Grandma's jewelry box is suddenly the coolest place in the house. Brooches are back, and not just pinned to a lapel at a wedding. People are wearing them on sweaters, denim, bags and hats, mixing old and new, and stacking two or three at a time. If you have one tucked away (or you just picked one up at an estate sale), here's how to make it look fresh, not fussy.
7 Fresh Ways to Wear a Brooch
1. On a chunky sweater
The easiest place to start. Pin it just below the collarbone, off to one side, on a cable knit or a plain crewneck. A big, sparkly piece looks especially good against a solid, cozy texture.
2. Stack a little cluster
Instead of one brooch, try two or three small ones grouped together, like a little bouquet or a swarm of bugs. Mixing gold and silver is fine; keeping them close together makes it look intentional.
3. On denim
A jeweled brooch on a jean jacket collar or chest pocket is the perfect high-low mix. Rhinestones and worn denim just work.
4. To close a cardigan or wrap
Use a brooch where a button would go, at the top of a cardigan, or to hold a shawl or wrap in place. It's practical and pretty.
5. On a hat or a bag
Pin one to the band of a felt hat or the strap of a plain leather handbag. It turns a basic piece into something people ask about.
6. In your hair
A small, lightweight brooch can be pinned to a ribbon or clipped onto a bobby pin and worn at the side of a low bun.
7. Off your body entirely
Brooches look beautiful pinned to a lampshade, a pillow, a gift wrap bow, or a velvet ribbon on the Christmas tree. A collection of them pinned to a framed piece of fabric makes great wall art.
Why Bugs Are Everywhere
Jeweled insects aren't a new idea. The Victorians were wild about nature collecting, and bees, beetles, flies and butterflies showed up all over their jewelry. Around the turn of the 20th century, Art Nouveau jewelers took it further with glittering dragonflies and moths. Bugs were symbols, too: bees for hard work, butterflies for change, ladybugs for good luck.
That's exactly what inspired our own Jeweled Insect Collection: a brooch-style bug for every birth month, each set with that month's birthstone, from the January Garnet Ladybug to the December Blue Topaz Dragonfly. You'll find them on personalized Birthstone Bugs sweatshirts, journals, metal bookmarks and party napkins. (Not sure which month gets which stone? Our birthstone and birth flower cheat sheet has them all.)
Found One at an Estate Sale? What to Look For
- Flip it over. Many costume brooches from the mid-1900s are signed on the back by makers like Trifari, Coro, Weiss or Monet. A signature often adds value.
- Look at the clasp. A simple open C-shaped hook usually points to an older piece. Locking safety catches became common later.
- Check the stones. Look for missing or cloudy rhinestones and any dark spots behind the stones, which can mean water damage.
- Look for metal marks. A tiny "sterling," "925" or karat mark means precious metal. Our guide to reading jewelry hallmarks walks you through them.
Keep It Sparkling
Never soak a vintage brooch. Water can loosen the glue that holds the stones. A soft, dry brush and a barely damp cloth are usually all you need. Here's our full guide to cleaning vintage jewelry without ruining it.
However you wear yours, a brooch is the easiest way to add a little personality to anything. And if you love the look of a jeweled bug but want one with her name on it, find her birth month here.