes fastener

Did you know that in history, brooches have been worn as far back as in the Bronze Age, to fasten cloaks?

They can still serve a very practical purpose today - simply holding together the top of a dress or cardigan, where you would like a bit of extra coverage. 

However brooches have come along way since they were crafted in simple shapes from bronze (basically early safety pins!). Now they can be both highly practical and very pretty too.

Try an uplifting brooch like our dragonfly brooch here to add a touch of whimsical sparkle to a simple dress or cardigan. 

3) Wear your brooch at your collar

This is an unusual and chic way to style a brooch. It's classic styling on a favourite shirt, and gives your shirt a modern edge. 

Wearing your brooch on your collar works with many brooch shapes, and I particularly love it with our winged 1920s inspired brooch here. 

Brooches have been worn at the neck throughout history. In Victorian times they were worn on ruffled shirts, and in the 1920s through to 1940s, they were often used to add a focal point to necklines. 

However, in recent times, we've reverted to classic lapel styling for brooches. So whilst wearing your brooch on your collar actually has a rich heritage, it feels like a creative, modern twist. 

4) Try experimenting with wearing your brooch on your cuff

This will garner you some compliments for sure! 

Wearing a brooch on your cuff is a very modern way to experiment with brooches and unleash your creativity. 

A circular brooch like our pearl sunflower brooch works perfectly for this styling idea. 

You could try this on just one of your cuffs, or as a pair on both cuffs. The idea works well on any fairly robust fabric, like on a cotton shirt, or on a blazer. If you'd like to try the idea on a light and floaty fabric, you're best off going for a small brooch like our small rose brooch. 

It really does give an unusual flourish to your outfit when wearing a brooch in this way!

5) Add your brooch to a bag

Brooches are fabulous to add to all kinds of accessories, and if you're just getting started with creative brooch styling, then a simple bag is probably the best place to start.

If you have a favourite clutch bag that could do with a new lease of life, try adding a pearl brooch to the side or centre of the bag to transform it into a glamorous evening bag!

Pearl brooches feel so classic, and will always elevate a simple accessory into something special. 

Our pearl starburst brooch that you can see in the photo above is a classic brooch that works with a wide variety of outfits and styling options. 

It's our best-selling brooch for a reason, as it's so versatile. 

You can see in the photo above how QueenMee Assistant Maddie has added a touch of vintage-inspired chic to her simple black shoulder bag with the starburst brooch. Once you've worn it on your bag, you can transfer it to your lapel the next day for maximum wear!

Can I cluster brooches together?

Yes! Once you've experimented with styling your favourite brooch, you might want to try adding your brooch to a cluster, for a statement look. 

This is a playful and fun way to enjoy wearing your brooches!  Try clustering by colour, and pair different shapes and animals together as I have on my denim jacket here. 

The possibilities are endless, and you'll have lots of fun trying out your favourite combination. The brooch cluster will be a real conversation starter too!

I hope you've loved my brooch styling ideas. If you'd like to get some more styling ideas, try my Free Easy Hairstyles Cheat Sheet. Just enter your details below!

With love and thanks, Amanda X