STAR TRENDS

Brooches are back

Salma Hayek sparkles with a brooch. To see more Star Trends visit PEOPLE.COM

(PEOPLE) -- Brooches have long been stuck with "that old lady quality," says L.A. stylist David Whitacre.

So why are they being pinned on fashion plates like Iman and Salma Hayek?

Because "right now everyone is into that glamorous Hollywood look," says jewelry designer Erica Courtney, "and brooches echo back to that."

In fact, they harken all the way back to the days of the Roman Empire, when they were used as fasteners on cloaks; today they are "the perfect way to adorn a simple dark suit," says actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who donned a Cathy Waterman pin for a recent event.

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If you don't want to end up looking like your grandmother, however, attach yourself to oversized pins, "which make more of a statement," says Whitacre, especially in edgy materials like leather.

As for shapes, "butterflies and flowers are hot," he adds. To nail the look, experiment with placement.

"What can make brooches even fresher now is where you wear them," Courtney says.

"So pin them somewhere unpredictable, like on a pair of jeans or the back of a low dress."

Alison Singh Gee contributed to this report