Brooches are back: here’s how to wear them in 2026

The styling tool you can easily borrow from your grandma

In case you hadn’t noticed, brooches have made a comeback, which has left me to wonder, why did we ever stop wearing them in the first place? In a time where your outfit often needs to multitask, taking you from work to school pickup and sometimes even out to dinner afterwards, a brooch is a clever style shortcut that can amp up a simple outfit in seconds. 

Not only does a brooch work to decorate a look, it can also change the shape of your clothes, increasing the versatility of some of your favourite pieces. What’s more, if you’ve thrifted yours – or better yet, found one in your grandma’s jewellery box – it carries the best kind of fashion currency: a story. 

Carol Woolton, former Vogue jewellery editor says the fun with brooches is all in the placement. “The shoulder or lapel is no longer necessarily the spot to aim for – the more experimental the better.”

Brooches as a jewellery alternative

Brooches are the easiest way to wear jewellery when you don’t want something near your face (maybe you have sensitive ears, or you don’t want your hair getting tangled today). Pin one to your blazer lapel and you’ve got instant polish, add one to a crew-neck knit and you’ve got a styled look without trying to look styled, or cover the top button of your shirt for a lariat vibe. 

They also do something earrings can’t, letting you customise your silhouette. Use a brooch to gather fabric at the waist of an oversized shirt or dress as a subtle way to create shape without adding a belt. You could also pin a cotton poplin shirt into a soft drape, or pull in a slip dress to create a faux-wrap moment if the fabric is hardy enough to withstand a pin.

The perfect thrifting wishlist piece

Unlike bags or coats, brooches are often overlooked in op shops, which is exactly why they’re worth hunting for. They’re small, usually inexpensive, and you can build a whole wardrobe of them without needing wardrobe space. Likewise, that little velvet box in your mum or grandma’s drawer is potentially full of pieces that look very current once you stop imagining them only on a church coat.

A practical tip if you’re thrifting or looking at vintage pieces is to check the pin mechanism (it should close securely), and be mindful of delicate knits and silks, using a backing patch or pin through a seam when you can.

Brooches on the red carpet

If you’ve noticed lapels sparkling on men and women over awards season, that’s not your imagination. At the 2025 Met Gala, Vogue called brooches a “breakout trend of the night,” spotting everyone from Chance the Rapper (wearing Tiffany & Co.) to Usher, A$AP Rocky, Lewis Hamilton and Ayo Edebiri in diamond and vintage designs.

The men in brooches momentum is especially strong and it’s shifted the brooch from an occasion-only piece to a style-signature motif. Much like a tie pin or pocket square, a brooch on a suit personalises the look and makes it more intentional.

Wearing a brooch 101

A modern way to wear a brooch is to treat it as an everyday styling tool, not just a special occasion accessory.

Upgrade your blazer

Pin one brooch on a lapel for classic polish; cluster two or three for that fashion-editor energy, and keep everything else pared back for more impact.

Elevate your knitwear

Try one near the shoulder (slightly off-centre), or lower on the body for a more directional look. This works brilliantly with a crew-neck jumper and jeans, with the brooch becoming the reason the outfit feels finished.