How to wear pins? - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

How to wear pins?

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Hello everyone, my family was really ill for three weeks over the holidays, so we missed dressing up for festivities. I'm trying to catch up on that now with family photos and dressing up for church. I was gifted a Ten Thousand Villages angel pin which I wore today with a black and white dress and bright red cardigan. I don't think I've worn a pin or brooch before, really. It got me wondering, which side do you wear a pin on, do you match it to your jewelry (I wore it over my heart and liked mixing metals today), any tips on how you include one in your outfit? Oh and how do you decide the fabric is sturdy enough for a pin, my cardi has a hole in it now, oops.

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Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from columbine(erin)

Marilyn

Veteran

Here's a link to a blog post that I remembered that offers a great tip for wearing pins without damaging your clothing. The trick is a make-up sponge backing.
http://www.theglamourai.com/20.....etter.html

I'm not a pin wearer but I'm sure some of the others will have great ideas on how to style them.

Runcarla

Veteran

I've been seeing pins affixed to hats (the brim of a beanie, or on a beret) to great effect.

carter

Veteran

Pretty! The holes can be massaged away on a knit. I wear pins a couple ways: Either on my left shoulder (since i wear my purse strap on the right) or, if the pin clasp is vertical, it can be a great pendant on a necklace. You could also pin it to a non-silk scarf.

Marilyn

Veteran

Runcarla....Love the idea of pinning one on a beanie. I like that it's a bit unexpected.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Thank you, Marilyn, I will check out that post. Thanks for the idea, Runcarla, I hadn't thought of wearing it on a hat, but I have a grey and black one I will have to try. Good to know, Carter, thanks! Also, clever to wear the vertical ones as a pendant, I'll have to remember that.

Echo

Veteran

I've always been fond of wearing a pin at the top center collar of a buttoned shirt, on the lapel of a winter coat or blazer, in the center holding a cardigan together, affixed to the knot on a scarf or on a cap. Be careful if you decide to wear it as a pendant, as pin closures can easily come undone when they are not on something more substantial than a chain. You might want to take precautions to make sure it doesn't open unexpectedly, as that could easily lead to a pin being lost.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Thank you, Echo, these are all great ideas, and good point to secure the pin if worn as a pendant. I hadn't thought of wearing a pin as a closure on a cardigan. I plan on wearing my pin next on my dark aubergine wool coat I think.

Anonymous

I bought a natural linen clutch from Club Monaco a few years ago that was adorned with a group "vintage" looking crystal brooches/pins. I liked the look so much I actually added one or two of my own crystal-rhinestoneisn pins to the group. Kind of cool on a fabric bag.

I used to put pins on my denim jacket, and I stuck one (another vintagey rhinestone one) on the flap pocket of an army jacket too....putting them on unexpected things makes them look a little more modern, to my eye.

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MsMaven

Veteran

Pins seem to have gone out of style. I had a large collection of expensive pins--and I still have a few. I'd wear them on coat or jacket lapels, and I remember in the 80s we'd put them right at the top to one side of a crew neck sweater. Sometimes they could be used to anchor scarves. I still have an antique gold and opal pin--I've wondered if it isn't time for a return of the fashion pin.

I have a collection of pins that belonged to my mother and one or two from my grandmother. They were big in the 40s and 50s. They wore them on the shoulder of a dress or jacket, as well as on a hat.

frannieb

Veteran

i am completely old fashioned and love a brooch like no ones business. I have a wonderful collection of them and wear them often as I do wear toppers quite a bit. They are kinda one of my signature things.
No ryhme or reason for the brooch I wear on any particular day - justt whatever strikes my fancy.
Also I really have never worried about holes in my jackets

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Thank you, Lisap, I like the idea of using vintagey pins on a clutch as well as the juxtapositions of denim or army jacket with a vintagey feminine pin. I'll have to think if I can recreate something like that. I don't have many jackets.

Thanks Ms Maven, it was lovely to hear how you and your mother and grandmother have worn pins.

