Little Vintage Brooch Finds a New Home

October 16, 2011

Sinequanone jacket, size 36 :: H&M t-shirt, size 2 :: Paige “Blue Heights” jeans, size 23 (hemmed) :: Christian Louboutin Simple 85 pumps, size 35 :: Chanel East/West handbag :: Ann Taylor Perfect Patent belt, size xs :: Iridesse pearl necklace :: Bracelets: sterling silver bangles, sterling silver ball, vintage carnelian :: Vintage brooch

Going through my mom’s jewelry collection is one of my favorite things to do. She’s been a collector for decades, and digging through the bags and boxes of fine, costume and vintage jewelry is only made more exciting when she decides she can part with a rarely worn item…and I’m there to snatch it up!

This little brooch is one of those items. It’s a vintage piece of costume jewelry, made of rhinestones in the form of a dangly military badge. I thought it was wonderful, but I struggled to find something that would match it’s toughness, so it sat all alone in a jewelry box for way too long. I thought about putting it on the Banana Republic silk camp shirt, but I was afraid it would leave stretched holes in the delicate silk. Then this military style tweed jacket came along and I knew instantly the brooch had found it’s new home.

The two haven’t parted ways since. :)

Do you have items that you always pair together?

Tagged as: Coats and Jackets

http://www.mixmatchfashion.com/ Tara

I love your brooch, it is obviously timeless :) Gorgeous blazer as well, the color is fantastic on you!
- http://www.alterationsneeded.com/ Alterations Needed
  
  Thank you Tara! The color is my favorite part of the jacket. :)
http://twitter.com/RLLater R.L.

I’m loving all these new blazers you’ve been sporting lately. I love how this one is Chanel-esque but with some edge :)
- http://www.alterationsneeded.com/ Alterations Needed
  
  Thank you! Yes, the jacket does have a Chanel-esque quality to it, doesn’t it? Designer look for way way way less. Hehe. :)
http://thepetitefittingroom.blogspot.com Michelle

You look amazing in plum!! And that brooch is so fun! Glad you did not stick it in your delicate top! This jacket is a great match!

I recently took my grandmother’s jewelry box home with me and am having so much fun! I love the feeling I get when wearing her pieces! :) This is such a line, but…”more than money can buy.” :p
- http://www.alterationsneeded.com/ Alterations Needed
  
  Giving new life to vintage family pieces is such a wonderful feeling! Not only are the jewelry pieces amazing, but you feel like you have a little piece of your grandma with you. Will we be seeing any on your blog? :)
  - http://thepetitefittingroom.blogspot.com Michelle
    
    I will definitely be wearing some of the other pieces. The locket you already saw is my favorite. There are just some other cute older chains that I have been layering. Unfortunately, some of the pieces are missing a stone. Like the cameo brooch! :( And there is another jewelry box with the cameo pendant somewhere in my parent’s garage…buried. I would love to take some time to help my dad go through everything so I can find it!
http://newpetite.blogspot.com New Petite

Love this Jacket!
- http://www.alterationsneeded.com/ Alterations Needed
  
  Thank you! :)
http://alittlepetite.wordpress.com/ A Little Petite

Love the brooch! I havent really worn many brooches but I def like how you paired it! The color of the blazer is beautiful as well!
- http://www.alterationsneeded.com/ Alterations Needed
  
  Thank you! I’m just happy I finally found a way to wear the little brooch! It’s been sitting, collecting dust, for way too long! :)
http://www.pocketsizedfashion.blogspot.com JJ

I also adore to raid my mother’s (substantial) jewelry collection – it’s so great for inspiring new outfits and rehashing old ones. There’s just something wonderful about vintage jewelry, whether it be costume or designer or whathaveyou.

Love the way you’ve paired this brooch with the blazer, the two work together well.
Anonymous

Yay for finding treasures from your mother! I love your brooch and especially love the purple tweed – such a pretty combination!
Anonymous

I love your tweed jacket and the brooch is beautiful. Such a pretty combination. YOu always look so chic and stylish even in jeans! Thanks for sharing.

http://justtututiny.blogspot.com/
Thu
eveange66

Hello,

I see that you are wearing a Sinequanone jacket, which is a low middle range french brand.
You are wearing a size 36, does it fit you all right?
If it does so you are taller and broader than me because size 36 is usually too large for me and I wear a size 34. But yet it all depends of the cut and the shape of the garments.

I would be interesting to know as it helps to know whether what you US women call petites are so really… petites in terms of size.
- http://www.alterationsneeded.com/ Alterations Needed
  
  Hi evenge66! I would probably fit a size 34 in this jacket better, but the smallest I could find was a size 36. Sinequanone is not a brand that is usually carried by retailers in the US…I happened to find this in a discount store by happy accident. Luckily, the shape of this jacket is meant to fit a bit boxy, so I can get away with wearing the size 36, but have considered getting it altered.
  
  In the US, petite, when it comes to shopping for clothing simply means short. I’m am 4’11″, which roughly translates to 150cm. But, you can be petite and be as tall as 5’4″ (163cm). You can be any size, from a 00 to a plus size and be petite…you just have to be short.
  
  I know it’s hard for international readers to get an idea of just how small some petite bloggers are, since you don’t have the same brands we have here in the US, and the metric conversions can be confusing. If you shop H&M, I can fit in size EU32 (US2) if it runs small, and I’ve never found anything at Zara that fits, even in the smallest sizes.
  
  I hope that helps!
Sunny Choi

Loving the brooch and like everyone says, the Chanel inspired tweed jacket.

I recently acquired a vintage (faux) fur jacket from my grandmother. It’s beautiful and fits my petite frame perfectly. LOVE!
eveange66

Many thanks for your answer, this is very informative to me and gives me answers. So I will launch a topic on the forum then.
http://afashiondeliberation.blogspot.com Cher

I love that blazer! I’ve been thinking of splurging on a Theory blazer as this summer’s blazer purchase, but I can’t seem to bite the bullet. But I can’t find a cheaper alternative either! I may have a go at the outlet and see if I can find something.
- http://www.alterationsneeded.com/ Alterations Needed
  
  Which one are you looking at? One of the classic “gabe” style ones? You can definitely find those at the outlets, and if you wait for a holiday weekend sale, might be able to get it for a decent price.
  - http://afashiondeliberation.blogspot.com/ Cher
    
    I’m looking for a statement or non-traditional style blazer. I have my eye on the “Lanai” right now and have been quietly stalking the Zara website for something that catches my eye. The Gabe actually doesn’t fit me in well at all. It sits very awkwardly on my shoulders. When looking for one of their classic style jackets, I always have to look at all the other styles and avoid the Gabe (I thought it’s supposed to look great on everyone??).
    - http://www.alterationsneeded.com/ Alterations Needed
      
      No worries, I look awful in the Gabe as well. I figured it was because I’m so short, and thought you might look better in it than me. Glad it’s not just me! Yes! Zara! They’ve had some great blazers that look way more expensive than they really are. I’ve been stalking the TRF line for one (or two, or three) to pop up that catch my eye. I saw the “Lanai” and wasn’t too impressed. I think you’d find a better one at Zara.