How to Wear a Men’s Lapel Pin Properly: A Guide
Do you want to add a decorative touch to your overall look? A lapel pin should come in handy!
Historically, lapel pins mostly made an appearance at formal events. They were synonymous with class and formality. But some vintage trends are making a comeback and with them, men’s lapel pins.
Modern lapel pins come in all kinds of elegant and artistic styles, making them the perfect accessory to upgrade your outfit into a suave, elegant ensemble.
Before you march out the door, learn how to wear a men’s lapel pin properly for best results. This guide gives you the confidence to don this fierce accessory and pull it off without looking silly.
What is a Lapel Pin?
A lapel pin is a decorative trinket worn on the lapel of a blazer, suit jacket, or sport coat. Originally, lapel pins were worn to add visual interest to tailored suits and show membership in professional organizations or social clubs. Accolades like the Légion d’Honneur in France often provided lapel pins when a medal was too much.
Modern lapel pins show professional achievement, membership in elite social organizations, and patriotism, such as military personnel with MetalPromo Navy Pins. Some dapper gents use them to indicate areas of interest. For instance, a musician may wear a pin showing musical notation while a tennis player may wear a pin depicting tennis rackets.
All things considered, quality lapel pins are a great way to express yourself stylishly and tastefully.
Types of Lapel Pins
As a fashion accessory with a rich history, modern lapel pins come in multiple types with different designs. The main types of lapel pins you’ll come across include the boutonniere, badges/mini pins, and long-stem pins.
Boutonniere
This is a floral pin that’s fashioned from real flowers or fabric. Some custom lapel pins are made from silk. Boutonnieres are incredibly formal and as such, are common at funerals, weddings, and black-tie events.
Badges/Mini Pins
These are a fun way to accessorize your outfit and are available in all kinds of designs, from personalized badges to precious stone pins. Badges are often small and non-descript.
Long-Stem Pins
This is a more contemporary fashion accessory for the modern gentleman. Available in a wide range of eclectic styles, long-stem pins can be used for virtually any event. They are useful where the lapel buttonholes aren’t functional, since the pin goes through the lapel and back out with ease.
Basic Rules of Wearing Men’s Lapel Pins
For the best look, lapel pins come with some basic wearing rules. Some of the popular rules include:
- Always place the pin on the left lapel above the pocket square
- Attach the lapel pin or stick stem of your boutonniere through the lapel buttonhole
- You can also pierce the pin straight through the fabric of your blazer if it doesn’t have a lapel buttonhole
- Alternatively, sew an inconspicuous thread onto the back of the lapel; It will hold your pins in place without penetrating the material
- Always ensure that the lapel pin sits at the same angle as the lapel, especially if you are using a long-stem pin
When and How to Style Your Lapel Pins
You must understand that certain events demand a certain type of lapel pin. For instance, rocking a political lapel pin to a wedding is not okay; so is wearing a rainbow flower lapel pin to a black-tie formal event. Keep these guidelines in mind when styling your lapel pins and you’ll stand out wherever you go.
Black-Tie Events
A smart tuxedo paired with a boutonniere lapel pin is a perfect combination for formal events where the expectations are high. Try wearing your dinner jacket with a red or white rose boutonniere. A single, plum bud is also a great way to accessorize your suit.
Work
If you are looking to give your office outfit an upgrade, a metal lapel pin is a perfect way to go. It easily matches with other accessories including the belt, cufflinks, and watch. Forgoing the tie clip or collar bar will maximize the pin’s effect on your overall look.
Casual Wear
For the times when you don’t have to go full formal, a layered pin look that combines different textures and dimensions lends more dynamics to your blazer. The key to pulling off this look is fluidity. You can tie in the boutonniere with the floral pocket square or the metal of your pin to the hue of a naturally falling scarf for a stylish finish.
The Daring Option
If you want to push boundaries with your men’s lapel pins, bright-colored pins paired with a neutral blazer will do it. An important aspect here is knowing how to coordinate different colors.
Primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) paired with monotone suit jackets are a great way to create a dramatic effect. You’ll want to keep your shirt neutral if wearing a patterned tie.
Tonal Lapel Pins
If you are the shy type, try wearing tonal lapel pins. Pair them with a matching jacket to create a textural vision. Blues, greens, and other analogous colors offer a unified approach to styling your tonal lapel pins as well. Just remember to base out the color wash with an anchoring neutral shade such as white, black, or beige.
Military Lapel Pins
There is a strict etiquette to wearing military medals with civilian clothes. Like other pins, you should wear them on the left lapel. The difference is that you should pin the medals horizontally with a brooch or metal bar.
You should also wear them on one row only and as such, there may be overlap on your chest. The most senior medal should be on the right, with the rest added in descending order. Keep in mind that wearing a pocket handkerchief with military medals is frowned upon, as it distracts from your achievements.
How to Wear Men’s Lapel Pins: Learn How to Revamp Your Style
You now know the ins and outs of wearing men’s lapel pins. It might seem a little daunting at first but after experimenting with them for a while, you’ll never want to leave home without a lapel pin.
Keep in mind that confidence is key with everything style-related. So start small with subtle pins and see how much bolder you can get.
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