The One Vintage-Inspired Accessory You’ll See Everywhere This Holiday Season, According to Etsy
Fashion trends rooted in nostalgia have been flooding our Instagram feeds and filling up our digital shopping carts all year. But while most of these fads can be traced back to the ‘90s or early aughts, the latest accessory trend goes back even further. Like, way further back. We’re talking pre-1900. Need a hint? Vintage brooches. According to Etsy, searches for vintage and antique brooches and pins have increased by more than 168 percent in the past month, and we expect that number to go up as holiday season continues. So to help you join in the sparkly winter trend, we’ve come up with five fun ways to incorporate vintage brooches into your wardrobe, plus 20 of the best pieces to buy ASAP.
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1. Go the Classic Route
Pin your brooch on the lapel of your favorite blazer or coat for a timeless, vintage-inspired look. Thicker materials like wool, brocade or tweed are less likely to show any pin pricks if you decide to remove the brooch, but if you have your heart set on jazzing up a jacket made from lighter fabrics, try poking the pin through a less obvious spot to see how the fabric holds up before you accidentally do damage in a very visible locale.
2. Mix and Match for a More Eclectic Vibe
If traditional isn’t quite your thing, try attaching a multitude of brooches to your blazer instead of just one. Odd shapes and colorful gems will boost those eclectic vibes much more than classic gold or pearls.
3. Adorn Your Top Button with a Brooch
Button you blouse up all the way, then pin a fun statement piece right at the topmost button for a fresh take on a pussy bow or bolero tie. A word of caution, however—some delicate fabrics, like silk or lace, may not be able to handle the weight of your brooch, so stick with hearty fabrics and smaller pins.
4. Use a Pin to Keep Your Scarf in Place
You love the look of a cozy scarf artfully draped over one shoulder, but the second you start walking it falls right off. Use an elaborate brooch to keep everything in place, with the added bonus of lending even more of an old-Hollywood glam vibe to your look.
5. Add Some Flair to an Up-Do
The easiest way to affix a pin to your ‘do is by clipping it onto a thicker hair tie (we suggest tying back your hair first, then attaching the brooch). Or, if you’re rocking a tighter hairdo, like a braid or neat bun, you can try pinning your brooch directly into your hair. Just be sure not to accidentally stick yourself and try to place it just above a knot, bun or hair tie to prevent your brooch from slipping out.
1. Ben-Amun Cameo Gold Pin
You can never go wrong with a classic cameo, especially in black, white and gold. This is also a great option for those who aren’t crazy about sparkle, glitz and glam.
2. Anthropologie Embellished Amber Brooch
For those who do love glitter, this flower-inspired brooch will add a major dose of glamour to any ensemble.
3. Mignonne Gavigan Dragonfly Brooch
This colorful dragonfly is made with delicate embroidered wings and just a few small glittering crystals.
4. Gold Filigree and Black Enamel Two Birds Vintage Brooch
Most of the brooches on this list are vintage inspired, but this Etsy piece is the real deal and features two flying doves on a black enamel background. (The only downside to shopping real vintage pieces? They tend to be one-of-a-kind, so you better act fast if you find something you like.)
5. Tova Mod Flower Crystal Brooch
If you’re more into ‘60s mod than old-Hollywood, try this black-and-white pin with a sizeable CV crystal sitting front and center and a ring of black stones around the outside.
6. Kenneth Jay Lane Faux Pearl and Crystal Brooch
This stand-out piece works best on its own so you can truly appreciate all the intricate details.
7. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Cascading Gems Snake Brooch
The winding snake design is beautiful in its own right, but what really sold us on this fun piece is the dangling chain adorned with multi-colored stones and a fringed tassel.
8. Anne Klein Violet Flower Petal Brooch
The artfully twisted petals of this brooch make it look surprisingly lifelike. You know, outside of the speckled gems.
9. Anthropologie Tasseled Animal Portrait Brooch
These fun tasseled pieces each feature a different vintage pet portrait, so you’ll have to decide between a majestic horse, a duo of terriers or an adorable floppy-eared pup. Or you could always splurge and buy one of each.
10. Anthropologie Mother-Of-Pearl Safety Pin Brooch
An oversize safety pin is a pretty classic brooch design, but we love the addition of a giant pearl to match.
11. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Lily-of-the-Valley Pin
This delicate flower is a recreation of a design by Peter Carl Fabergé (yes, the same guy who made the famous Fabergé eggs). Although the original also included diamonds, jade and rock crystal, we prefer this pared-down take that works much better for everyday use.
12. Anthropologie Rhinestoned Heart Brooch
That said, for the “more is more” crowd, we highly recommend this intricate heart brooch which incorporates stones of lots of different colors, opacities, shapes and sizes.
13. Lele Sadoughi Clementine Pearl Brooch
Simple but effective, this oversize pearl design would work super well with the top button styling trick listed above.
14. Fallon Laurel Bow Pearl Brooch
Bows and pearls can feel quite girly, but something about the combination of the rough crystal edges and the teardrop shape make this brooch feel a little less precious and much more chic.
15. Ben-Amun Double Chain Coin Brooch
Use this chain design to secure a cardigan over your shoulders or add drama to an open-neck coat.
16. Crystal Rhinestone Wreath Brooch
Another unique Etsy find, this circular style has a wintery mix of silver and dark blue that will look gorgeous on a black velvet dress or gray wool coat.
17. Anne Klein Multi Stone Feather Brooch
This emerald, ruby and amethyst-hued brooch was inspired by peacock feathers but doesn’t feel quite so over-the-top or literal as other versions we’ve seen.
18. Anthropologie Embellished Flower Brooch
Of course you don’t have to opt for metallics, as there are plenty of fabric options that look just as chic. For example, this delicate silk flower with just a touch of glitz by way of scattered gems at the center.
19. Vintage Real Dried Flower Arrangement Brooch
This vintage find is made from real flowers enclosed in a glass dome, with an ornate gold-tone rim.
20. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Russian Dragonfly Pin
We came for the beautiful bright green hue, but stayed for the highly intricate crystal details on the wings.
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