The Latest Brooches for a Fabulously Festooned Fall

By Brittany Siminitz | September 20, 2023

It’s finally happened, the moment so many of us have been waiting for—sweater weather.

I knew summer was really on its way out after a string of 90-plus-degree days melted into cooler nights and brisk mornings. I stepped outside and uttered those words I’d been waiting to say through the dog days of August: “It’s a bit chilly, I’m going to grab a jacket.”

So I did. And it felt good. It felt right. It looked…like something was missing.

All this to say—it’s brooch season. Sure, the pin-on jewels don’t belong to only one season per se, but autumn is a time of ambitious dressing. We’re thrilled to be donning sweaters and coats and jackets and even long-sleeve basics, and accessorizing them to match the mood of the season.

What’s more versatile than a brooch? You can pin it anywhere—on a hat, in your hair, on your jeans, on a jacket, on a purse. It’s been done for centuries, and there’s definitely no stopping us now.

Brooches had a big moment back in February of this year, courtesy of Rihanna’s memorable Super Bowl ensemble. Celebrity men made a number of high-profile appearances wearing them this year, most notably in various versions of Tiffany & Co.’s Bird on a Rock design.

And I have only recently praised the perfection that is these two brooches by Mikimoto and Yoki—summer Britt’s Picks.

Style rules for fall brooches? Not really. The zeitgeist points to all things oversize, a fun and refreshing concept contrasting with our days of layering and grouping smaller pieces (though grouping brooches together is also fairly trendy). But a really great brooch, especially one that a consumer might spend a pretty penny on, is built to outlast any runway example (which is why vintage brooches have such staying power!), so the rule is, there are no rules.

These are just a few of the latest brooches to check out for fall and the holiday season ahead. Many—all, in fact—are incredibly gift-worthy, but a word to the wise: What represents the perfect brooch to someone feels utterly personal, given that it’s literally a style you can wear on your sleeve. It’s best that the purchaser keep this in mind, because the gift of a brooch is an ultimate way to say, “I love you.”