Q. I have a wonderful old brooch that I would really like to wear in honor of my mother, but I’m not sure it will look good on my dress. What are some different ways to wear a brooch?

A. What a wonderful, thoughtful idea!  As you insinuated, a brooch is traditionally worn pinned to the front of a blouse or dress.  Today, brooches are often worn in many alternative ways though.

• Depending on the style of your dress, you could pin it at the waist, over the knot in a bow, or to accent a pickup.
• You could wear it in your hair.  There are special combs available that can be attached to the brooch.  If you’re wearing your hair in an updo, this is a nice option.  You could also affix it to a headband for a more casual look.
• If you’d rather not attach to your gown, try having it incorporated into your bouquet by your florist or pinning it to the base of your bouquet.  You could also use it to secure your wrap or attach it to your purse.