As you may have noticed, brooches are quite literally everywhere. They’re clustered on blazers , scattered across T-shirts , and pinned to coats and knits , occupying virtually any available patch of fabric. While undeniably eye-catching, the lovely brooch has so many uses beyond sitting decoratively on a lapel—which, to me, is where things get interesting.

I’ve always preferred items that are both beautiful and useful. Whether relating to fashion, furniture, or household objects, the collision of function and beauty is what truly fascinates me. And because the brooch encapsulates just that, it may be one of fashion’s most underrated problem solvers.

(Image credit: Larissa Mills)

As a petite gal myself, I often use brooches to shorten lengthy dresses . To do so, simply gather a bit of fabric at the hip and secure it with a brooch. Suddenly, you have an interesting drape, a little flash of jewelry, and most importantly, a hem that isn’t dragging through whatever happens to be on the floor.…