The Vintage Brooch Edit

Your Wardrobe Needs a Glow Up — Start Here.

The brooch is back. Don’t believe me? Here are the best vintage pins to help you reconsider and maybe even start your own collection.

Choosing can be overwhelming, so let me step in as your fairy brooch mother, here to guide you through the world of vintage pins.

First things first: who are you?

The Glam Icon: You had an Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, or James Dean poster on your wall in college. You opt for a red lip over a smokey eye and have watched every episode of Mad Men - twice. Your collection of antique milk glass is enviable, and let’s be honest, you already own a brooch or two. Your favorite place to go on vacation is Paris and in a perfect world, you would live in the library from Beauty and the Beast. Look for timeless pieces with sparkle and glamor.

The Desert Daydreamer: You’re a proud plant mom with a thriving succulent garden. During the pandemic, you micro-dosed for a month straight, and have a trusted hookup in Cali to call when your friends want to try it themselves. You painted a rust-colored arch on your bedroom wall as a reflection of your grounded yet free-spirited vibe. Your favorite artist is Georgia O’Keeffe and your next trip to Joshua Tree is already booked. Your coffee table holds The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck alongside a crystal ashtray. Pair your boho vibe with brooches that embody the spirit of the desert—imagine turquoise accents, bold floral designs, and timeless Taxco sterling silver.

The Romantic: You majored in marketing with a minor in Art History. Drama is your love language. At least three songs have been written about you (that you know of). After a brief stint as a manic pixie dream girl, you’ve blossomed into a grounded muse - a little witchy and otherworldly. Your favorite color is International Klein Blue. When people ask you who your favorite artist is, you tell them it changes frequently, but Hilma af Klint at the moment. Look for brooches with delicate florals, celestial motifs like stars and moons, romantic touches like pearls or cameos, and vintage designs that nod to Victorian or Art Nouveau elegance.

The City Girl: You are timeless with a playful twist. At least one piece of furniture in your home features an animal print—done tastefully, of course. You own a Judith Leiber sandwich bag and have an extensive sweater collection, always draped perfectly over your shoulders. Your grandmother is both your fashion icon and your best friend, passing down her impeccable taste and love for tradition. At your legendary dinner parties, guests rave about your signature radishes with butter (something you picked up from your host family in France). Opt for brooches that balance campy charm with timeless classics—think bows, lobsters, quirky everyday objects, and a bold panther to tie it all together.

The Retro Rebel: You have an uncanny ability to mix prints. Fur coats? You have three—thrifted, naturally—and will gatekeep the thrift store where you found them. You impress people with your highly curated Instagram feed and love to explain the difference between being stylish and fashionable. You are the former, just for reference. Growing up, you idolized Peyton in One Tree Hill, but now it’s Chloe Sevigny. Brooches with retro-inspired colors, bold cabochon stones, and warm gold tones are your ultimate style staples.

The Surrealist: Art is life, and life is art. You consider Elsa Schiaparelli’s 1938 circus-themed collection pure genius, and your dream jewelry could be mistaken for sculptures in a museum. Minimalism is your mantra and your 925 silver statement pieces prove that less is more. Sure, some people think you’re mysterious (and maybe a little intense), but they just don’t get it. Brooches with minimalist abstract shapes, faces, or sculptural designs will perfectly capture your artistic and enigmatic spirit.

The Indie Icon: Once the queen of indie-sleaze, you were envied by all when you wore the iconic American Apparel disco dress in teal with no bra. Your Tumblr was a chaotic masterpiece—a mix of poetry, Sofia Coppola movie stills, and black-and-white photos of women crying. You were listening to Justice before anyone else had heard about them. These days, you’re wearing skinny jeans (they are back in style) and trying to quit smoking, but it’s hard because everyone in Brooklyn is doing it. Seek out brooches that radiate bold energy—vibrant jewel tones, playful designs, and unapologetically extra details that make a statement.

Now that you have chosen your persona, let’s find your vintage pin!

