Sassy enamel pins and quirky iron-on patches have been dominating Instagram for the past year to the point that most of us have little collections forming. And we have no idea what to do with them besides chuck them on the sides of our bags and on the lapels of our jackets.
But your collection probably has a lot more creative potential than you're giving it. Try arranging your pins and patches like this to get those styling juices flowing.
1. Use a stick-on patch instead of an iron-on patch for a non-committal add-on to all your bags.
Take A Stab (Light) Sticker Patch ($12, Tuesday Bassen)
2. Buy a set or a matching pair of teeny, tiny pins for either side of a collared shirt.
Tony Ghosts Enamel Pin Set ($8, Sara M. Lyons)
3. Instead of your denim jacket, spice up your denim shorts by lining patches around the front pockets.
Clockwise from the top right: Wild & Free Embroidered Patch ($4, Wildflower & Co.</a>); Lipstick Embroidered Patch ($4, Wildflower & Co.</a>); "As If" Conversational Heart Candy Embroidered Patch ($4, Wildflower & Co.)
4. Or make them Extra Sassy with a statement patch right on top of a back pocket.
Heart Lolli Patch In Licorice ($12, Tuesday Bassen)
5. Pins aren't just for bags and jackets — they don't poke through shorts and pants pockets like you think they would.
Geode Vagina Enamel Pin ($10, Sara M. Lyons)
6. Same goes for hats.
Silver Feminist Enamel Pin ($10, Hissy Fit Cvlt</a>); Devil Baby Enamel Pin ($12, Brat Box)
7. Play with shapes by mixing up square and circular patches.
Try It You'll Like It Patch ($5, These Are Things)
I Believe In You Patch ($8, Band of Weirdos)
8. Isolate one geometric patch on your back for a small but bold statement.
Knowledge Patch ($5, Explorer's Press)
9. Or throw that idea in the garbage and go ALL OUT with a back patch.
Feminist Back Patch ($15, Hissy Fit Cvlt)
10. Let your Inner Goth Queen out by only wearing black pins.
Clockwise from far left: If You Really Bug Me Black Enamel Pin ($10, Band of Weirdos</a>); Chemical XXX Enamel Pin ($6, Sugar Bones</a>); Crescent Moon Pin ($10, These Are Things)
11. Or pick one color scheme and stick with it.
Clockwise from top left: Purple LLAP Pin ($10, Robin Eisenberg</a>); Spiked Bat Enamel Pin ($8, Sugar Bones</a>); Feeling Myself Pin ($10, Robin Eisenberg</a>); Babeshark Pin ($10, Robin Eisenberg</a>); False Lashes Enamel Pin ($7, Sara M Lyons)
12. Or say, "fuck it," and do both.
13. Better yet, wear every pin you own at the same time in one giant, happy mish-mash.
Previously unmentioned on the left: The New Goth Mermaid Pin ($10, Robin Eisenberg</a>); Mermaid Enamel Pin ($13, Fireworks Gallery</a>); Aggressive Pin ($10, Tuesday Bassen)
Previously unmentioned on the right: Fancy Pink Poodle Enamel Pin ($10, Wildflower & Co.</a>); It's Lit Bra Enamel Pin ($10, Sara M Lyons)
