How to Wear a Brooch: Styling Tips for the Modern Woman

Brooches are having a stylish revival and this guide shows you how to wear a brooch with confidence and flair. From timeless lapels to unexpected ways to wear like neckline pins and clustered arrangements, discover elegant ideas for how to style these miniature works of art for both everyday and special moments.

Why Brooches Deserve a Place in Your Jewellery Box

Brooches are enjoying a glowing renaissance. They've been spotted on fashion runways, embraced by style influencers, and worn by celebrities who appreciate their versatility and individuality. Last Autumn/Winter, designers such as Armani, Tory Burch, Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Erdem and Schiaparelli reintroduced brooches in their collections, turning them into signature accents on coats, jackets and even dresses.

On the red carpet and beyond, brooches have become a talking point for women and men alike. At the 2024 Oscars, stars like Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Matthew McConaughey and Ke Huy Quan elevated their tuxedos with eye-catching brooches. Meanwhile, Queen Camilla made headlines at Royal Ascot in June 2025, reviving royal heritage with historic Emerald and Diamond brooches.

This isn’t a fleeting throwback, it’s a defining moment for brooches as they evolve from traditional formal attire to become a staple of the modern jewellery collection. Brooches offer a deeply personal way to infuse your style with meaning, craftsmanship and a dash of storytelling. They aren't merely embellishments, but miniature artworks to express your personality and style.

woman wearing a unique silver brooch pinned to her jacket lapel

Styling Tips to Keep in Mind

There’s great joy in experimenting with how to wear your brooch your way. There are no hard rules for styling a brooch, so have fun, experiment and embrace what you love! If you're looking for a place to start, here are some helpful tips:

If adding a brooch to the lapel of a jacket or blazer, the classic way is to pin it on the left which is rooted in military tradition and symbolises elegance. However, you are free to where on whichever side you like, there are no solid rules for modern brooch styling.
Pin your brooch against unfussy fabrics. Think black, white and solid colours or subtle patterns that will allow the brooch to stand out.
If clustering brooch pins together, wear them in odd numbers. Odd numbers tend to look more balanced and artistic, whereas even numbers can feel a touch too formal.
Our final tip is to consider the time of day. For everyday wear, a smaller, more understated brooch adds just the right amount of interest. For an evening event or celebration, go bolder with a a larger, more ornate statement brooch.

sterling silver and gold brooch pinned to lapel of blazer jacket

1. The Classic Lapel Brooch: Timeless and Sophisticated

The lapel is the most traditional and effortlessly elegant place to wear a brooch. Pin a statement brooch to your tailored coat or structured blazer to dress it up and add personality to your look.

This abstract Mistletoe brooch is certainly not just for Christmas. Pinned to Lana's jacket, the brooch elevates this tartan blazer adding a touch of elegance.

sterling silver brooch pinned to women's neckline

2. The Feminine Focal Point: Pin At the Neckline

Fasten your brooch at the collar of a blouse or shirt. This look works especially well particularly with a collarless shirt or pussy bow blouse. This alternative way to wear a brooch is a more modern choice than the classic lapel, expressing a more contemporary style.

Here, Dene wears our Mackintosh Garnet brooch pinned to the collar of a linen shirt.

3. Accessorise a Hat or Handbag

Brooches aren't limited to clothing. Try adding a brooch to the ribbon of a hat. This works equally well for winter and summer styles, from classic wool bowknots and berets to fedoras and sun hats.

Or, why not pin to a handbag? Pin a single brooch off-centre or embellish a clutch with a collage of brooches.

Here, we have styled a classic beret with our delicate Sycamore brooch pinned to one side.

4. Pin to Scarves and Belts

Use a brooch to gather and style a silk scarf at the shoulder or chest, a chic alternative to tying. Alternatively, fasten a brooch at the waist over a tied belt on a tailored jumpsuit or dress.

brooch worn as a necklace on a silver chain

gold jupiter handmade brooch pinned to shirt by paula bolton

5. Worn as a Pendant Pinned to a Necklace

Wearing a brooch on a chain offers flexibility and individuality. It allows you to play with placement, length and neckline depending on your outfit, making your jewellery your own.

Some Paula Bolton brooches come as a 2-in-1 brooch and pendant with a hidden fastening, making it easy to swap between styles. You can also turn any brooch into a pendant with a brooch converter.

sketch of woman wearing cluster of three brooches on a jacket

6. Cluster Brooches

Wearing multiple brooches together – often called clustering – is a bold and expressive way to make a personal style statement. Whether artfully arranged on one lapel or scattered across a shoulder or bodice, this approach lets you mix motifs, textures and eras for a richly layered, editorial look. Plus, you get to wear more than one of your favourite brooches at once!

Here, we have curated a cluster of 3 brooches pinned to a houndstooth jacket including our Hedgerow, School of Art and Gesso brooches.

Caring for Silver Brooches

Brooches are often delicate, intricate pieces so to avoid damage it is a good idea to store your brooches in a soft lined box.

Brooches made in 925 sterling silver, like all silver, will naturally tarnish over time when exposed to the environment. The good news is, it only takes a light polish with a jewellery cloth to remove any signs of tarnish and get your brooch shining like new. Also, avoid exposure to water or perfume to protect delicate finishes.

All Paula Bolton jewellery comes in a keepsake box with cleaning cloth, helping you to maintain the beauty of your treasured brooch over the years.

jewellery designer paula bolton sketching brooch designs

Paula Bolton Brooches: Wearable Works of Art

The brooch is an elegant, expressive accessory that transcends trends. Whether worn traditionally or styled with a modern twist, it offers an opportunity to say something about who you are. At Paula Bolton, we believe every woman deserves unique, meaningful and personal jewellery. That's why we're passionate about creating wearable works of art that reflect iconic artworks, art movements and the beauty of the natural world.

Our brooches are never mass-produced; each is designed by Paula and crafted by hand so you can enjoy a unique piece created from care, creativity and human artistry.

Browse our collection of handmade brooches for women to find the one that speaks to your story.

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