The Prettiest New Hair Ornaments Are Transformable From Other Fine Jewelry Categories

A High Cartier modern day brooch, a pair of antique gemstone clip earrings, an indie designer’s diamond necklace have all become part of a trend in transformable jewels to dress up the hair. This isn’t a new trend. In the 18th through mid-20th century, jewelers created pieces that served multiple purposes with the switch of a fitting. They were crafted with different mechanisms that would change a pair of dress clips into adornments to dress up a women’s tresses when worn in updos. There were chokers that adapted into diadems or bandeaus and brooches that could be altered into pendants or ornaments for the hair.

This is a look that has been showing up on many a red carpet for years and more recently at the 2021 Met Gala on Yara Shahidi in a Cartier High Jewelry necklace in 18K, part of which detaches and is worn in her hair and Amanda Gorman who wore Chopard in her hair with an updo.

But recently while bing watching and catching up on season 2 of Emily In Paris, I noticed that one of the major moments featured Lily Collins in her role with her hair held up by multiple brooches. It was a look that was aspirational for the woman of all ages and I rewound and took the best shot I could from my TV set.

Here are some other jewels that can be worn in the hair with a little imagination, a good styling kit with strong leather that can be looped through a necklace chain and tied , bobby pins that are the color of your hair and will hold a bandeau, diadem or brooches in place. There are also the real thing: pearl and diamond barrettes that offer just a touch of sparkle in the hair:

Fred Leighton’s vintage necklace in aquamarine and diamonds worn as a headband in the hair

Thelma West’s 18K white gold and black ceramic Apòstrofe necklace with diamonds will add sparkle to the hair when worn as a headband or bandeau.

Misahara’s freshwater pearls wrapped in 18K gold chain with diamond accents were designed to be worn as a choker or headpiece.

Nak Armstrong’s 20K rose gold Ruched Riviere Necklace with tanzanite, peach tourmaline, andalusite, and white diamonds looks like it was made as a diadem when turned upside down and worn on top of the head.

Rebecca Selva chief creative director of Fred Leighton is a master when it comes to styling jewelry in alluring and enchanting looks. She has dressed many celebrities in brooches and earring clips in the hair and this model shot is indicative of a more everyday approach using vintage enamel flower brooches to dress up the tresses.

Assael’s brooch of baroque South Sea pearls, diamonds and natural lavender jade brooch can also be worn as a pendant as a ornament in the hair. Wear it alone for a feminine unstudied look or you can add a few more styles in enamel, pearls and gemstones to give it a glamorous red carpet look.

Estate Diamond Jewelry’s Art Nouveau dragonfly brooch is one creature that no women would mind having land in her hair. The beauty of the colors and the craft of the enameling will add an elegant touch to hair worn up or down. You can also pair this brooch with a floral diamond for those who like a little more bling. But it has a strong sense of style and texture on its own.

Jessica McCormack’s New York Tattoo diamond earrings which have a deco slant would look fabulous in the hair for any evening event.

Lene Vibe has created a magical forest in these long earrings that can be worn clipped into the hair, one on each side or dressing up the back of an updo.

Nouvel Heritage’s ear climber can easily shine like a star as a barrette in the hair with some bobby pin reinforcement.

Chaumet’s “Promenades Impériales” brooch in white and pink gold, set with a cushion-cut Padparadscha sapphire and marquise-cut diamonds and brilliant-cut diamonds would look stunning in a chignon.

And for those of you who would prefer to have your hair jewels ready to go, here are a few combs and barrettes with which you can create different looks. You can also mix and match these with the modern and antique brooches and clips.

Colette’ 18K white gold Shooting Stars comb set with diamonds will add a dressed up feeling with your hair worn up or down.

Assael’s single South Sea pearls mounted on an 18K white gold bobby pins are show worn three at a time. You can imitate this chic look or scatter them throughout you head in different configurations with long or short locks and curly or straight locks. These will elevate any style.

Carbon & Hyde’s 14K gold princess cut diamond bobby pin to wear any which way you want.