KATERINA--thank you for cyber-sharing your wonderful brooch collection. I've never worn them, but after seeing all the fab brooches in this thread, I may have to rethink that.

DONNAF--I love those wooden bird pins.

I have collected a box of mostly vintage brooches: 1940s Mexican silver, 1950s rhinestones, carved mother of pearl, and some oddball novelites. Nothing very precious, and none as bold and striking as your beauties (the huge safety pin through that textured green knit--amazing!) I like to wear the sparkly ones on my most boyish clothes: a big oval of blue rhinestones at the neck of a crisp blue pin-striped shirt, a crescent of pinkish aurora borealis crystals in blackened settings on the lapel of a tailored b&w checked woolen jacket. The others find their way to the places they look best: a fine silver MATL-signed brooch on black cashmere, a mother-of-pearl dove or micro-mosaic circle of roses on a loose white eyelet blouse, a big rectangle framing silver fruits as a clasp on a heavy gray cardigan. I love them all, and don't worry much about whether they look fashionable or modern (I'm sure they don't!) as long as they look and feel like me.

I have a few brooches that I also struggle to incorporate into outfits, maybe because of the quirky styles & shiny stones.

I have (anticlockwise from the centre):
- a solid, silver starfish,
- a gold atom with lapis lazuli 'nucleus',
- a light silver bow tie? with stones,
- a silver, cursive VW thing with stones,
- a silver pineapple with green stones,
- a gold, engraved feather/ wing thing?
- a light silver circle with filigree squares.
(PS - These are all costume jewellery, so when I say 'gold' or 'silver', I'm just referring to the colour lol).

I've tried to incorporate them in ways that don't strictly look like brooches (like using them as a front clasp to hold a cardigan together in a V shape, as a fake 'buckle' on a belt, threaded through buttonholes on a shirt), but it's very difficult for me to get away from the 'old lady' vibe when the rest of my style isn't very trendy or avant-garde to begin with. I tried using one on a scarf & felt like a flight attendant, lol!

I like the idea of wearing them as badges on bags or jackets, though. I might try that. If I had matching ones, I'd love to try them as shoe clasps too! But yeah, sorry I'm not much help here either - following the thread because I need tips too, lol!

Thank you Babs, Kwood and Windchime for the nice compliments.
The giant safety pin was a gift from my mom.

DonnaF, the wooden birds are so beatiful. They really appeal to me - a work of art. Thank you for sharing them.

Tulle, thank you for telling us about your collection, which sounds fantastic. Great ideas of how to wear them, thank you. I especially like the idea of wearing the sparkly ones on boyish clothes - I will absolutely try that! I am like you when it comes to the fashionable aspect - I love them and do not worry much about whether they are fashionable. A vintage or hand made brooch is always special and classic.

Zaeobi, thank you for sharing your lovely collection. Having seen the outfits you posted and your style, I cannot imagine you would ever project any “old lady” vibe

Your brooches are beautiful and you wear them so well.
I have a couple of them but rarely wear them. They make me feel very dressed up in a very regal way so I keep them for special occasions.

Katerina, thank you for starting this thread! Your brooches are fabulous and you wear them in such an interesting, modern way. I have enjoyed seeing others’ collections too.

I love brooches and am often drawn to them in vintage stores etc (I think because they are so often figural, it’s like they come with a built in narrative). But I rarely wear them. I really identify with Zaeobi’s comment, “it’s very difficult for me to get away from the ‘old lady’ vibe when my style isn’t very trendy or avant-garde to begin with.” That hits the nail on the head for my experience.

But I am inspired! I am going to challenge myself to wear a brooch one day next week.

Thanks, Katerina. I think you've inspired Fabbers to wear brooches. Love it.

Katerina, not to be a COMPLETE and TOTAL LEMMING, but Odette on Amazon has big crystal safety pin brooches. Would you take a look and see if they have a similar vibe as yours? I'm captivated with the way you wear yours, and the size looks so modern!

SarahD8, thank you. You have expressed it so well, that brooches come with a built in narrative - it is exactly right. I have not thought of it this way before, but it is why many are so charming. Great you will wear a brooch outfit next week - hope you will share the outfit. I am honored that you feel inspired to do it.

