Grooms Are Making The Brooch The Coolest Wedding Accessory

A detail born out of function, the brooch began as a simple clasp used in ancient times to fasten cloaks and drapes. Over time, this little bauble has evolved into a striking fashion statement. Once a utility clip, it now finds its place on the lapel, the turban, and even styled as buttons across the chest, collar, and sleeves. Whether you call it a pin, an ornament, or by its more classic Latin name, fibula, the brooch has been a signifier of style, symbolism, and power.

Traditionally made of gold or silver, or embellished with gemstones and pearls, brooches have long been used to fasten garments. From the shoulders of togas to the folds of saris, they served a purpose of utility. However, in contemporary fashion, the brooch has re-emerged not out of necessity, but desire—as a decorative accessory that carries weight, history, and personal expression. In India, it was used to secure layers of clothing, and it eventually transformed into a status symbol, worn by royalty and nobility.

Mughal emperors were known to embellish their sherwanis and turbans with ornate, diamond-studded pieces; the sarpech, a turban ornament that functioned much like a brooch, was worn as an emblem of imperial identity. In regions like Gujarat and Maharashtra, it became entwined with community traditions. Among Parsis, the brooch or khustik was integral to their dressing ritual. It was used to elegantly keep in place the pleats of the traditional Gara sari. Today, brooch designs in India dance between the cultural ethos and style whimsicality. Featuring motifs like elephants and florals, and abstract forms abound, that draw inspiration from the country’s vast artisanal legacy.

The men’s brooch had a definitive moment on the global stage at the 2025 Met Gala. Adrien Brody stepped onto the red carpet in a striking Goddess of Love brooch by jewellery artist Elsa Jin. Crafted from 22K gold and titanium, its two arum lilies represented intertwined souls. Some petals were intentionally chipped symbolically for imperfection and intimacy. Jonathan Owens paired his look with Margot McKinney’s Atlantic brooch, featuring a rare 119.44-carat aquamarine surrounded by over nine carats of diamonds, topped with a luminous 18mm South Sea pearl. Tyler Perry chose to skip the tie altogether, anchoring his collar with a statement brooch by Sebastian Jaramillo, a 67-carat Brazilian amethyst nestled amongst baroque pearls and diamonds. And then there was Lewis Hamilton, for whom one brooch was just not enough! He wore a vintage pearl-and-diamond piece on his lapel, and topped his Stephen Jones hat with a Briony Raymond floral brooch.

Closer home, couturier Manish Malhotra debuted a brooch-heavy look at the Gala, featuring a golden elephant brooch and lion-and-tusker collar pins, paired with vintage heirloom cufflinks. And even the King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, made his mark in his all-black Sabyasachi ensemble, gleaming with a custom-made, diamond-studded, sixpointed star brooch The 2025 Cannes Film Festival also saw a fresh wave of brooches on Indian men. At the forefront again was Manish Malhotra, wearing a sculptural a tusker brooch. Karan Johar followed suit, dressed in a custom ivory bandhgala also designed by Malhotra. But it was the detailing that made the impact: a series of brooches and collar pins in 18K gold, set with over 14 carats of custom-cut emeralds. Styled down the jacket-like buttons, perched at the collar, and stacked on the cuffs, it was brooch maximalism at its most modern.