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The One Vintage-Inspired Accessory You’ll See Everywhere This Holiday Season, According to Etsy

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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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how to style a vintage brooch on your lapel
Mathis Wienand/Getty Images

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.

how to style a vintage brooch multiples
Christian Vierig/Getty Images

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.

how to style a vintage brooch on a blouse
Christian Vierig/Getty Images

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.

how to style a vintage brooch on a scarf
Christian Vierig/Getty Images

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.

how to style a brooch in 2021 in your hair
Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images

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.

ben amun cameo
Neiman Marcus

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.

anthropologie flower pin
Anthropologie

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.

mignonne gavigan dragonfly
Neiman Marcus

3. mignonne Gavigan Dragonfly Brooch

This colorful dragonfly is made with delicate embroidered wings and just a few small glittering crystals.

etsy gold birds
Etsy/The Vintage Orchid Co.

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.)

tova mod flower
Anthropologie

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.

kenneth jay lane
The Outnet

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.

the met snake
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

anne klein violet
Anne Klein

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.

anthropologie pet portrait
Anthropologie

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.

anthropologie safety pin
Anthropologie

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.

the met lily of the valley
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

anthropologie embellished heart
Anthropologie

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.

lele sadoughi pearls
Lele Sadoughi

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.

fallon
Fallon

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.

ben amun chain
Neiman Marcus

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.

etsy wreath
Etsy/ Good Old Vintage NL

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.

anne klein feather branch
Anne Klein

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.

anthropologie fabric flower
Anthropologie

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.

etsy dried flowers
Etsy/Fire Bench and Brush

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.

the met dragonfly
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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