Angie, thank you, you are so kind and supportive.

SandyG, I have just looked at the brooches on Amazon - they look very nice. There are some nice ideas how to wear them too there. I think mine is slightly larger, but very similar look.

Most of my vintage ones are boxed up and I need to dig around for 'em ... I did find a smattering of my pieces.
The first pic is a Sterling and shell cameo brooch, a bi color 10kt and shell cameo brooch and a wee Victorian mourning pin with a lock of hair & Amethysts.
The others are a mix of new and old, rhinestone, crystal, celluloid, gold fill and plate etc ...
thanks for getting me excited about digging my others out, several of which are semi precious spider brooches!

OMG jlpp! What a wonderful collection! I am intrigued by no 3 and 4 - they are fantastic. And no 5! May I ask what they are?
No 4 is to die for - I can picture it on a simple black dress or sweater - it makes my heart stop!

Thank you! High praise because I am smitten with yours! #3 is an Owl, #4 a vintage style jukebox both of which are made by Erstwilder and #5 is a vintage celluloid Scottish Terrior!

Thank you jlpp - they are exquisite. Do you wear them sometimes?

Katerina, I do but not nearly as often as I should and so really, thank you for the impetus! Your Horse and safety pin just slay me! I'll try to round up my other Erstwilder pins to show you.

Thank YOU jlpp! I have just googled Erstwilder - new to me and love the designs.

They constantly have new designs, lots of quirky and fun pieces, hope you share if you find any you dig!

Your brooches are amazing and you wear them so well. I have a few, but seldom wear them. A colleague of mine rocks brooches and often inspires me to try wearing mine. Somehow they never look quite right. Maybe I will try again. Some are vintage or antique pieces that belonged to my grandmother. They should see the light of day.

@Katerina Why thank you but it's still a struggle haha! I think you've inspired me to try playing around & wear some brooches in my outfits next week

@jlpp love your brooches - thanks for sharing! The simplicity of the cherry pin speaks to me, as does the owl. I don't usually like owls, but the funky patterns & colours on that one might just sway me, lol

Thank you, Zaeobi!

Thank you Mainelady for the kind words.

Jlpp - I will certainly share any new finds! Thanks again for tips!

Zaeobi - how fun that you try brooches next week! I hope you post some pictures.

I really enjoyed this post! Your brooches are so beautiful. I personally don't own any, but will certainly start looking for some that speak to me. As Angie mentioned, you may have single handedly made the Forum take notice and take interest.

Stunning! I love how you wear them and you have a fantastic collection. I have a couple, but I don't wear them. I'm going to have to give them a go.

I am at the ATL zoo today and just nabbed a sterling and cloisonné Panda brooch, which made me think of you, Katerina!

I have a handful of brooches but have been neglecting them.

I do love them in winter on a lapel instead of a necklace. And I used to wear them sometimes on a dress as well.

Thank you for starting this inspirational thread.

Sterling and Toban, thank you!

Sterling, I hope you find some fun piece! I think that you, just like me, appreciate pieces which project certain sentiment (as SarahD8 so well put it - with a "built in narrative"). Brooches are wonderful in this sense.

Toban, please do let them come out and play! You are so good at using your wonderful necklaces - I am sure your outfits will be great with brooches too!

Jllp, thank you very much - it is nice to be thought of! Panda sounds lovely - please post a picture when you find the time.

Sal, thank you for reading and commenting.

Pardon the flash. I am going to wear a brooch to work tomorrow !

Jlpp, the panda is gorgeous! What a lovely find. Thank you for sharing.

Fellow brooch lover here! I love your collection! I have several brooches that I’ve collected over the years, but don’t wear them as much since I’m retired. My favorite one are Georg Jensen silver ones that have an Art Noveau vibe. When I worked, I wore them on jacket lapels and dark dresses. I’ll have to see about reintroducing them into my wardrobe!

Hi Linda! Thanks for the compliment and thanks for writing about your collection! Georg Jensen brooch sounds wonderful. I LOVE Georg Jensen's various designs and think I know which style you mean. I have some Georg Jensen earrings and rings, but not any brooch. Yours must be great. Hope you start wearing it again.

You inspired me. I wore mine (from my daughter's wedding) yesterday!