Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue: Accessory Ideas
26 October 2026 · Wedding Traditions · The White Collection Australia
The White Collection is Australia's leading destination for designer bridal shoes and accessories, stocking Bella Belle, Harlo Australia, Badgley Mischka, Lola Knight, Elizabeth Bower and A'el Este. This guide is written by our bridal styling team, who help brides choose their something blue every week.
The Short Answer
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue is a 19th century English wedding rhyme listing four good luck items for the bride. Old represents family and the past, new represents the future, borrowed shares the happiness of a married friend, and blue symbolises love and faithfulness. Modern brides in Australia often use accessories for each, such as heirloom pearl earrings, new wedding shoes, a borrowed veil and blue wedding shoes or a blue garter.
It is one of the few wedding traditions almost every bride has heard of, and one of the easiest to make personal. The full rhyme runs: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe. Each line is a small wish for the marriage ahead, and each one is a chance to bring someone you love into your wedding day.
This guide explains what each part of the tradition means, then shares our favourite accessory ideas for every line, from heirloom jewellery to the blue wedding shoes that have become the modern bride's favourite something blue.
What Does Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue Mean?
The meaning and origin of the wedding tradition
The rhyme is traditionally traced to Lancashire in the north of England in the 1800s, and it travelled to Australia with British settlers. Each item was believed to bring the bride luck and to protect her on her wedding day. Today it is less about superstition and more about meaning: a way to honour family, friends and the life you are building together.
Something Old Ideas
Heirloom and vintage bridal accessories
Your something old links you to the people who came before you. It does not need to be valuable, only meaningful. These are the ideas our brides love most.
Something New Ideas
Wedding shoes, jewellery and hair accessories
Something new looks forward. For most brides it is the easiest line to fill, because so much of the wedding look is bought for the day. Your wedding shoes are the most popular choice, followed by earrings and a hair accessory.
Choose something you will treasure after the wedding. Many brides pick a pair of earrings they can wear on anniversaries, or a bridal hair accessory they plan to lend to a sister one day, so the something new becomes someone else's something borrowed.
The best something new is a piece you will wear again. Earrings you love on your wedding day will mean even more on your tenth anniversary.
Something Borrowed Ideas
Who gives the bride something borrowed
Traditionally, something borrowed is lent by a happily married woman so her good fortune passes to the bride. Today it is usually lent by whoever means the most to you: your mother, grandmother, sister, mother in law or best friend. Many brides receive it on the morning of the wedding as a quiet moment before the ceremony.
Whatever you borrow, remember to give it back after the wedding. Returning it is part of the tradition.
Something Blue Ideas for the Bride
Blue wedding shoes and something blue accessories
Something blue is the line brides have the most fun with. Blue has long been linked with love and loyalty, and a little hidden blue is the perfect contrast to an ivory or white gown. These are the most popular ways to wear it.
Blue wedding shoes are the something blue you get to reveal. Lift your hem for one photo and it becomes one of the most loved images of the day.
And a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe
The sixpence tradition in Australia
The often forgotten final line asks for a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe, a wish for prosperity in married life. Australia switched to decimal currency in 1966, so pre-decimal sixpences can still be found in family collections and through coin dealers, and many fathers like to present one on the wedding morning.
A coin from the year you met or the year you were born is a lovely modern alternative. Slip it under the insole of your shoe, beneath the heel where you will not feel it, or tuck it into your garter. If comfort is a priority, our guide to the most comfortable wedding shoes will help you choose a pair with room for a little extra luck.
The Edit: Eight Accessories for the Tradition
Something old, new, borrowed and blue ideas
A piece for every line of the rhyme, chosen by our bridal styling team. Remember that one piece can cover more than one line, so new blue shoes are both your something new and your something blue.
Further Reading
Matching earrings to your neckline, hairstyle and heirloom pieces.
Heel heights, padding and the bridal shoes brides wear all day.
Block heels, flats and heel stoppers for garden and vineyard ceremonies.
Your Questions, Answered
What does something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue mean?
The saying comes from an English wedding rhyme dating to the 1800s and lists four items a bride carries for good luck. Something old represents continuity with family and the past, and something new stands for optimism about married life ahead. Something borrowed is traditionally lent by a happily married friend or relative so their good fortune passes to the bride. Something blue has long symbolised love, faithfulness and loyalty.
What are good something blue ideas for a bride?
Blue wedding shoes are the most popular something blue because they are hidden under the gown until you choose to show them. Bella Belle's Amelie in dusty blue silk crepe and the Eliza blue butterfly block heel are two favourites at The White Collection. Other ideas include a white lace garter with a blue bow, blue thread stitched inside your hem, a sapphire ring or earrings, a blue ribbon wrapped around your bouquet stems, or pale blue nail polish.
Who gives the bride something borrowed?
Traditionally, something borrowed is lent by a happily married woman, often the bride's mother, grandmother, sister or a close friend, so that her happiness is shared with the new couple. Today anyone close to you can lend it. Many brides receive it on the wedding morning as a quiet moment with family before the ceremony. Remember to return the piece after the wedding, as giving it back is part of the tradition.
Can something old and something borrowed be the same item?
Yes, one item can cover more than one part of the tradition. Your grandmother's pearl earrings, for example, are both old and borrowed if she lends them for the day. Likewise, new blue wedding shoes can be your something new and your something blue. Many brides like to choose four separate pieces so each person or memory has its own place, but there is no rule that says you must.
Do brides still do something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?
Yes, it remains one of the most widely followed wedding traditions in Australia. Modern brides often reinterpret it through accessories rather than keepsakes alone, choosing blue wedding shoes, heirloom jewellery or a borrowed veil. It is a simple way to involve family and friends in your preparations. Many couples also tell the story behind each piece in their wedding speeches or captions.
What does the silver sixpence in the shoe mean?
The final line of the rhyme asks for a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe, a wish for prosperity and good fortune in married life. Australia moved to decimal currency in 1966, so pre-decimal sixpences can still be found through family collections and coin dealers. Some brides instead use a coin from the year they met or their birth year. Tuck it under the insole or into your garter so it does not affect your comfort.
What are good something old ideas for a wedding?
Heirloom jewellery is the classic choice, such as your mother's pearl earrings or a grandmother's brooch pinned to your bouquet. Fabric from a family wedding dress or veil can be sewn into your gown, made into a garter or wrapped around your bouquet. A family handkerchief tucked into your dress also works beautifully. If nothing has been passed down, a vintage inspired piece such as a birdcage veil or Art Deco style earrings brings the same spirit.
Is something blue worn by the bride or the groom?
The tradition is for the bride, but many couples now share it. Grooms often wear blue socks, a blue tie or a pocket square, or have a blue button stitched onto the cuff. Some couples choose matching blue details so the tradition appears in both outfits. For the bride, blue wedding shoes remain the most popular choice because they are a subtle surprise in photos.
Find Your Something Blue
A little tradition, made entirely your own
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