The groom has enough to think about. The sherwani, the shoes, the safa, the watch, the million tiny wedding rituals. So when it comes to accessories, perhaps the easiest way to make the look feel a little more personal is also the smallest: a brooch.
And no, we don’t mean the brooch pinned on at the last minute because someone decided the outfit was missing something. A brooch works best when it feels like part of the look, not an afterthought.
It has, after all, been part of menswear for a long time. There are military badges, family heirlooms, vintage pins and the more ornate jewellery traditionally worn with Indian occasionwear. What feels interesting now is the freedom around it. A brooch doesn’t necessarily have to be reserved for the wedding day, or even for the most elaborate sherwani in the wardrobe. It can move between a bandhgala at the cocktail, an embroidered jacket at the Sangeet, a kurta at the Mehendi or a relatively pared-back achkan for a family celebration.
For something with an old-world jewellery-box feel, Tribe Amrapali’s Suryakamal brooch has the right amount of ornamentation. Its floral form, pearls and intricate gold-toned detailing bring the language of traditional Indian jewellery into something that can be worn a little more casually. On an ivory kurta or achkan, it becomes a small point of interest rather than another layer of embellishment.
Outhouse’s Royal Axis takes the idea in a more contemporary direction. Sculptural and graphic, it feels less like conventional wedding jewellery and more like a small piece of wearable art. This is the kind of brooch that works particularly well when the rest of the outfit is kept clean. A sharp bandhgala or a minimally embroidered sherwani gives its shape enough space to be noticed.
Then there are brooches that invite a little more drama. Swadesh’s Parchinkari Silver Brooch Pin brings together a bird, florals, a pearl and dangling charms in one detailed composition. It has the slightly collected quality of something you might find tucked away in an old jewellery box. With a simpler kurta or a jacket without too much embroidery, it can do all the talking.
For a more traditional route, AVSA’s Ganesha Men’s Polki Brooch leans into the visual language of Indian wedding jewellery. The Ganesha motif, polki-inspired detailing and emerald-green stones give it a distinctly festive quality. It feels at home on a sherwani, but doesn’t need to be limited to the wedding itself. A family puja or another traditional celebration is just as natural a setting.
Colour can also be an easy way to make the accessory feel less predictable. Varq Jewels’ gold and pink semi-precious stone brooch takes its cue from the kalangi, but introduces a softer, more playful palette. The pink stones and dangling details stand out particularly well against an otherwise neutral outfit, making it an easy choice for a sangeet or cocktail evening.
And sometimes, the most interesting styling is about using more than one piece. On an ivory embroidered sherwani, a central brooch from Manish Malhotra is paired with smaller lapel pins. The pins echo the main piece without competing with it, making the jewellery feel considered rather than simply added on.