Some fashion lovers believe that the validity of pins in recent times it has weakened, while a large sector considers that they are still in force in the taste of both elegant and sober women, as well as those who are more modern and avant-garde. Let us remember that fashion evolves, and adapts the trends that are handled both at the level of clothing and jewelry.
If we go back in ancient history, we can see that the brooches were garments made by artisans and designed by the recognized jewelers of the time, at the exclusive request of the kings, priests or bourgeois of the upper classes, in order to make their presence known. power. They were generally designed according to the specifications of each relevant character, in addition to the materials with which they had to be made, highlighting the use of gold and silver.
Let us remember that the pins were developed from the Greek and Roman fibula, which is similar to a decorative safety pin, which was used in the time of ancient Rome and Greece to join or hold mantles and tunics, which both women and men wore; whose designs included a variety of shapes and designs in diverse materials.
In the 19th century, brooches became a decorative accessory for most people, which was due, among other things, to the increase in capital and the expansion of wealth and the origin of a market for low-cost jewelry. .
Pins, also called «brooches» throughout history, currently have a significant validity, and for many celebrities they have become fashion accessories, an example of this are the Prada and Balenciaga winter catwalks, where They have seen collections that used the brooches in different styles and sizes.
This is because when a woman creates a style to look beautiful and elegant, she must take care of every detail, and give that personal touch to her outfit to stand out and look splendid, many give that touch with divine and exquisite shoes that combine perfectly with clothing, hairstyle, jewelry, etc., but currently the main complement when it comes to styling, are brooches or pins; so today more than ever we can talk about the validity of pins.
An emblematic case of the extreme taste for pins is that of Madeleine Albright, the former Secretary of State of the United States, who owned around 200 pins of different models and designs, many of which were famous and some others extravagant.
Madeleine Albright was the first woman to lead US diplomacy in 1997, during Bill Clinton’s term, and stood out not only for her work, but for wearing flashy brooches on her diplomatic missions. This collection of some 200 brooches, entitled «Read My Brooches: The Madeleine Albright Collection», was on display at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York from September 30, 2009 to January 31, 2010. sought to highlight the communicative and diplomatic value and significance of this collection, not only for Albright but for the United States of America.
It is important to point out that among the two hundred pieces that were exhibited in this exhibition, there was a gold brooch in the shape of a snake that Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State, ordered to design and wore in diplomatic events of great importance for the country, due to to the fact that the president of Iraq at the time, Saddam Hussein, who detested the United States, described her in the media as a «snake».
For these reasons, we must understand that the symbology that we use through objects and/or accessories that we use to present ourselves at different events in our environment, transmit a message, identified and characterized us as individual entities that belong to a certain social circle, and in which we try to introduce ourselves and look good, in addition to others understanding our tastes and preferences.
In this context, Holly Hotchner, director of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, at the time the exhibition of Madeleine Albright’s brooches was held, stated in a press release that these famous brooches «have been used as non-traditional tools for political negotiation and personal expression”.
This collection of brooches became so famous that the exhibition was later held in different parts of the world, where the book that Madeleine Albright wrote was also presented, which she titled «Read my brooches: stories from a diplomat’s jeweler», where the former Secretary of State and writer analyzes and describes the historical and artistic importance of jewels.
It is clear then, that jewelry in general, and especially brooches, have a significant expressive and communicative power, so each woman must take into account the communicative value of jewelry, which usually transcends far beyond its material value. .
In this way, it can be said that pins as a classic jewel of jewelry are still valid, but with the respective changes that the demands of the complex world of fashion demand, considering that the styles and preferences of the new generations have changed, influenced by different social and psychological factors that affect the purchase decisions of the various accessories that are displayed in the market.
That is why we see how pins, also called brooches, have different uses according to the occasions in which they will be worn, clothing, hairstyle, etc., and of course the age and particular styles of each woman are determining factors when selecting one design or another.
The truth is that pins have been used since ancient times when women and men looked for decorative elements to highlight in social events, meetings, ceremonies, etc., which in most cases gave them power, category, hierarchy, much distinction and recognition between the social classes to which they belonged.
In modern society, the use of pins is mostly related to formal attire, with an elegant and distinguished cut, and their designs are generally sober and discreet, to be worn on luxurious occasions, important social events with very sophisticated clothing, for what bad taste and exaggeration have no place.
However, there is a wide variety of designs in the world of pins, just as there are in other types of jewelry, such as necklaces, earrings and/or bracelets, so to speak of pins or brooches, in the 21st century, implies immerse yourself in a diverse system of styles, such as: formal, casual, rocker, reggaeton, urban, etc., according to which people wear different types of clothes, which require jewelry and of course pins adapted to these outfits .
But, if we talk about traditional pins or brooches, as they have been known for many years, we must say that their validity can be very debatable, since their basic characteristics are maintained, but for certain market segments, which includes women over the age of 40 approximately, with more formal, sophisticated, and traditional styles.
Despite this trend, we must also clarify that when we speak of the validity of a particular garment, we must include in this process of permanence in the taste and preference of people, the changes to which these accessories could be subject, since that there are very few cases of garments that have kept intact the original characteristics that they may have had at some time.
On the other hand, many people like to wear a pin or brooch with images of social causes, such as, for example, helping patients with cancer, AIDS, and/or other diseases, or causes in defense of the environment and peace. , becoming the symbology in a fundamental element to use this type of accessory in favor of a humanitarian objective.
Also, there are people who like to wear pins with the image of established artists who have been icons of music or acting, politics or science, such as Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Charles Chaplin, Martin Luther King, Frank Sinatra , Albert Einstein, among many other characters who have made history.
In the end, the important thing about wearing a garment is the attitude of its wearer, since it is the key to showing off any clothing, accessory or style, without attitude fashion makes no sense. You can wear the most beautiful pins, the most fabulous jewelry, the most elegant and expensive dresses, but if you don’t have a positive attitude that makes them convey security and satisfaction, they won’t shine in the eyes of most people.
Do not limit yourself when choosing your pins, but define your styles well and what you want to project according to the occasion, think that these accessories, like any other jewel, must be well combined, without distorting the style. , you must project what you seek to transmit to the people around you.
When you wear a pin, always think about maintaining the attitude according to what you want to project, that is the secret to look fabulous and impressive in any event you attend. Also, remember that the symbology used in the designs of your pins transmits a message that if you want to project in your environment, you must take good care of it, so that you are remembered as a woman with her own personality, who carries a message to the world through their attire.