The Basics Behind Michelle Obama's Look - Necklace

This look is sure to become a fashion trend. On the cover of the January 18, 2009 issue of Parade magazine, Michelle Obama wears a sleeveless dress in the purple family with three neckline embellishments. These embellishments may be an actual part of the dress. However, this look is very easy to duplicate with brooches or label pins.

Michelle Obama’s Look

Her necklace shows three embellishments. All three are circular in shape; the two side pieces flanking the center are smaller – about ½ the size in diameter. The color combinations are both complementary and a tint.

The larger circle piece is orange, yellow and lime green in color. These colors are complementary to the color of the dress, which is purple. The two smaller circles are lavender, which is a tint of purple. A tint is the color plus white.
Duplicate Michelle Obama’s Look

To make sure this look works, address these three factors:

1. Select brooches or pins that are not too heavy
2. Pick a garment made from fabric with body that is fairly close-fitting at the neckline
3. Choose brooch colors that harmonize with each other and the garment

If the brooches are too heavy and the garment fabric has too much give, the look just will not work. The neckline will fall forward from the chest area, creating an unattractive gap that will hide the brooches.

Carefully consider the color combinations. Complementary colors are those that are opposite each other on a color wheel. A complete color wheel, available at any arts and crafts store, will show the complementary color combination for primary, secondary and tertiary colors. It is visually very striking to pair complementary colors. The key to pairing complementary colors is to make sure that one is dominant.
Where to Find Brooches

Amazon.com has a wide array of beautiful costume brooches in all sizes. The image shown on this page is by Pugster and will make an attractive complementary center brooch for yellow/green or turquoise garments. Tonally, it would also work on a purple garment. The brooch retails on Amazon.com for $19.32. To create interest make sure the accent brooches are approximately ½ the size of the center brooch.

Check out what is already available in household jewelry boxes. The brooches don’t necessarily have to be circular in shape. Maybe there is a favorite pin such as the cat image shown on this page. Combine that with two small circular or triangular gold label pins for a striking look on a black garment.

It’s easy to make a trio of pins. The star image shown on this page is a hand-crafted pin given as a Christmas present a couple of decades ago. Make a similar one by purchasing a tin pin form at a craft shop. Glue beads and other decorations to the pin form with craft glue.

Experiment with the look. Run the three brooches vertically down the center front of the garment or attach them to the lapel of a jacket. They’ll also look fashion forward attached to a fabric purse.