Where to Place Your Patches Like a Cool Girl

Donna Karan brought the childhood practice into streetwear, embroidering an eclectic mash-up of patches down the front of a pair of classic jeans on the DKNY spring 2014 runway (above, left). Marc Jacobs, who often uses his youth as a source of design inspiration, committed to an Americana theme for his spring 2016 show and sent out a pin- and patch-happy denim jacket (center). And most recently, Miuccia Prada reimagined denim in refreshing ways for Miu Miu's fall 2016 collection, introducing everything from denim tailcoats to jackets personalized with nametag patches and cute flamingos (right).

Spell out anything you want in varsity letters along each leg.

Cluster them near the waist, but iron on a trail of patches down only one leg for a cool effect. Score bonus points if you match them to your slip-ons.

Instead of a mash-up of every kind of patch under the sun, stick to one kind, like Stella McCartney's lucha libre masks. 

Find your hero patch (a larger-than-life unicorn!) and make it the focal point by positioning smaller ones around it.

Even minimalists can get in on this youth-inspired trend with just one. But make it count—hit a nostalgic note with a childhood symbol, like Captain America's shield.

Flirt with florals (as opposed to childhood, pop culture icons) for a more grown-up take. 

Embellish your denim jacket with a rosette or two, and then outline them with studs for an edge. 

Then: Patching your backpack with random bits and bobs. Now: Your designer purse with cool motifs.

Make over your classic denim mini (we hear it's making a comeback) and give it new life with themed patches, like Marc Jacobs' stars and flags, along the seams.

Don't exercise restraint here. From Donald Duck to the Harley-Davidson logo, go ham and iron on everything you can find. 

Clockwise, from top left: Swan, $12; bando.com. Banana, $14; bando.com. Strawberry, $10; bando.com. Love, $12; bando.com.

Clockwise, from left: Sugar skull, $24; asos.com. Peace, $13; asos.com. Aloha, $12; asos.com.

From top: Dice, skull, hussie, $17 for three; asos.com. Girls and Team Carbs, $14 for two; asos.com. Disco sucks, Broken Bones Club, emoji, $17 for three; asos.com.

From top: Vacation Forever set (palm tree, rainbow, flamingo), $30 for three; 3x1.us. Happy Days set (girl, french fries, emoji), $30 for three; 3x1.us.