Brooches Are Back In 2023

It’s the simplest way to add a splash of sparkle.

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Updated on May 17, 2023

Despite evolving fashion trends and jewelry designs, brooches have never left our Southern jewelry collections. They're a subtle way to make a statement and their rich histories often connect us to generations past. But this year, expect brooches to return in full force. Is your jewelry box ready?

The History

Historically, experts can trace the brooch all the way back to the Bronze Age when humble designs were used to fasten winter outerwear. Come the Renaissance, these restrained designs had morphed into the ostentatious ornamental pieces worn by aristocrats and royalty. Precious stones and metals signified wealth and class. Eventually, yet another British monarch, Queen Victoria, gave rise to the mourning brooch a more subdued but meaningful design in which a piece of the deceased's hair, in Victoria’s case, hair from Prince Albert, is incorporated into the design. Although somewhat simplified thanks to World War I, brooches remained popular accessories in the early 20th century. After World War II, major fashion houses such as Van Cleef & Arpels began creating unique and over-the-top designs again.

Older Women poses with butterfly brooch — Getty Images

Today's Brooch Trends

Brooches fell out of fashion for a time for those outside of the South, but they’re having their own renaissance today. Some say that’s in part due to the rise of Zoom culture. For video conferencing that often shows a person from the shoulders up, a brooch is a way to look put together and show off a bit of style personality too.

In mainstream fashion, the rise of the brooch is becoming even more evident. Brands such as Palm Beach based Stoney Clover Lane recently added pearl and crystal brooches to their offerings such as bows, hearts, and even a Mickey Mouse shape. Southern handbag designer Lindsay Thomas of Garland Bags uses brooch-like adornments on her custom evening bags.

Antique jewelry specialists are also seeing a rise in brooch buying. “What’s interesting is that men are taking an interest in pins for their coat jackets and lapels and are becoming some of our biggest brooch customers,” says Cliff DeVito, owner of Tavern Lane Antiques at The Inn at Forrest Oaks in Natural Bridge, Virginia. “They lean towards the sterling silver and symbols-based brooches, but they love them, too.”

Whether you’re digging through Mama’s jewelry box for a vintage brooch or buying one new, the brooch is the accessory you need now.