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Wearing jewelry items like necklaces and earrings is pretty simple stuff, but a brooch requires a bit more thought. This weightier jewelry piece needs to be carefully coordinated with the right kinds of fabrics and styles to keep you from looking, shall we say, over-adorned. To keep your brooch fashions stylish and understated, take advantage of many suitable ways to wear this item.
Lapels
You can pretty much never go wrong wearing a brooch on a jacket lapel. This is often one of the best choices for a large and/or vintage brooch because the thick material and width of the lapel will carry the weight of the brooch -- visually and literally! You also can wear the brooch just off to the side of the lapel itself.
Hat Bands
Any hat made with a band around the base of the crown portion, just above the rim, is a hat you can wear a brooch with. Take a close look at your hat; you'll find there's a perfect "sweet spot" to attach the decoration.
One-Strap Fashions
If you ever wear a slinky dress with only one shoulder strap and no sleeves, that single strap may be a perfect place to wear a brooch. Since the look is already asymmetrical, you can get away with a single brooch without looking unbalanced. Match the size of the brooch with the fabric; if the strap is thick and bunched, you can wear a heavier brooch than if the fabric is thin and delicate.
Scarves
Wear a brooch with a scarf as a means of killing two birds with one stone; with a brooch, you don't have to tie that scarf in a knot, just pin it in place with jewelry. This will allow you to create more subtle, flowing shapes with the wrap of your scarf, but be careful; some delicate scarf fabrics don't take well to being pinned and the holes from the brooch can show up forever. The thicker the pin, the more you'll want a thick material like a knit.
Bust
For certain dresses and tops that have plunging necklines, the lowest point on that neckline can be a good place to pin a brooch. This works best with tops made of layered or thick material and tops that have a V-shaped neckline. The best part? Wearing a brooch in this fashion will draw the eye to your cleavage ... or rather, give people an excuse to look!
Purse
Never forget that your purse is part of your fashion, and this can be the ideal place to put a brooch that simply won't go anywhere else. If you've got a brooch that's big or weird, wear it as a temporary or permanent fixture on your purse.
