This old-fashioned accessory is currently making a big comeback

With most trends, I usually have a sense of déjà-vu. But brooches? I can’t recall a time they were «in». They’ve never been a big thing in my lifetime, nor can I attribute them to a particular decade of contemporary fashion. They’ve been so underestimated for decades that our online shop doesn’t even have a brooch filter category in the jewellery range.

In the past few seasons, however, the supposedly staid accessory has become increasingly popular. It’s finally escaped grandma’s jewellery box and is gradually winning over a new generation of fashion fans.

Jewellery as a means of communication

Did you know people have been using brooches since the Bronze Age? They were once functional objects that served as a kind of fastener for clothing and were transformed over the centuries into artistic accessories. With increasing sophistication, they became multi-layered symbols that expressed mourning, love, wealth or religious affiliation. A discreet means of public communication that’s still used today by royals and people in politics.

One monarch who had an excellent command of the language of brooches was Queen Elizabeth II. During President Donald Trump’s visit to the UK over several days in 2018, her choice of brooches was a talking point. On the day of his arrival, the then Queen wore a brooch that she’d received as a gift from former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. The following day, she chose a diamond brooch associated with a sad occasion: the state funeral of her father, King George VI.

The brooch is undoubtedly a piece of jewellery full of history and symbolic power but it’s had to fight for its fashion appeal again in recent years. For a long time, the brooch image suffered from unflattering associations with stiff costumes and staid Sunday best. However, in recent seasons, numerous brands such as Bottega Veneta, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini and Louis Vuitton have proven that brooches can look refreshingly modern when styled creatively in both men’s and women’s fashion.

Style brooches in unconventional ways

Brooches are surprisingly versatile and, in my opinion, are particularly brilliant when they fulfil their original function: to hold clothes in place. For example, you can use them to gather up the sleeves on a simple T-shirt, take in wide sweaters at the waist or fasten cardigans asymmetrically across the chest instead of buttoning them as usual.

Scarves or sweaters can also be draped elegantly over the shoulders and fastened in this way. What’s more, brooches don’t just belong on tops – the more unexpected the placement, the more exciting. For example, you can use them to make the hem of wide trousers narrower to create a new shape.

As long as the outfit’s right, brooches also look good in the classic way – in the chest area, for example on the lapel or chest pocket. If that’s too formal for your liking, they can look more casual just a few centimetres away from where you’d usually clip it on. For example, at the side in the neck and shoulder area or at the first button under the shirt collar. In any case, where there are buttons, there can also be brooches. You can also mix up the look by wearing brooches with casual items of clothing such as denim- or bomber jackets.

You can even decorate hats and ties or braided hair with brooches. Like pins, they can also be pinned alongside other brooches. Create clusters or place the brooches at irregular intervals over the entire garment.

I’d love to link you a few beautiful brooches from our range but unfortunately there aren’t any. To be honest, you’ll find the most beautiful and unique pieces in second-hand stores, thrift stores and at flea markets anyway. Have fun browsing!