I have one pin but many ways to wear it now, thank you ladies. I may have to find a vintage looking one or two to wear.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Thanks, Frannieb, I will be looking for your WIW's to see how you enjoy wearing your collection of brooches.

Debora

Veteran

Columbine, two friends and I had some fun a year or so ago adding vintage brooches to our denim jackets. We came up with some fun designs. Here's one of mine, and here's the link to the original post.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....n-exercise

I also like Echo's idea of adding a brooch to the top of a buttoned collar. Pic 2 is one from my inspiration file (via Cupcakes and Cashmere blog).

I love browsing through pins and vintage brooches at flea markets and vintage stores. I wish I had more of them! Maybe this will be the start of many more for you. Have fun!

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columbine(erin)

Veteran

Thanks for the link to your post, Debora, it was very fun to look through your fab pictures! Looking at your second picture here suddenly gave me an idea for how to wear it with the one button down I own, too.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

In addition to all the great suggestions so far, another way I've worn a large vintage-y rhinestone pin was on a fabric obi-style belt. I was wearing dangling earrings so didn't want a necklace, but wanted a little more bling. It worked great! Not the best photo but maybe gives an idea.

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columbine(erin)

Veteran

Thanks, Suz, I would never have thought of wearing a brooch on a belt, but that's brilliant. I don't wear necklaces often, but would like to try belting a dress and putting a brooch on a belt for a little shine.

rachylou

Veteran

It does seem like pins used to be the thing and now not so much. I wear them to keep sweaters closed, and also like to wear them at the waist, if they're large enough.

Dimity

I love wearing pins in groupings, like some of the others have said. I try to have a theme going when I do that. I have a few different antique butterfly pins and I sometimes put one or two on each side of my collar, near the points. I think the key to keeping them current is to do something unexpected with them.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Thank you, Rachylou, and I agree, I just don't see many people wearing pins anymore. Thanks, Dimity, I'll keep your advice in mind.

Mellllls

Veteran

lapels!

unfrumped

Veteran

I collected pins in flower shapes--some vintage, patina'd sterling, some other materials, and wore on blazer lapels but now seldom wear blazer. Had seasonal themes--dogwood, poinsettia, lily etc. Mostly silver or neutral, not enamel or colored stones.
Have not figured out a new use but am not ready to part with said collection.
May re-think using on sweaters.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Unfrumped, your collection sounds lovely. Hopefully you can glean a few ideas here too.

Linda

I am holding on to a collection of my Mom's and grandmother's that I always loved -- on them! I never seem to think about wearing pins, really. I went through a phase of wearing pins near the face on heavy winter coats, but I don't much wear that look now. I have a couple of new shawl-type scarves since Christmas, though, and I'm thinking that I ought to look through to see whether some of the pins will help keep them arranged when I wear them. I'm thinking this will prevent me just twisting the length of the scarf up and roping it around my neck, a not-very-flattering-at-all look!!

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Linda, maybe we both could find some stylish scarf and pin ideas on Pinterest, I am off to take a look. It sounds like many ladies have pins from their mothers and grandmothers that are languishing a bit.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

On a side note: one guy on our Saturday social dance party wore a sparkly pin instead of the tie with a shirt and vest and looked smashing.

shipskitty

Veteran

I remember a post by Sal at Already Pretty where she converted a bunch of old brooches and pins into a statement necklace.

Ah...here it is: http://www.alreadypretty.com/2.....klace.html
Some of the photo links in it are broken but you can see the final shot and also she describes how she made it.

Anonymous

As a child I remember women always wearing a large pin on their wool coats and jackets and often a small one at the throat on a blouse.
Wearing a vertical pin as pendant can work better on a strip of leather than on a chain.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I love how Advanced Style regular Alice Carey wears pins with tweedy menswear:
http://advancedstyle.blogspot......aiian.html

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Thanks for the fun link, Shipskitty, what a great idea. Thanks Joy; actually just remembered that somewhere I have a pin from Mexico on a strip of black leather. Wearing feminine pins on a leather strip might help prevent the pins from being too dated, I'm thinking. Thanks Appropio, I haven't seen this site before; also fun to be introduced to a great new site!

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