Can you think of any accessory that you can wear in a zillion ways as a brooch? Perhaps no. Think of brooches and our minds travel to visions of old Hollywood glamour and Indian maharajas wearing them. Fast-forward and you realise they are making an exciting comeback in fun, modern interpretations. This evergreen accessory is often seen favoured by celebrities, fashion industry and fashion enthusiasts for an instant style update.
Jewellery designer Nitya Arora reminisces growing up watching her grandmother using brooches on her sarees and flipping coffee table books seeing all the maharajas wearing them on their turbans and coats. Impressed by a brooch’s functionality her label ‘Valliyan’ often has whimsical brooches with sea horse motifs, waves and insects among other opulent and vintage ones. “A brooch is a very classic piece of accessory and can be used on pretty much any outfit. You really need to be a genuine fashion enthusiast to realise the value of a brooch. When you see someone wearing a brooch you know his or her knowledge of style is not superficial, it stems from an honest understanding. From Lady Diana and Queen Elizabeth to Michelle Obama they’ve all worn brooches.”
“A brooch symbolises respect for an old-world style, while displaying creativity and imagination to blend it into modern-day dressing,” points out Anushka Hajela, who runs a popular fashion blog Bombay Bubble. “I love how a brooch can elevate an outfit with a little sparkle delivering just the right amount of unexpected vintage charm. The larger the piece the better as it becomes a focal point in an outfit. I prefer accessories that are a little over-the-top so insect, animal and reptile brooches top my list.”
Anushka shares some ways you can style a brooch
l Bedazzle the collars of a black outfit or a blazer/jacket with a bunch of different brooches
l Attach two identical brooches to the ends of your shirt collar
l Wear a large brooch, instead of a necklace, on the top button of your shirt
l Gather a loose dress or kaftan together at the waist and secure it with a brooch to create some curves.
With a little bit of creativity this transformative accessory can be worn on scarves, shawls, hats, sweaters, sarees, hair, belts and even purses. Many diamond and costume-y brooches double-up as a pendant and can also be attached on a string of pearls. This ornamental pin becomes an easy way of personal expression playfully adding that touch of glam and quirk.
While women are channelling their inner Carrie Bradshaw with brooches, men are not behind and are having fun with brooches too. Moving beyond traditional sherwanis, it now adorns western classic suits. A self-confessed jewellery aficionado and Amrapali’s CEO Tarang Arora is often seen sporting opulent and contemporary brooches with his blazers. “I love jewellery in any form and given the limited options we men have brooches tops my list. It’s a style classic handed-down from generations and makes for a great talking piece. But not many people, especially men, go for it. Amrapali brooches are sought-after in International fashion circuit.” So why doesn’t a brooch get its deserved due and why isn’t it really mainstream yet? ‘It’s a matter of time. We hadn’t imagined we would interpret hathphools and earcuffs in so many ways. India is curious about fashion now and is slowly becoming trend-focused. People take to a style easily if the film industry embraces it. It’s after all a style classic handed down from generations and makes for a great talking piece”.
