How brooches became SS26’s must-have accessory – for men and women
The trend has been seen everywhere from the red carpet to the catwalk
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If there’s one standout jewellery trend for SS26, it has to be the brooch. Formerly consigned to the dusty reaches of your grandma’s jewellery box, it’s made a stunning comeback this season. Once distinctly outdated, now the brooch feels like a fresh, unexpected and slightly subversive addition.
From high fashion houses to indie jewellers, everyone is getting in on the trend. In terms of the grand jewellery maisons, Tiffany & Co, Chaumet and Boucheron all turned their attention to brooches in their latest collections. Over in the fashion world, brooches were seen on the SS26 catwalks at Chanel, Celine, Gucci, Mugler and Tory Burch. Significantly, they were also on the menswear runways at Collina Strada, Dunhill, Fiorucci and Wales Bonner – as well as being spotted on a plethora of besuited stars on the 2026 awards season red carpets – indicating this a trend that everyone can tap into.
Dunhill SS26
Gucci SS26
“It feels like people are rediscovering brooches and appreciating them as modern statement pieces rather than something purely traditional,” says Alexia Karides, co-founder of jewellery brand Ysso. She has noticed a “noticeable surge in interest” for brooches in the past year, with her contemporary horse head, shell and snake design proving particularly popular.
There’s no ‘right’ way to wear a brooch
There was a notable diversity of brooch styles suggested on the catwalks. Celine grouped star and moon pins on lapels, while Gucci showcased a statement bouquet brooch, and Tory Burch went full vintage-inspired. There were big, blousy feather corsages in the shape of flowers and thistles at Chanel SS26, while, for Pre-Fall 2026, the house’s new designer Matthieu Blazy went full retro, playing with gold and pearls, ropes of gemstones, and diamond-encrusted dogs – straight off granny’s dressing table.
Grace Wales Bonner similarly took notes from old-school jewellery for her eponymous collection, with chunky gold brooches adorned with pearls, feathers and colourful gems. When worn with her signature slick tailoring and block colours, the result was modern and eye-catching.
Mithridate SS26
Toga AW26
“What began as a nostalgic interest has shifted into something more intentional,” says Morgan Lang, founder of Agmes, an NYC-based jewellery brand that makes modern sculptural pieces. “There’s also a growing interest in collecting multiple brooches and wearing them together, which reflects a more expressive approach to styling.”
This ‘expressive approach’ is indicative of a significant mood shift in fashion, after several seasons of minimalism, sleek tailoring and ‘quiet luxury’. Whether it’s a vintage brooch added to update a blazer lapel, or a denim jacket paired with a diamond pin, brooches are an easy way to inject an outfit with personality.
“Many of our customers wear our brooches on blazers, which feels very natural,” adds Karides. “But we also love seeing them styled in more unexpected ways – for example pinned onto pareos in the summer, which gives them a very relaxed, effortless feel.”
There’s also the option of wearing them to embellish shirt collars, belts, cuffs, hems and in other unexpected places. As such, brooches offer multiple ways to individualise your wardrobe – something shoppers are increasingly looking for in a world where algorithm-dictated outfit inspiration can quickly get stale. The days of wanting to look like every other person on your social feed are starting to feel old.
“There’s a growing desire to bring individuality back into how we dress,” says Lang. “Brooches offer a subtle but powerful way to do that. They allow for personalisation without excess, and align with a more thoughtful, long-term approach to building a wardrobe.”
Menswear is embracing brooches, too
Pinterest’s latest trend report not only spotlights brooches, but specifically those worn by men. It’s not the first time we’ve seen the look: a slick tux paired with a diamond-encrusted pin has been popular with A-listers looking to up their black tie game in recent years. The inclusion of the trend as one of Pinterest’s 2026 predictions, however, suggests it’s a look on the verge of stepping off the red carpet and into the wardrobes of regular men.
Robert Pattinson in Dior at the 2026 Oscars
Joe Alwyn in Valentino at the 2026 Oscars. Image: Hublot/Getty Images
“I think brooches feel more modern now partly because we are seeing them worn more by men, which was not traditionally the case,” says Toby Vernon, founder of jewellery brand The Ouze, which specialises in raw, unpolished pieces created using the traditional lost wax process. “On red carpets, it almost feels as though every look includes a brooch, sometimes even two or three.”
At the most recent Oscars we saw Joe Alwyn looking dapper in Valentino with a glittering Chaumet brooch, while Robert Pattinson swapped a bowtie for a brooch to go with his Dior tux. Showcasing exactly how meaningful these pieces can be, Jesse Plemons wore a Silver Screen bee brooch made from reclaimed silver extracted from the VistaVision 35mm reels of his Oscar-nominated film Bugonia.
Jeweller Anabela Chan has dressed the likes of Coleman Domingo and Pierre Gasly with her brooches, but also notes that the trend is trickling down to a wider demographic of men who are more experimental with adding brooches to their everyday wardrobes. “Our clients are styling them with fantastic versatility – both casually on shirts or knitwear with jeans, to dressier occasions on lapels and jackets, and even playfully as an accessory too.”
Beyond a watch and cufflinks, a brooch is also one of the few jewellery pieces men can have fun with within the rigid confines of traditional menswear. Seeing a sparkly or colourful brooch on a more masculine silhouette makes for a refreshing juxtaposition – and one that we’ll be seeing more and more this season.
“All of my pin sales in the past year have been to men, and several of them have been bespoke pieces,” confirms jeweller Romany Starrs, who also appreciates the creative challenge that comes with creating for male clients. “Designing and making a pin allows a bit more freedom. It is just one piece of jewellery, so I can be slightly more extravagant with the precious materials I use. I love that men are no longer afraid to be a little more extravagant with jewellery now.”
