How to Wear Brooches After 50 and Make Them Look Modern
Brooches are having a moment again, which is handy because most of us already own a few. Some came from our mothers or grandmothers, others we picked up because they felt special, even if we weren’t completely sure how to wear them. And if we’re honest, many women over 50 hesitate with brooches for reasons that have nothing to do with fashion know-how. No one wants to look dated, overdo it, or feel like they’re calling attention to themselves.
That’s why I like to treat brooches as something to play with rather than something to “get right.” Once you stop worrying about rules and start experimenting a little, they become surprisingly modern and easy to wear. What I’m sharing here are simply the ways I like to wear brooches in my own outfits. These are from my wardrobe, styled in real life…in the hope that you’ll feel more comfortable trying a few ideas of your own. I can’t link most of them, which frankly, makes them extra special.
Simple Modern Ways To Wear A Brooch
A shirt or jacket cuff is an unexpected place for a brooch, which is part of why it feels so modern. Many of us grew up thinking brooches belonged near the shoulder, usually on the left, but that was more tradition than anything else. These days, placement is about balance and what looks right to you. I like wearing brooches on my sleeve because they give a clean, structured line and don’t compete with a neckline or other jewelry. It also lets me enjoy the piece throughout the day because I can actually see it when I glance down.
When I wear a brooch high on a jacket, I usually let it take the lead. This is one of my favorite placements because it draws the eye up and adds structure to softer pieces. People often ask whether you can wear a necklace with a brooch. You can, but I prefer to skip it so the brooch has room to shine.
This is one of my favorite ways to wear a brooch because it solves a problem and looks intentional at the same time. Many white shirts like to gape at the top, even when they fit everywhere else. I like placing a brooch between the first two buttons because it keeps everything in place and adds a little polish.
It also gives vintage pieces a clean backdrop so the details really show. If you’re unsure where to start with brooches, this is one of the easiest and prettiest spots to try.
A brooch on a dress adds a little shape and focus to an otherwise simple neckline. I like placing mine just off-center because it creates a gentle visual point without feeling too polished or “done.” If dresses ever feel a bit plain through the chest, this is a simple way to add interest without adding a layer or changing the silhouette.
A denim jacket is a great backdrop for a brooch. I like wearing mine just above the pocket because the jacket’s structure gives the pin a natural place to sit. The mix of something casual, like denim and sneakers, with a more polished brooch keeps the look easy and modern without leaning dressy.
If you’re unsure where to start with brooches, this is a simple spot to try. It works with almost anything you throw on under the jacket.
When I wear a pin on the front of a denim jacket, I skip a necklace. A modern, artistic brooch pairs nicely with a bracelet because the details are spread throughout the outfit instead of staying in one place. It keeps everything balanced and lets the brooch stand out without competing with anything at the neckline.
A wool coat is one of the easiest places to wear a brooch because the fabric can handle almost anything. I like putting brooches on a coat lapel because even my heaviest pieces stay in place, and the scale of an outer layer gives them room to breathe.
It’s also a fun spot to cluster two or three brooches if you have smaller ones that don’t make much impact on their own. If you’ve been unsure about wearing brooches in colder weather, a wool coat is the most forgiving place to start.
A tiny pin on a collar is quiet but distinctive. I wear mine here when I want something near my face without adding a necklace. It’s understated, crisp, and surprisingly modern.
Where I Like To Find Brooches
You don’t need a big budget to start wearing brooches again. Some of my favorite pieces came from family, but I’ve also found great options in a few reliable places. I like checking vintage and antique shops because the workmanship is often beautiful, and the styles feel unique. Etsy can be a treasure hunt if you search by era or material. For modern pieces, many accessory brands put out small seasonal collections that mix well with older brooches. Art Museums and their websites are also great sources.
There’s no pressure to buy, but if you’re curious about adding something new, these are good places to start looking.
Why This Matters
Many women over 50 hesitate with brooches, not because they don’t know what they like, but because they’re concerned about how the look will come across. Will it seem dated? Too much? Out of step? Or draw attention in a way that doesn’t feel natural anymore?
That’s why experimenting with brooches can be unexpectedly confidence-building. You’re not reinventing anything; you’re simply using pieces you already own in ways that feel current and personal. Sometimes a small shift in placement is enough to make a brooch feel fresh again and to remind you that style doesn’t have to be complicated to feel good.
If you try wearing a brooch in a way you haven’t before, I’d love to hear about it. Style gets more interesting when we experiment a little, especially with pieces that have been waiting patiently in the drawer.
Love all your brooches and how you wear them. I’m going to get mine out again. I always do wear my Christmas ones 🎄
Jennifer, you should see a Pedorthist, not a Podiatrist.
They will analyze your gait and advise you of the problem.
A good place in Vancouver is Kintec. Check them out.
Thank you!!
