Put A Pin In It — 15 Designs That Prove Why Brooches Are This Season’s Go-To Statement Jewelry

For years, brooches and pins were dismissed as old-fashioned accessories that functioned as a highway to either Dowdy Town or, alternatively, to Tasteless City, the latter thanks to a plethora of tacky Christmas-themed fare (think of sparkly wreath- and bell-shaped numbers). In truth, however, brooches have gotten a bad rap. These pieces can add a luxurious element to blazers, coats, sweaters, and turtlenecks, not to mention looped scarves, opera-length gloves, and button-up blouse collars. Statement necklaces may be an easy way to infuse drama into a winter ensemble, but brooches can be equally effective, adding an unexpected dose of color and playfulness or an heirloom-like opulence.

Below, check out 15 ways to “brooch” the subject:

Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Amapola Brooch, $2995. Available at Tiffany.com

Designed by frequent Tiffany & Co. collaborator Elsa Peretti, this poppy-shaped brooch is made of 18k gold with petals fashioned out of red silk. Picture pinning it to the lapel of a winter white coat or along one side of a velvet, leather, or lace bolero jacket.

Kenneth Jay Lane Black Art Deco Brooch, $275. Available at KennethJayLane.com

There’s a Great Gatsby opulence to this 1920s-inspired Art Deco brooch, with all the faceted, rectangular, sparkling clear crystals and round stones — as well as the cylindrical black resin beads in the piece — arranged into intricate geometric shapes that recall the design of such widely renowned landmarks as the Chrysler Building.

Miriam Haskell for Patch NYC Large Jeweled Insect Pin, $460. Available at PatchNYC.com

You will bug out when you lay eyes on this lavish beetle-shaped pin, part of Miriam Haskell’s collaboration with Patch NYC. Measuring 2.75″ in length and 2″ in width, this handmade pin was inspired by the ink drawings of insects executed by designer and Patch NYC co-owner Don Carney. The rectangular, iridescent, prong-set, pale aqua, glass center bead signifying the beetle’s body gives the design a fantastical, illusory, painterly feel, while the oxidized brass wings give it a vintage charm. Round aquamarine, brass, and green Swarovski crystals along the legs, eyes, and upper wings augment the design’s vivacity and add the requisite twinkle.

Alexis Bittar Encrusted Black Cherry Broken Heart Pin, $295. Available at AlexisBittar.com

It may have taken over 40 years but the Bee Gees are finally getting the help they requested in their 1971 hit “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” — all thanks to the vision of jewelry designer Alexis Bittar. Hand carved from glossy lucite, this onyx-colored heart has been literally pieced together with a gold-toned safety pin and a ruthenim-plated patch encrusted with ruby red crystals. And this, folks, is how you mend a broken heart.

Baublebar North Star Brooch Set, $40. Available at Baublebar.com

They say one is the loneliest number, so why not relieve your brooches from any dreaded solitude and wear them in pairs? This brooch set, designed by Olivia Palermo for BaubleBar, consists of two starburst-shaped numbers, each fashioned out of antiqued metal and clear glass stones and measuring 1.5″ in both length and width. Wear one on each of your blazer cuffs, stagger them on a coat lapel, attach them to a multi-strand necklace, or pin them on the collar tips of your blouse for a  flashy finishing touch.

Luxe Rachel Zoe Floral Pavé Lace Pin, $89.50. Available at QVC.com

Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe may have a new “Fashionably Late” Lifetime show but, when it comes to this season’s brooch trend, she’s right on time! This rounded pin from the Rachel Zoe Collection, available exclusively at QVC, features a domed floral design with heart-shaped “petals”  adorned with deep hunter green round- and marquise-shaped crystals, intricate cut-outs that let the design breathe, and a faceted cushion-cut crystal center.

Erickson Beamon Stratosphere Crystal & Faux Pearl Pin, $605. Available at SaksFifthAvenue.com

This nest-inspired brooch will look great perched on any autumn jacket. Measuring 4.95″ in length and 2.95″ in width, the pin features curved slender twigs cast from 24k gold vermeil, each pair of branches facing in opposite directions. Simulated faux pearl and Swarovski crystals, meanwhile, resemble eggs tucked inside a nest.

Marni Bi-Colored Flower Brooch in Resin, $410. Available at Marni.com

This green resin brooch pays homage to Mondrian’s gridded paintings, with its  perpendicular and intersecting white and black lines. A gilded metal stem and pistil, meanwhile, complete the graphic floral motif.

Amrita Singh Meenali Double Brooch, $60. Available at AmritaSingh.com

Come out of your shell with this elegant piece, which features two floral-shaped pins with Austrian crystal embellishments and three strands of pearls draped between them. It’s the perfect way to add a dose of sass to one of this season’s modernized tweed jackets, which take the classic silhouette  and reinvent it via clever design touches like shimmering metallic threads, contrasting collars and side panels, and leather piping.

Oscar de la Renta Bordeaux Crystal Flower Brooch, $450. Available at OscardelaRenta.com

Mention flowers affixed to tuxedo or blazer lapels and whoever is listening will likely envision nervous grooms and senior prom dates sporting boutonnieres on their big days. Yet, when the flower in question is fashioned out of sparkling Swarovski crystals, those mental associations completely vanish into thin air. Measuring 4.5″ in length, this lavish flower brooch features a pewter and brass metal base, with burgundy-colored Swarovski crystals positioned atop the stem and the filaments or clustered together to resemble petal clusters. This design reminds me of a dandelion seed head that’s had some of its feathery bits blown off.

Swarovski Daylight Brooch, $125. Available at Swarovski.com

This classic design is worthy of a spot in Kate Middleton’s jewelry box. The rhodium-plated filigree silhouette, along with the pavé-set clear crystals and dark blue accent crystals, make this piece feel timeless and elegant.

Marco Bicego Tennis Racket 18k Gold & Diamond Brooch, $9920. Available at NeimanMarcus.com

Score a match point with this 3.5″-long, tennis racket-shaped brooch, fashioned out of 18k yellow gold and featuring 0.62 carats’ worth of pavé white diamonds, most of these gems concentrated along the inner perimeter of the racket and on the handle.

Chanel Metal Brooch with Strass, $650. Visit Chanel.com for store locations

Sure, you can’t go wrong with a brooch featuring the interlocking C’s that comprise the Chanel logo, but those with a more adventurous aesthetic might just be lured by this baroque design, which features a cross shape fashioned out of glossy black stones and crystal-adorned latticework creating a halo-like effect reminiscent of that seen on the Celtic Cross.

Marni Runway Hat Pin in Metal, $230. Available at Marni.com

Simone Rocha Medium Brooch, $310. Available at Shop.Nordstrom.com

Measuring 2 1/2″ in diameter, this hand-beaded faux pearl brooch exudes the type of romance associated with all-white round floral bouquets and the type of magic associated with freshly made snowballs in a wintry wonderland.