The Glam Icon

1 Snowflake Brooch // 2. Gold & Pearl Starburst Brooch // 3. Jomaz Wreath Brooch // 4. Nolan Miller Calla Lily Brooch // 5. Nolan Miller Rose Brooch // 6. Rhinestone Leaf Brooch // 7. Curled Leaf Brooch // 8. Giovanni Large Rose Brooch // 9. Monet Rope & Tassel Brooch // 10. Rhinestone & Faux Pearl Flare Brooch

The Desert Daydreamer

1 Melesio Rodriguez Taxco 925 Brooch // 2. Monet Gold Elliptical Brooch // 3. Mexico 925 & Turquoise Floral Brooch // 4. Moon and Stars Celestial Brooch Pin // 5. Blue Enamel & 925 Brooch // 6. Michele Sonner Michou 925 & Amber Square Brooch // 7. Mexico Red Jasper Stone 925 Brooch // 8. Great Falls Metal Works 925 & Garnet Hand Brooch // 9. Taxco 925 & Turquoise Brooch Pendant // 10 925, 14k Gold, & Citrine Accent Bar Brooch // 11. Norseland by Coro 925 Flower Brooch

The Romantic

1 Swirling Galaxy Pin // 2. Rhinestone Heron with Pale Yellow Rhinestone Brooch // 3. Kramer Gold Plated Leaf Brooch // 4. Lisner Leaf & Branch Brooch // 5. Miguel Melendez Taxco 925 & Amethyst Sunburst // 6. Givenchy Gold Plated Crystals Brooch // 7. Great Falls Metal Works 925 & Garnet Human Silhouette Brooch // 8. Avon Gold Plated & Purple Lucite Brooch // 9. Quartz, Aquamarine, and Blue Sapphire Spider Brooch in Oxidized 925 & 18k Yellow Gold Vermeil

The City Girl

1 Gucci Pearl Bee Brooch // 2. Liz Claiborne Deep Purple & Pink Glass Brooch // 3. Nolan Miller Bow Pin // 4. Trifari Enamel Lemon Slice Pin // 5. Corocraft Salamander // 6. Giant Flower Rhinestone Brooch // 7. Butler & Wilson Martini Brooch // 8. Nina Ricci Oyster Brooch // 9. Nolan Miller Lobster Brooch // 10. Panther Brooch

The Retro Rebel

1 Sydney Lynch 925 & 22k Gold Swirl & Arrow Brooch // 2. Sarah Coventry Maltese Cross Cabochon Brooch // 3. Orange Lucite Brooch // 4. Elsa Schiaparelli Signed Brooch // 5. Givenchy Gold Pin with Black Cabochon // 6. Givenchy Bar Pin with Pastel Gripoix Glass Cabochons // 7. Leopard Print Resin Circle & 925 Bar Brooch // 8. Lisner Glass & Rhinestone Brooch

The Surrealist

1 J. Tostrup 925 & White Enamel Floral Brooch // 2. Salvador Dali Aphrodite Perfume Brooch // 3. 925 Lucky Wishbone Brooch // 4. Kinetic 925 & Gold Tone Brooch // 5. 925 & Garnet Face Brooch // 6. Taxco 925 Calla Lily Brooch // 7. Butler & Wilson Oversized Crystal Eye Brooch // 8. Geometric Silver Tone Brooch // 9. 925 “X” Pin // 10. Brutalist Sculptural Crowd Brooch

The Indie Idol

1 Red Lips & White Cigarette Brooch // 2. Ultracraft XL Golden Stars Shoulder Brooch // 3. Question Mark Pin // 4. Atomic Starburst Brooch with Green and Blue Rhinestones // 5. Emmons Atomic Starburst Brooch // 6. Bright Pink Octagon Brooch // 7. Double Star Snowflake Brooch // 8. Hattie Carnegie Starburst Brooch

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I collected over 100 brooches for this round-up – many did not make it to this post. If you didn’t find something you love, send me a message or leave a comment on this post and I will reach out so we can find your perfect pin!

I hope this sparked your creativity and maybe even inspired you to start a collection of your own in the new year.

As always, thank you for reading <3