Brooches Dominate Fall 2026 Runways
Brooches are the biggest catwalk jewelry trend for Autumn/Winter 2026. Designers are reviving this Victorian accessory with deep symbolism — hearts, knots, hand motifs — styling them on lapels, hats, and bags. Cool-girl pearls and bold costume pieces are also trending.
The resurgence of the brooch is steeped in a history of secret messages and symbolic gestures. In the Victorian era, a language of love and mourning was communicated through these adornments. Clasped hands signified friendship and fidelity, while hearts could represent a romantic bond. Love knots, with no beginning or end, were a popular motif symbolizing eternal devotion, a tradition with roots in ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Celtic cultures. So-called "sweetheart brooches" became treasured keepsakes, often exchanged with soldiers and inscribed with military insignia, serving as a tangible link to a loved one away at war. Beyond romance, brooches served other functions. Mourning brooches, often made from jet or black enamel after the death of Prince Albert, became a public symbol of grief, a fashion influenced by Queen Victoria herself. Some pieces even carried hidden messages through an acrostic code of gemstones, where the first letter of each stone would spell out a word like "REGARD" or "DEAREST". The current revival sees the brooch moving beyond its traditional placement on a lapel. Designers are pinning them on hats, bags, and even in the hair, treating them as versatile statement pieces. This trend has been embraced on the red carpet by both men and women, with celebrities like Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, and Cillian Murphy using brooches to personalize their looks. This move toward expressive, individualistic jewelry is mirrored in other concurrent trends. "Cool-girl pearls" are shedding their stuffy reputation, now appearing in chunky, oversized forms, layered with other materials, or embellishing everything from sweaters to handbags. Similarly, the trend of bold costume jewelry reflects a desire for impactful adornment without the need for precious materials. Designers are using resin, wood, and gold-plated brass to create large-scale, artistic pieces that are more about personal style than overt wealth. This shift prioritizes creativity and storytelling through accessories.
