The men of the 2026 Oscars made one thing clear on the Dolby Theatre red carpet: the brooch is no longer a women’s accessory, a grandmother’s keepsake, or a period detail. It’s the menswear punctuation mark of the moment.
The men of the 98th Academy Awards arrived at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday night in black tuxedos, tailored suits, and, notably, a considerable amount of decorative hardware. Brooches on the red carpet aren’t entirely new — in 2024, a small number of A-listers like Robert Downey Jr. and Cillian Murphy began trading in neckties and bowties for statement pins on the award-show circuit. But what unfolded Sunday was a different scale entirely. Many male celebrities arrived wearing brooches on their suits, with the accessory appearing on jackets, lapels, and even shirts as stars walked into the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Some brooches were simple silver pins, while others were large pieces with diamonds and bright designs.
Hudson Williams, Joel Edgerton, Kieran Culkin, Kumail Nanjiani, and Shaboozey wore brooches proudly on their lapels. Pedro Pascal — ditching his blazer and tie entirely for a tuxedo shirt — went the most dramatic route: it was a moustache-less Pascal who won the battle of the pins with his massive Chanel bloom worn with a simple tuxedo shirt. Damson Idris created his own bespoke style for his jewelry brand Didris, Michael B. Jordan wore a suite of David Yurman brooches, and Channing Tatum wore a Tiffany & Co. Bird on a Rock style. Kumail Nanjiani arrived in Giorgio Armani with a brooch by Saidian Vintage Jewels. Shaboozey arrived in a suit by Campillo with a vintage Briony Raymond brooch, Mikimoto pearls, a Chopard watch, and Christian Louboutin shoes. “It’s my first Oscars, I felt like I had to do it right,” Shaboozey said on the red carpet.
New brooch designs — bigger and snazzier — were practically a mainstay during Men’s Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2026 shows, too. The accessories conversation in menswear has been building for several seasons, and the Oscars confirmed what the runways had already suggested: the brooch is now a fixture.
An ancient accessory with a long history of distinction
Brooches began life as functional, utilitarian items that were used to secure pieces of clothing (like a loincloth or tunix). The first recorded brooches were made of thorns and flint, while pins crafted from metal date back to the Bronze Age, over 5,000 years ago. But they evolved into an ornamental sign of wealth and status by the 19th century. Later, America’s former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright gave it a new meaning and coined the “statement brooch.” She never entered the political stage without a brooch on her lapel during her term in office — this attracted attention and created a new way for her to deliver messages. For decades, the brooch retreated into a quieter register — something found in grandmother’s jewelry armoires, pressed between tissue in velvet boxes — before designers and stylists started pulling it back out.
The resurgence speaks to something specific about where fashion is headed, especially for men. Luxury stylist Oriona Robb believes that’s the real reason brooches have resurfaced. “We’re tired of looking the same,” she told RTE. “After years of uniform dressing, there’s a hunger for individuality — for pieces that tell a story rather than just complete an outfit.” Stylist Ranson makes a similar point about the tailoring context enabling the trend. “Menswear can be really simple — we’re going back to classic tailoring with oversized lapels — and instead of being too creative with the shape of the suit, individuality comes from the brooch,” she explains.
How to wear a brooch without overthinking it
The styling logic for pins and brooches is more intuitive than it might seem. The most important rule when selecting a brooch for a men’s suit is proportion. A very large brooch can overwhelm a slim lapel, making the entire look feel unbalanced, while a tiny pin might get lost on a wider lapel. Generally, the brooch should span approximately one-third to one-half the width of your lapel for optimal visual impact.
Ranson suggests for men: “a relaxed blazer, suit trousers, a white or black T and the brooch.” For placement, the classic rule places brooches on the left lapel of your jacket — approximately midway between your shoulder and chest pocket. This placement draws the eye naturally and creates visual harmony with other accessories like pocket squares. That said, the most interesting styling often happens elsewhere. Robb suggests pinning a brooch at the collar of a shirt for more of an editorial feel, or using one to gather fabric at the waist of an oversized shirt or dress — a subtle way to create shape without adding a belt. “I’ve also seen them worn asymmetrically on knitwear, closer to the shoulder or even at the hem,” she says.
On a plain, solid-colored suit, a detailed or colorful brooch can serve as a striking focal point that adds visual interest to an otherwise simple look. However, on patterned suits — like stripes, plaids, or checks — a simple, solid-colored, or metallic brooch is typically the safer choice to avoid clashing patterns that compete for attention. Metal coordination matters too: match the brooch’s metal tone — whether gold, silver, gunmetal, or rose gold — with your other metal accessories like your watch, cufflinks, or belt buckle.
Where to find vintage brooches worth keeping
For those looking to shop the trend with some permanence, the vintage market is the most rewarding place to start. 1stDibs carries an extensive range of antique and estate brooches from dealers around the world, from Art Deco geometric pieces to ornate Victorian-era designs with precious gemstones. Doyle & Doyle, the New York-based antique jewelry boutique, stocks a well-curated selection spanning Edwardian, Retro, and Art Nouveau periods, with prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. For auction-house access, Sotheby’s offers authenticated vintage brooches from houses like Cartier, Chanel, and Bvlgari. Etsy’s vintage brooch market offers thousands of individual-seller listings. And for a deeper hunt — particularly for signed costume jewelry from brands like Trifari, Coro, or Miriam Haskell — eBay’s vintage brooch category remains one of the most comprehensive archives available anywhere. But even your local vintage or thrift store is likely to have some more affordable options.
Ranson agrees that vintage brooches paired with everyday basics are the best way to go. “You can go vintage,” she says. “Team it with a suit and a white T for daytime, or relaxed casual looks.”
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