La broche sans danger

Want to wear a brooch without damaging your favorite blouse—perhaps because it seems too heavy or the fabric too delicate? Here is a (nearly) foolproof method—except, of course, for chiffon and silk satin.

Materials needed: a piece of non-stretchy fabric (ideally one that doesn’t contrast too sharply with the garment’s color)—or, as a last resort, a not-too-thick cotton makeup removal pad if you have nothing better—and a pair of scissors.

You need to cut the piece of fabric or cotton to obtain a piece that is slightly longer and wider than the brooch pin.

Place the piece of fabric or cotton underneath the garment and pin the brooch on top, making sure to pierce through both layers.

The weight of the brooch rests on the reinforcement fabric and pulls on the holes in that fabric rather than on the garment itself—which is the intended effect—but the fabric and brooch can only be positioned while the garment is laid flat in front of you, not while it is being worn.

Cotton is merely a stopgap: it is stretchy, prone to losing its shape, and thicker—and therefore more visible (second photo).