One thing about me: I will always look for new ways to find joy in getting dressed. So I was thrilled to see all the brooches trending on the recent fall 2025 runways. I've always been a brooch fan, with a personal collection of pins that ranges across styles and rotates every few years. I love how with the right brooch—or two, or five—your look can be instantly transformed to feel much more personal. It seems like designers agreed with me this season: The statement accessory appeared in shows from Carolina Herrera (where they adorned dresses and blazers) to Tory Burch (who used them to cinch layered sweaters tied around the shoulders.)
Below, I break down 8 ways to style brooches. The beauty of this trend is that the options are wide-ranging. You can zhuzh clothes you already own with a well-placed pin, but you can also create an entirely new look using a shawl that's cinched in all the right places. The best part is that there's no wrong way to style these—it's all about the free-flowing placements! Read on for ideas, including a trick for utterly transforming a bag into a work of art.
The Going-Out Top
Wear a brooch instead of a necklace to make a statement. This top from Altuzarra already has a lot going on, so it doesn't need much in the way of embellishment—but a sculptural silver brooch takes it to the next level. The minimal pin doesn't distract from the directional details of the top; instead, it enhances them by letting you streamline the draping, and offers just the right amount of extra decor as a focal point. Note that you actually have three options here for placement.
To accentuate your waist: Place the brooch on the side of your torso, at your ribs, where the center of the fabric gathers.
To play up the back of the shirt: Slip the brooch onto the back of the shoulder strap.
To accentuate your shoulders or chest: Pin the brooch onto the strap in the front, cinching the fabric together to reshape the top's neckline.
Agmes Marta Brooch
Lili Claspe Small Eloise Brooch
Iro Fizou Sparkly Sleeveless Top
Heaven Mayhem Twist Brooch
Wilfred Martini Satin Blouse
The Backwards Shawl
I love this look for a black tie event. Grab your favorite pair of tuxedo pants and a low-back bodysuit. (Skims has two great options, one with a square neck and one that dips extra low in the back.) Then drape a light shawl over yourself backwards, closing it to make a cape with a horizontal pin. Be sure to get the brooch through the back of your bodysuit to keep the shawl in place. This can be tricky to do while you're wearing the look, so try placing the pin before you get dressed—or get a friend to help.
Chanluu Cashmere and Silk Scarf Black
The Phone Holder
We've seen bag charms just about everywhere, and this is just an evolution of the trend. A woven crossbody phone holder (my favorite one is from L'Amours New York) makes an easy base for a range of cute pins. If you'd prefer to try a leather card holder, go with a looped brooch to hang on the lanyard. Or choose one with a cotton lanyard and stud it up and down with personality-adding pins.
Cos Woven Crossbody Pouch
3ZLady I Love NY Pinback Button Pin
Alexis Bittar Pansy Lucite Crystal Pin
Kenneth Jay Lane Gold Flower Pin
Leatherology Vertical Customizable Lanyard
The Day-to-Night Blouse
Adding a brooch on a classic tie-neck top instantly makes it feel more dressed up. Wrap one of the tails around your neck, and secure the ties on the side with a pin where they cross. You could also add a brooch as a center piece at the bottom of the neckline. Both approaches are equally elegant!
NM Estate 14K Yellow Gold Leaf Pin
Monbouquette Vase Brooch
The Knitwear Layer
I'm always adding a bit more visual interest to my outfits by tying a sweater around my neck or waist. Adding a brooch just makes the whole thing feel more intentional. Choose a horizontal pin with an open center to secure both sweater arms around your neck, adding a sculptural element to an otherwise simple look. Or, for a sweater around your waist, try a loop brooch to break up a monochromatic set.
Agmes Vera Gold Vermeil Brooch
Éterne Francis Sweater
Kenneth Jay Lane Gold Swirl Pin
Patrizia Pepe Sculpted Brooch
Uniqlo Cashmere Crew Neck Long-Sleeve Sweater
The Golden Collar Tip
For a statement on your shirting, add a studded brooch at the tip of your collar. This style can easily skew western, but I like using a minimal or glamorous vintage option to elevate the look. This instantly dresses up shirting with jeans!
Bevza Egg Brooch
The Frankie Shop Peri Sheer Shirt
Tohum Botanicals Grove of Wisdom Brooch
Kenneth Jay Lane Seashell with Crystal Accent Pin
The Silver-Studded Cape
Turn your wrap scarf into a cape by securing this it a minimal brooch, either wrapped around your shoulders or worn open in front. Brooches that are sculptural and medium in size work best for this look, especially in silver for contrast.
Agmes Simone Brooch
Soft Goat Fringe Wrap Scarf
Loewe Silver-Tone Brooch
The Brooch Party
The best part about all brooches is that they each have their own character. Some have sentimental meaning, some are an extension of your style, some are just fun trinkets. Mixing them all together is really a feast for the eyes, and the best canvas for this kind of maximalist statement is a mini tote—the kind that's durable enough for the pins to stay secure. To add dimension, play with sizes, scale and styles. There's only one rule: More is more!
Simple Ecology Organic Canvas & Jute Mini Tote
Alexis Bittar Vintage 1940s Sterling Silver Flower Pin
Agmes + Simone Bodmer-Turner Gertrude Recycled Sterling Silver Brooch
Anthropologie Hammered Metal Heart Pin
Agmes Dalí Brooch
She's Free Style Just For You Forget me not Flower Handmade Brooch
