Let's Brooch the Subject...

Collectible ways to add personal style to your wardrobe is this season’s latest trend. You already have your multiple bag charms, so now we’re zooming into smaller, more wearable items - the brooch. While you might think of these embellishments as something your grandmother might have worn (and you’d be right), we’re seeing them everywhere on some of our favourite street-style outfits and runways.

At this season’s shows, Chanel SS25 presented delicate rosette brooches pinned to cardigans, while Alessandro Michele brought them in ribbon form and gold metal hardware animals for his debut show at Valentino. Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood SS25 saw casual badges stacked and pinned to dresses, more reminiscent of what our backpacks looked like at school. And we can’t forget Schiaparelli’s iconic golden anatomical brooches with eyes, ears and noses featuring on previous runways, red carpets, and now found in many variations on the high street.

Of course, we love the hunt of finding that unique gem at an antique market or trawling Etsy to find a handmade piece, or even digging in the jewellery boxes of family members (who let us!). Anything so that we can smugly reply “Oh it’s vintage”. But if you need that quick fix, there are plenty of easily shoppable options!

More modern alternatives have cropped up in sculptural and molten metals from brands such as Alighieri, cleverly styled to pin or tuck a shirt, fasten a scarf, and change up a silhouette (see Tik Tok for the best tutorials). Brooches are the easiest way to personalise an outfit and take it from just a simple blazer to an intriguing conversation starter. Much like the bag charm, brooches offer insight into the wearer, so share proudly.

With grandad core already having taken over for some time now, make room for grandma core - she’d fully approve of some of our favourite finds here below!