Good day, darlings! This is PeaceBang’s actual, real live DAY OFF and she is actually really taking it as a DAY OFF, which is a weird and uncomfortable feeling, which means that she will likely start sneaking around later in the afternoon and working on Sunday’s service. I’m showing a PowerPoint presentation as part of the Offering and I need to prepare that, so no yelling. I promise that I am still in my bathrobe right now, and that I intend to take a nap before noon.
The latest Serious Inquiry that has come to me is about pins and brooches. How does one wear them, our curious pigeons asks?
Why, darling, however you like!
Put one big one or several small ones clustered on the lapel of your winter coat or blazer!
Attach one to the ribbon around the brim of your fetching chapeau!A bow shape brooch is perfect for this trick:
Wear one at your waist to secure a wrap-around jacket or sweater (I like to wear mine high at the left to create an empire waist effect. Just try it ’til you get it to hang right)! A square shape is particularly good for this look:
Wear a scarf tucked in at your open collar ascot-style and bling it up with a pin!
Use a thick elastic to tie your hair up in a messy bun and carefully secure a brooch to the elastic. Voila! Holiday party look (see how the fan shape at the top would create a subtle tiara effect?)!
Pin one on your bag, your dress, your sweater, or your headband:
These brooches were part of a curated sales event by Illona Specht that was featured on One King’s Lane last week. I love old-school pins and pick them up at charity shops or thrift stores for a few dollars.
Proportion is a good thing to consider: big women should wear bold brooches, while smaller people can wear daintier ones, and I don’t think that only women should wear brooches. There are so many styles, why not?
I am firmly against the wearing of pins with slogans of ANY KIND on them on Sunday mornings. We are not walking advertising spaces. It’s tacky and distracting. People should meet you first, not your cause, slogan or logo. Keep your visual presence free of verbiage. Speak for yourself. A name tag is sufficient.
I love brooches–from my grandmother’s cameo to flea market costume jewelry–and wear them often and happily. I’m a minister in my early 30s and “my” elderly church ladies always love them too, which is extra fun.
But you know what bums me out? When we worship I wear a nametag and since I fear it would look weirdo to wear two things pinned to my chest, I don’t wear brooches on the days I try to look especially nice.
Peacebang and others, do you have thoughts about this dilema? Should I do it anyway or am I right to avoid a pin and nametag at the same time? [I think you could pop on a brooch on the other side from the name tag, what do you think? – PB]
Ahem. The Boundaries Fairy here flutters her Southern handfan in disapproval, and strongly encourages you to avoid work. I become seriously annoyed with my colleagues, and have had the occasional “come to Jesus” talk about these days off. Our colleagues do us no favors with the “ha ha ha, I love my job so much that working doesn’t even feel like working, I think I’ll sneak over and work on Sunday’s work a little bit.” Uht uh, honey. Take those walking boots off and stay out of that church.
Taking a real, live day off is a spiritual discipline (and disciplines are sometimes uncomfortable). Sometimes we need to work on our day off… all too often. But we do need to strongly curate the ability to spend a day NOT doing work. Believe me, it’s a tough habit to break, and none of us do it perfectly.
You may read anything you like. You may blog. You may take a walk with the puppy in the snow. You may build a roaring fire and have hot chocolate. But working? No, no. Your spirit deserves the break.
I like the brooches, by the way. SPARKLES! [Smart Lady. Thanks. I will obey. – PB]
I love wearing brooches. My favorites are family hand-me-downs and vintage silver with turquoise. Necklaces don’t work with clericals, but a brooch on the cardigan can be just the right accent. My father made some lovely jewelry from semi-precious stones that he had polished. Wearing one of his pieces makes me feel connected to his presence.
This is why I love yard sales, flea markets, and the occasional rock and gem show. I inherited Mom’s and Grandma’s jewelry, and I wear them on my hat, or on my handwoven shawls and collars, The hair idea is cool,too–thanks!
Check out the costumes for Christine Baranski’s character, Diane Lockhart, on The Good Wife. She wears fabulous clothes, and often has a dramatic brooch on her jacket lapel.
Thanks PB! I think my problem with getting my brooches to look right is proportion. Most of my inherited pins are fairly small and dainty – not the look that works on a busty gal’s cardigan! I love the grouping idea – I’ll have to take a look and see if I have any small ones that look great together – or maybe a theme – a few animal pins of different metals and colors, or a combinaiton of dainty pins. If I find anything that works well, I’ll send pics.