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AIBU to consider wearing a brooch? Do you wear brooches? (Title edited by MNHQ at the OP's request.)

130 replies

Suchevilforebodings · 15/09/2026 11:44

I've never worn a brooch in my life, I am almost 40.

Do you ever wear a brooch? are they only for old ladies who run village fetes?

I am currently looking for new jewellery to go with autumn outfits and keep seeing pretty brooches but I really don't know if I would wear one or could pull it off

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
ExOptimist · 15/09/2026 13:28

I love them and usually wear them in autumn/ winter. As pp have said, you need some weight to the fabric. I often wear a jacket or coat with lapels and think a brooch on the lapel looks great.
My jackets and coats are often dark colours so a brooch livens them up. Mine are vintage or antique, my favourite is Victorian, a large flat oval piece of malachite encircled with gold. I'm in my sixties so far older than OP but have worn them for at least 35 years.

Hapagirl48 · 15/09/2026 13:34

My 18 year old DD does! But she is an 80 year old in a teen's body. And a real lesson on being comfortable with yourself.

CointreauVersial · 15/09/2026 13:41

There's a fashion trend, which is wearing a brooch somewhere unexpected, like using it to hitch/gather a jumper at the waist. I bought a couple from a charity shop, but haven't yet found the right way to wear them. Using one to fasten a shirt might also work, but the traditional "lapel" wear is still firmly with the older generation.

IsadoraQuagmire · 15/09/2026 13:42

AplineDaisies · 15/09/2026 11:46

Never seen anyone under 60 wear one

I'm in my 20s. I often wear them and always have.

Eucatastrophilia · 15/09/2026 13:48

AplineDaisies · 15/09/2026 11:46

Never seen anyone under 60 wear one

And really, over-60s should be ashamed to still be alive. No decent person would ever look to them for style advice …

5289843DM · 15/09/2026 13:50

I'm late 40's and have a few, but can't recall the last time I wore one. Maybe 15yrs ago. I also don't like that they mark clothing.

I recall when I moved to London 25yrs ago, I saw a few young, trendy woman with one pinned on the back of their jumper or blouse! I've never seen it since so must have just been a brief fad.

louderthan · 15/09/2026 13:51

I’ve got some vintage-looking ones that I wear on coats.

WhySoManySocks · 15/09/2026 13:54

AplineDaisies · 15/09/2026 11:46

Never seen anyone under 60 wear one

80

JaceLancs · 15/09/2026 13:57

I only wear them on jackets or wool coats
Mine are mainly vintage costume jewellery but I do have some gold and silver ones including this lovely emerald frog DP bought me a few Christmases ago

AIBU to consider wearing a brooch? Do you wear brooches? (Title edited by MNHQ at the OP's request.)
ToffeePennie · 15/09/2026 13:58

Yes and yes!
I have a claddagh brooch in gold and emerald, a silver and gold snake, a sweetheart brooch (made from my dad’s old cap badge) and a big glitzy Victorian number that was my great grandmas. I have a black cloak and a burgundy caplet that I wear them with.
I also have a couple of cheapies; an enamelled D&D, an acrylic cupcake and an Alice in wonderland style tea cup. I also have a pride and prejudice one and a piss-take one a family member got me that is a pair of feet in sandals.
I wear these ones with vintage style dresses, scarves and on coats that they suit.
Im 37, in case age is a factor here. But I think you’ll find if you dive into vintage wear you’ll find a lot more brooch wearers.

luckylavender · 15/09/2026 13:59

I'm 64. Have tried many times but never managed to pull it off. They always look wrong.

newrubylane · 15/09/2026 14:05

I have a few. I wear lots of baggy jeans and jumpers these days and sometimes add a brooch instead of necklace or earrings. My favourite is a silver donkey with black and yellow beading. Tips - no other jewellery and they work best of a plain background imo. If you keep everything else very slouchy and casual they look less prim and dainty.

Mountainpika · 15/09/2026 14:05

PashaMinaMio · 15/09/2026 13:17

Angela Rippon (look her up) wears them all the time.

That camp Welsh presenter Owain Wyn Evans on Homes Under the Hammer wears them with aplomb.

I’ve got several brooches. Wear them with my winter coats. I feel quite stylish and they do attract attention and often break the ice.

'Wear them with my winter coats. I feel quite stylish and they do attract attention and often break the ice.'

Very useful during a very cold spell.

Mrscaptainraymondholt · 15/09/2026 14:06

I have loads from my grandmother (I'm 52) and never wear them but saw one the other day and thought about starting to wear some so this thread is good timing! they are basically grown up badges, just like my tattoos are my grown up stickers!

bigdecisionaboutwork · 15/09/2026 14:13

I always wanted the brooch from the Last Christmas video and treated myself to something similar (diamante) a couple of years ago, I wear it on my "good" winter coat. Must get some more - recently got a lovely brown tweedy/boucle jacket which would suit something amber

AIBU to consider wearing a brooch? Do you wear brooches? (Title edited by MNHQ at the OP's request.)
Violet76 · 15/09/2026 14:14

I ha e lots of brroches and love wearing them .

Beebumble2 · 15/09/2026 14:17

CointreauVersial · 15/09/2026 13:41

There's a fashion trend, which is wearing a brooch somewhere unexpected, like using it to hitch/gather a jumper at the waist. I bought a couple from a charity shop, but haven't yet found the right way to wear them. Using one to fasten a shirt might also work, but the traditional "lapel" wear is still firmly with the older generation.

I wear vintage ones, particularly insects. I often wear them in small groups, on jackets jumpers and hats, both winter and summer. There’s a lovely sparkly fly that’s spent the summer on my sun hat, sometimes joined by a butterfly.
I also add a big sparkling one to a woolly scarf in the winter.

Thingsthatgo · 15/09/2026 14:42

I love a brooch on a very plain wool coat.

CarbootJunction · 15/09/2026 14:46

I have a collection of vintage brooches and wear them all the time. It is how you can instantly change the look of a coat or a jacket.
DD wears brooches on her college bag.

Livinginthenewcentury · 15/09/2026 14:52

I have a few and I use them to hold my edge to edge cardigans closed and to hold scarves where I want them. I think they're very handy for layering in winter. But I'm in my 50s and not on the cutting edge of fashion.

HorseandHeron · 15/09/2026 14:54

DSis buys them for me, but I have no idea how to wear them. As soon as I put one on I feel about thirty years older. In theory I love them. Just...where do you wear them?

RNApolymerase · 15/09/2026 14:55

Suchevilforebodings · 15/09/2026 13:23

Would you please PM a link to where you sell them?

Sorry - the purpose of my post wasn't to advertise, but you will find lots on Etsy if you search something like "vintage brooches". Ebay is good too as you can often find lots or collections, in case you want to do like a PP suggested and wear more than one at once.

HorseandHeron · 15/09/2026 14:55

Livinginthenewcentury · 15/09/2026 14:52

I have a few and I use them to hold my edge to edge cardigans closed and to hold scarves where I want them. I think they're very handy for layering in winter. But I'm in my 50s and not on the cutting edge of fashion.

That is how I have tried to wear them but I feel like Hyacinth Bucket or as if I am about to lodge a complaint about the neighbouring village's WI rule-bending in the village show floral displays.

purplecorkheart · 15/09/2026 14:56

I have a few colourful ones that I use on an plain black coat.

I was gifted some beautiful ones that I attach to bags. Otherwise I do not wear them.

Bideshi · 15/09/2026 14:57

I wear them - never just one though, and it is an autumn/winter thing. I also wear them on hats.
I am old though.