The Brooch Is Back—and It’s Having a Brilliant Moment

Once relegated to the “special occasion” drawer or pinned politely to a jacket lapel, the brooch is back in a big, playful, style-forward way. And this time, it’s not about looking stuffy or staid. It’s about creativity, storytelling, and blending personality with a touch of family history. 

As with most style trends, we first saw the return of brooches, hat pins, stick pins and other conversation sparking doodads on runways, street style feeds, and the wardrobes of women who understand that great style isn’t always about buying something new. As women of a certain age, we are well versed in seeing old things in a new way, especially when it comes to favorite clothes and family treasures that can be endlessly repurposed. 

Why Brooches Are Trending Again

Fashion loves a revival, but the current brooch comeback is more than nostalgia. It’s part of a broader movement toward personal style, sustainability, and expressive dressing. Brooches check all three boxes.

They’re unique.

They’re versatile.

And chances are, you already own a few.

Many of us have brooches tucked away in jewelry boxes—pieces inherited from mothers, grandmothers, or beloved aunts. Others were thrifted years ago, admired, and then forgotten. This season invites them back into the light, not as relics, but as modern style tools.

How to Wear Brooches Beyond the Lapel

Yes, a brooch still looks chic on a jacket or coat—but that’s just the beginning. Here are some of the most stylish, unexpected ways brooches are being worn right now:

1. Use a Brooch to Wrangle a Silk Scarf

Thread a brooch through a silk scarf instead of tying a knot. It instantly elevates the look and gives you control over drape and shape—perfect for blouses, neck scarves, or even as a wrap over your shoulders.

2. Top Off your Look; Bucket Hats, Berets, and Beyond

Add a brooch or three to a wool beret, a casual bucket hat, or even a totally utilitarian knit cap for an unexpected twist. Cool cowgirls are even adding them to 10-gallon hats, while street stylistas are vintage shopping for slouchy cloches they can update with a constellation of tiny, shiny pins. It’s a high-impact detail that turns a simple accessory into a conversation piece.

3. Add Sparkle to Handbags and Totes

Pin a brooch onto a fabric clutch, crossbody, or everyday tote. This works especially well with structured bags or vintage styles and gives new life to bags you already own. What a great way to add personality to your go-to office satchel. 

4. Wear a Brooch as a Necklace

Thread a brooch onto a chain or ribbon and wear it as a necklace. This is a brilliant way to showcase statement pieces that feel too heavy or ornate for clothing.

5. Create Shape and a Waistline

Are you looking for an inspired way to update a closet staple? Use a brooch to gather fabric at the waist of a blouse, dress, or oversized shirt. It’s an easy styling trick that adds shape without tailoring—and feels quietly clever.

Sentimental Style Is the New Luxury

What makes brooches especially meaningful is their history. Many carry stories—worn to weddings, gifted on milestones, passed down through generations. Wearing them now is a way to honor and share those stories while creating new ones. 

This trend isn’t about perfection or polish. It’s about curiosity, play, and reimagining pieces that once took a back seat in the fashion world. It’s style with soul.

Where to Find Brooches (Without Spending Much)

• Your own jewelry box

• A relative’s collection

• Thrift stores and estate sales

• Vintage shops and flea markets

Brooches are often surprisingly affordable—and far more interesting than mass-produced accessories.

Preventing Damage to Garments  

So how do you keep brooches from damaging delicate fabrics? A few years back I came across this magnetic pin converter on Amazon that has saved my sweaters and blouses from pulls, snags and holes. One side of the magnet slips over the pin and snaps in place, while the other side goes underneath the fabric and holds everything securely. No damage and easy placement of brooches, silk flowers, etc., all for less than $10. 

A Small Pin, A Big Style Shift

The return of the brooch is a reminder that fashion doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive to feel fresh. Sometimes all it takes is a new perspective—and a little willingness to experiment.

For more weekly inspiration on style, creativity, and living boldly in midlife and beyond, Spark 60 delivers one minute of insight every Wednesday. It’s a simple spark, but like a well-placed brooch, it can change everything.

Patty is the founder of The Brilliant Age, a lifestyle platform for women navigating midlife and beyond with curiosity, style, and intention. Through thoughtful essays on reinvention, personal style, relationships, and purposeful living later in life, she encourages women to question outdated rules and design lives that feel vibrant and true. Patty also writes Spark 60, a weekly one-minute dose of inspiration delivered every Wednesday. Explore more at The-Brilliant-Age.com, follow on Instagram and Facebook, link and start living your most brilliant chapter yet.