Trovelore: A Wearable Cabinet of Curiosities
BON TON goods · Le Journal
A moth on velvet. A fox on a wool coat. A lobster coming to dinner. Open the Trovelore cabinet and choose your company.
Our Trovelore selection has grown into a wonderfully unruly gathering of flowers, insects, birds, animals and small edible delights. Here are 51 pieces to explore, from the latest designs to returning favourites. Every picture opens the individual brooch, so you can follow whichever creature, bloom or curious little object catches your eye.
Each is hand embroidered, with thread, beads and sequins building a surface that rewards a closer look. A wing becomes a pattern of tiny stitches; a leaf takes on dimension; an ordinary pea pod becomes something worth dressing around. The subjects are playful, and the detail gives them staying power.
01 · Wings for the evening
Moths & butterflies
A moth belongs on velvet. A butterfly can hold its own against the clean lines of a black jacket. Spread across the collection, these wings become a study in pattern: the Peach Blossom Moth beside the Giant Tiger Moth, the French Duke Butterfly beside the delicate Ringlet. Look for the shape that catches your eye before you think about what it will match. These are the pieces around which an outfit can quietly assemble.
02 · A garden at miniature scale
Bees, beetles & dragonflies
The garden's smaller inhabitants make some of its most striking jewels. Queen Apis has the presence of a tiny sovereign; the Leaf Stolas Beetle offers a compact, sculptural silhouette. Dragonflies bring a different rhythm, all fine wings and elongated lines. A Green Mantis adds a wonderfully unexpected gesture to a lapel. Wear one as a single specimen, or bring a bee and a flower together with a little space between them.
03 · Gathered from the woods
Leaves, creatures & companions
A Horse Chestnut Leaf, an Acorn, a Fly Amanita Mushroom: small things you might pocket on a woodland walk, reimagined in embroidery. The Bounding Hare and Red Fox bring movement to the gathering, while the Canela Dachshund is for those whose favourite companion is closer to home. Then the cabinet opens onto a wider landscape, with a Forest Elephant and Sumatra Tiger. Choose by affection. A particular animal can say more about its wearer than any matching set.
04 · An aviary for the wardrobe
Birds with character
An owl for the night person; a robin for the gardener; a swallow for someone who is always looking toward the next journey. Trovelore's birds offer a whole cast of characters. We love the contrast between a stately Common Pheasant and the familiar Light Sussex Chicken, or the graphic King Penguin and the flourish of a Jewelled Peacock. Pin a bird high on a substantial lapel and let its silhouette do the work.
05 · Flowers that stay
The embroidered garden
A Benton Iris has a different energy from a Sunflower; the Estella Parrot Tulip feels wonderfully theatrical beside a simple White Daisy. These are flowers to choose as you would stems for a vase: for their shape, their character and the pleasure of seeing them together. A single bloom brightens a winter coat. A pair, placed at different heights, makes an arrangement that feels gathered rather than formal.
06 · For a delicious sense of humour
From the kitchen garden
An asparagus spear on a dinner jacket. A pea pod on a cardigan. Cherries on the strap of a sturdy fabric bag. The food motifs are irresistible because their subjects are so familiar, yet the translation into embroidery makes you look twice. Amalfi Lemons bring a little sunshine to the group. These are especially good gifts for the cook, the grower or the friend who always finds the best table.
07 · Treasures from the water
A small underwater world
The Sea Nettle Jellyfish turns its trailing form into ornament, while the True Lobster offers a bolder silhouette. A Sardine brings a quick flash of maritime wit; the Fantail Goldfish and Clownfish Small add their own distinct personalities. Try one against navy wool or a plain evening bag. An unexpected subject is often the detail people remember.
08 · A little theatre, a little sentiment
Symbols & festive treasures
Some pieces are chosen for a creature or a flower; others for the associations they carry. A Sacred Heart, an eye, a pair of Flying Angels. The Blessed Holly feels particularly at home in the festive season, while the Sugar Skull brings its own unmistakable character. Let the meaning be personal. The pleasure of a brooch is that its story can belong to the person who wears it.
Wear a small collection
Start with a coat or jacket you already love. One brooch on the lapel is enough; for a more collected arrangement, try a moth and a leaf, a bee and a daisy, or two birds facing different directions. Leave some room between them so each shape remains clear.
A substantial scarf or sturdy fabric bag offers another place to play. Choose a fabric that comfortably supports the pin, especially with the larger pieces. For evening, try a single winged creature near the shoulder and keep the rest simple.
A gift with someone in mind
The dog lover. The gardener. The friend who orders oysters and always chooses the seafood. A Trovelore brooch lets you give something specific to a person's pleasures. Choose the subject first and the occasion second; that little moment of recognition is part of the gift.
Which one would you keep?