A model flaunts a tie-shaped brooch in white and yellow gold designed by Anmol Jewellers and World Gold Council

It’s perhaps the last word in pin-up chic. And there’s no better way of keeping those ruffles, ruches and pleats of your stylish sun-dresses, evening gowns and saris in place than pinning them with a brooch. It’s time to stop thinking of brooches as mere functional somethings in your jewellery box. They have just morphed into accessories that fashionistas simply can’t do without.

Suhani Pittie’s Marshes and Marigold collection has brooches designed with unconventional materials like jute (top) and oyster shells (above)

“Brooches can be quirky, edgy and out-and-out glamorous. As statement pieces, they can highlight your style sensibilities,” says ace jewellery designer Suhani Pittie.

Pittie’s new line of brooches called Marshes and Marigold is just out. Her collection is inspired by the Art Nouveau style (a European design philosophy that celebrates curvilinear forms) and has brooches designed in unconventional materials like jute, oyster shells and even iron chains.

There are more designs in hand-painted silver in tones of rose pink, emerald green and dark brown. “This is a petite accessory that can be exuberant and ornate or even minimalist,” she says. Pittie’s kept the prices between Rs 1,200 and Rs 4,500.

An emerald drop surrounded polkis (top) and a diamond rose brooch by Jetha Bhai Zaveri jewellers

“Today, brooches are defining contemporary jewellery,” says jewellery designer Meera Mahadevia. Maha-devia’s inspiration for the season is an eclectic mix of traditional Indian motifs and global trends. She designs her brooches in brass that’s given a 24-carat gold or silver polish and encrusts these ornaments with precious and semi-precious stones like diamonds, rubies, emeralds, corals and topaz.

Anand Bathija of Curio Cottage offers a line of stone-encrusted floral and animal-shaped brooches Pix by: Gajanan Dudhalkar

But if you’d rather go lighter on the pocket, there are brooches set with Swarovski crystals, glass and other coloured stones. The showstopper in her collection is a piece that’s inspired by Indian dance forms and postures of deities like Ganesha and Krishna. This is a blue glass and diamanté piece that’s designed like a flower arrangement. The leaves and twigs surrounding the stone and diamanté flower have been designed in curvaceous patterns — to replicate the fluidity of dance postures. Mahadevia’s prices are on request.

“Precious stones in brooches add that extra sparkle to your outfit. Brooches set with stones can be colour-coordinated with one’s attire,” says Vimal Bhai of Jetha Bhai Zaveri. The pièce de résistance in the brand’s brooch collection is a versatile design that can be used variously as a hair ornament, a hat-pin and of course as a brooch. It is a rose motif studded with diamonds with a couple of marquise or boat-shaped sapphires as accents.

(From top) Mirari has unveiled a collection of jewelled brooches with traditional Indian motifs

And if you are a gold gal, you can check out the collection at Anmol Jewellers that has been designed in tandem with The World Gold Council. At a high octane display of Anmol’s signature line in the capital, models sashayed in glitzy Western dresses decorated with brooches. What stood out among a crowd was a tie-shaped brooch with flowing strands of white and yellow gold that formed the length of the tie.

Indian motifs are a huge hit with Mirari, designer Mira Gulati’s signature label, that recently opened shop at the designer Emporio Mall in the capital.

Mirari has just unveiled a collection of jewelled brooches with intricate paisley motifs and studded them with diamonds and pearls. Check out the luxurious ruby and diamond creation that’s shaped like a peacock feather. The threads of the feather are strings of diamonds while the huge ruby forms the eye of this neat piece.

Meera Mahadevia designs brass brooches that have been given a 24-carat gold or pure silver polish

Anand Bathija, the man behind accessory label Curio Cottage, gives a tip: “You can transform a look by pining brooches to tops, dresses, sweaters and hats.’’

Curio Cottage offers a collection of brooches that can suit different occasions and ensembles. So, for a night out you can flaunt flirty metal brooches studded with well-cut crystals. There’s flower power just for you in brooches in his floral and wreath lines that have interesting designs like bunches of roses and orchids in textured metal, crystal and semi- precious stones.

Animal lovers can take their pick from brooches shaped like cute puppies and cuddly teddy bears that are studded with twinkling crystals.

The brooches are priced between Rs 800 and Rs 3,000. Even Calcutta-based jewellery designer Eina Ahluwalia has interesting animal and insect shaped brooches in silver like reindeer and butterflies that add a quirky touch to your ensemble .

Eina Ahluwalia has a quirky collection of silver brooches shaped like reindeer and butterflies;

There’s a whole new world of brooches that is just waiting to be explored. And styles include anything from traditional handcrafted pieces to contemporary and clean-cut creations.

Team them with an heirloom sari for that touch of class or a glamorous evening gown. So just pin it up in style and create a new trend story.