On Style: Brooches...

Although this may not appear chronologically as the last of these posts (and no doubt I’ll repost it at a later date, because I love to do that), this is actually the final On Style post for this season. And it just so happens to be on the subject I hold closest to my heart.

I love brooches. I get so much shit for wearing them and their closely related pin-badge cousins, I could go into the fertiliser trade. But do I care? Do I bollocks! Nothing says confidence and aesthetic awareness like a metal brooch pinned to your lapel. Who would dare wear such a frivolity? The man who knows, that’s who.

This whole series has been about the creation of an outfit that hangs together as a fully conceptualised whole. It has centred mainly on suits, as they are, let’s be honest, the best thing a man can wear if he wants to look his best. I’ve talked about fitting the right knot to the right collar, the right shirt to the right somatotype, the right suit to the right occasion and the right shoes to the right watch to the right belt. Pocket squares were covered as a means to tie the colour of your shirt to your jacket, tightening the scheme of the look.

And finally, the brooch, pinned daringly to your lapel, of both coat and jacket, can continue your choice of metal right up to your clavicle, rather than consigning it to below the waist (buckle, watch and cufflinks all hang down there, you know).

The only other accessory that can perform the same function as a brooch in this capacity is the tie tack/slide, and since I would always advise a plain strip of metal and steering clear of ‘novelty’, for your tie slide, the brooch allows you to go ‘out there’ a little more.

I like animal brooches or pin badges. I have a Victorian stag in pewter, a pair of owls on a branch in gold, a silver and pyrite frog with ruby eyes, a jockey riding a leaping horse (the logo of the Gee Gees club, of which I am co-founder) and many more that I rotate at will.

A brooch can be a real insight to its wearer’s personality. Not just their stylistic tastes, but also their strength of character. It’s an effeminate thing to wear, which is just why it looks so good; so powerful, when pinned to the lapel of a double breasted suit being worn by a bearded man in the prime of his life.

So here are a couple of rules:

Go vintage! In this case, quirkiness is the key. Brooches are an awesome conversation starter with the feminine members of our society, and since most of us dress to attract the opposite, or like-minded same sex, our intended partners will be as interested in this addition as they could be in you.

Don’t clutter! It’s okay to wear a tie slide and a brooch together as long as it is a plain slide as described above. If you want the focus to be on your tie (if, for example, you’re wearing a waistcoat and no jacket) then consider pinning one of your small brooches to your shirt through your tie. This works particularly well for symmetrical brooches and ones of a small size.

For the last time: BE BOLD! You can do an awful lot with very little if you are prepared to experiment. Find your look and refine it until it becomes something on its own. Then tweak and twiddle it as fashions and trends fly by. You will always have a solid base that you feel comfortable with and that will enable you to go outside the box with gusto and success whenever you please.

For now, it’s over and out. I hope you’ve enjoyed these posts, but be warned, I will be back with more!

Until then, happy dressing, and stay ON STYLE!


Friday, February 18, 2011
On Style: The Iconic Square...


Perfect for that 1960s office look. Sleek and chic, the single band of colour can pull your whole outfit together, linking your jacket with your shirt. Stick to white for a stark contrast and learn how to fold by following the link below:

http://www.samhober.com/howtofoldpocketsquares/flatpocketsquarefold.htm


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