Absolutely right! They are trained in the mechanics of the foot. Mine has saved my walking life. Plus they will usually spend a lot more time with you. They help you select the best shoe options and fit orthotics or other items that give you the right structure and comfort. I’ve sent several friends to mine, and they can’t believe the value!
Wonderful ideas! Including storing the brooches on a pillow. Thanks.
I have two paste pins that my aunts made in the 40’s (part of a cottage industry). They are quite “gaudy”, but I like to wear them on a jean jacket or to close a shawl. The latches aren’t very sturdy, so I place a silicone earring back on before latching. At least if it comes undone, I still have my pin! Works for other pins too, especially when I put them on a coat. Love your ideas.
I do the same!
I’m going to get out my brooches. Thank you for the inspiration.
Yay! You’ll have fun
Yesterday, at a luncheon for the next governor of California, a very stylish woman wore her Christmas brooch on a short chain centered on a holiday red sweater. It immediately caught my eye; clever way to style a pin and avoid ugly pin holes on a sweater.
Great idea!
I sell vintage jewelry on eBay and I can tell you that there are lots of them there. If you like patriotic jewelry, Ann Hand (annhand.com) has some beautiful ones. Also, many older brooches have a loop inside so that they can be worn as necklaces.
Thanks for these examples! I have a lot of brooches. some are mine, some are my mother’s and some are my grandmother’s (I’m nearly 78 so you know how old these are)! My grandmother never left the house without a necklace or brooch. She never had pierced ears but she would occasionally wear clip-ons. My love of jewelry goes back a long way and it is always good to get some new ideas.
Jennifer, I really enjoyed this post. I love brooches and have been collecting them for a while now. I think Talbots has lovely ones and I always try to add one to my collection each season. But, you’re right, I don’t wear them as often as I should because I’m not sure how to style them. I keep mine tucked away in my jewelry box and look at them occasionally. Would love to find a pretty way to display them because they make me happy.
I keep mine pinned onto a tiny pillow
Love, love, love this post, Jennifer! I have several brooches which don’t get much use even though I think they’re beautiful. This gives me inspiration to try on a cuff or at a blouse gap. I like the idea of modern placements.
On another note. I recently ordered a few sets of button covers to try from buttons amsterdam. They’ve arrived in the US, but not to my home yet. Trying new things at 70 – fun!
Let us know how they work out. It’s a fascinating concept
Good Morning Jennifer. Great article. I only have a couple of brooches, and really should try wearing them. I think my denim jacket is the ticket. And I think I’ve told you this before, but you look great in that short denim jacket. Fits you perfectly.
Thanks Lea Ann
I used to have a little black velvet bucket hat that I loved. I would pin a few small brooches on it. I thought it looked cute that way. You love hats so thats an option. I have many brooches I bought during the holiday season over the years when they were more available. I never thought of putting them on my winter coat when you wouldn’t see any other jewelry easily. Thanks for that and putting then on Jean jackets. I bought two this year.
I have a nice collection of brooches that I meed to wear more often. I am also partial to bugs (I have a bee brooch), several vintage Weiss rhinestone versions via ebay, a huge vintage paisley shape I bought at a cool vintage shop in the Central West End of St. Louis, and a sterling giraffe (sorority mascot) given by my mom. Reasons I don’t wear them is not wanting to make holes in things and being clumsy and snagging them. Used to love wearing them at the top of a buttoned up collared shirt, may try that. I love the color and sparkle. We are not the Queen. Though I love how she wore brooches, especially when she clustered them.
She wore them very stylishly
Happy to see this post. My husband likes to buy brooches for me at vintage markets and I have a large collection. Living in Ontario, one of my favourite spots to pin a brooch is on a hand knit wool toque.
Fun!
Amazon carries magnetic pin brooch converters for those who don’t want holes in their garments. I purchased mine from QVC many years ago for wearing on leather coats and jackets. They work like a charm.
I will look into them!
My grandmother loved her brooches. Sadly, I didn’t get any of them when she passed.
I don’t think my Granny wore them (Idon’t recall)
Thanks for all the ideas! My stash of brooches will sit in that box no longer!
Yay
This post was perfect timing for me! I have several Christmas pins and needed ideas to wear them. I really appreciate the collar and between the buttons on a white shirt style. And wearing them on a blue jean jacket! I will give them all a try!
Yay, it’s the perfect season to wear yours
I just inherited several beautiful brooches from my mother and wasn’t sure how to incorporate them into my wardrobe without looking matronly or like I’m playing dress-up. I’m going to try some of these ideas – they feel young and on point. Thank you!
Have fun with them
Jennifer, thanks for your blog on brooches! I’m going to take what I have out and begin to use them. Wishing you a peaceful and joyful holiday season!
Great ideas for placing the beautiful brooches. Thanks
Love these ideas! I have quite a collection that I love to wear and your suggestions, especially on denim jackets, will give me even more ways to continue with my wardrobe project – “shop in my closet” looking at new ways to style what I already have in new ways!