Men's Style Blog
Section: Formalwear and Accessories - Blog
If you think adorning your clothes with flowers is only for women, think again. Over the ages, poets, warriors and statesmen all wore flowers on their lapels. While it is still appropriate for men to wear flowers in today’s world, it’s important to know which occasions call for flowers and how to wear those blooms properly .
Most men will wear flowers on their suit lapels on rare occasions during a lifetime. How unfortunate! A stylish boutonniere adds panache to a man's appearance and serves as an indicator of his high confidence levels. It symbolises the fragility and fleeting nature of life as well as the beauty of nature and of love undefined, all expressed in a single, simple bloom.
The boutonniere is worn on the left lapel of men's suits, sports jackets or blazers; it can also be worn on overcoats. It is always attached above a man's heart and should be worn either on the lapel side or in the lapel's buttonhole.
Most high-end suits have functional lapel buttonholes, feature a latch, and are well manufactured to support the flower.
To accommodate a flower, a jacket must have:
As these add to the cost of the jacket, most mass manufacturers do not provide this feature. If you have uncut holes or no buttonholes on your lapels, just pin the boutonniere to the lapel.
On the other hand, you could have the buttonhole cut; it takes about 20 minutes and usually costs around $15-$30. When choosing your boutonniere, chose a lightweight flower with a stem that is either professionally-prepared or looks simple and attractive.
Formal events like weddings, anniversaries or nights at the opera or theatre are usually the only times most men wear a boutonniere these days. However, the rule for wearing a boutonniere is they can be worn on any occasion – and not just special ones.
In fact, the races is an excellent opportunity to wear a boutonniere, especially during Spring Carnival, as spring is when the flowers are blooming - and women are swooning - over men who know how to dress well,
All you need is the confidence to be different from the rest. However, men should not wear a boutonniere on those occasions where they don’t want to stand out from the crowd i.e. funerals or interviews being noteworthy instances.
Other Flowers: Some other flowers that are excellent choices but may need to be special ordered are:
Statice is a filler flower with an average of 5-8 tiny blooms clustered together. However, its lavender colour and long-lasting life can be great when you don't want to spend much in terms of either time or money in obtaining a flower.
Flowers have meanings that can change with cultures. For example, carnations are the national flower of Spain, denote respect in Korea, and are commonly worn on boutonnieres in Australia and the United States. However, in France, they are funeral flowers and deemed unlucky if worn at occasions other than funerals.
While some men might dismiss boutonnieres as feminine, they could discover they are misguided and mistaken. Over the past millennium, poets, warriors and statesmen all indulged in wearing flowers on their lapels. Soldiers headed for war wore roses on their uniforms. Further, flowers are traditionally used for a myriad of celebrations, whether for days of victories in sporting events or memorial days commemorating our fallen soldiers or heroes.
Now that you know how to select the perfect boutonniere and how to wear it with style, it might be time to update your wardrobe with a new custom made men’s suit. You’ll find hundreds of fashionable styles and fabric options when you visit our Sydney showroom.
Image Credits © Saiva | Dreamstime.com © Oleg Bashkir | Dreamstime.com © Elitravo | Dreamstime.com
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