How To Put On A Boutonniere & Lapel Flower Pin

Lately, there’s been increased interest in wearing boutonnieres, which are also known as lapel flower pins. People want to know the correct way to wear them, the types of jackets ideal for boutonnieres, and the specific placement to avoid common mistakes that make them look awkward.

This guide explains how to put on a boutonniere, how to attach it, and what to do if a jacket lacks a buttonhole or has one sewn shut. Whether a wearer prefers real or silk flowers, these tips will help you enjoy this classic accessory.

Ready to look sharp with a boutonniere?

Brief History of the Boutonniere

While there are various theories, including the famous story about Prince Albert inventing the lapel buttonhole to hold flowers from Queen Victoria as a romantic gesture on their wedding day, evidence suggests otherwise. Historical records, like his wedding portrait, show no indication of this practice.

Others say that the boutonniere’s origins date back to the 15th century as a good luck charm for a knight. However, the first concrete evidence appears in a 1771 Gainsborough painting, showcasing a flower worn in a jacket’s buttonhole.

Interestingly, this predates the traditional lapel; jackets then were buttoned high, eventually contributing to the lapel’s design as we know it.

How to Put a Boutonniere Into Your Jacket (Traditional Way)

Now that we’ve established the core rule, let’s dive into how to wear a boutonniere correctly. The first step is all about your jacket’s buttonhole:

Step #1: Check for a Buttonhole (Or Get One Added)

Ideally, your jacket will have a functional buttonhole. This is the traditional and preferred way to wear a boutonniere.

Many jackets come with a sewn-shut buttonhole. However, you can open it (carefully) by locating the buttonhole and using a small, sharp tool. It can be a pocket knife, box cutter, or a sharp razor blade to make a small, gentle cut to open the stitching. Make sure not to damage the seam or surrounding threads.

Once you have an open buttonhole on your jacket, simply insert the boutonniere stem through it. The procedure is the same for real and silk flowers.

Step #2: Use a Boutonniere Loop Stem Keeper or a Safety Pin

A stem keeper (a tiny loop at the back of the lapel) is a must-have to prevent your boutonniere from drooping or looking messy. It keeps everything secure and polished.

If your jacket doesn’t already have a stem keeper on the underside of your lapel, you can easily make one. However, if you don’t have time to make your stem keeper and you need a solution right away, get a simple safety pin.

Step #3: Insert the Boutonniere Flower

Once you’ve prepared your jacket, you can then slide your boutonniere stem through the buttonhole and keep the stem secure using either the boutonniere loop or the alternative closed safety pin. Nobody will see it from the front and you can easily remove it later.

Here are some examples of how to wear a boutonniere on a jacket with different colors and patterns:

Choosing the Right Boutonniere

The right boutonniere adds a final touch of refinement to your classic wardrobe. Let’s explore how to choose the perfect boutonniere to match the occasion while upholding timeless elegance.

Fresh or Silk Boutonniere Flowers – Which is Better?

The first step in selecting the perfect boutonniere is deciding on the type of flower. Are fresh flowers or the enduring beauty of silk the better choice for your boutonniere? Let’s weigh the options.

Fresh flowers

The quintessential choice for discerning gentlemen, fresh flowers offer a touch of elegance and vibrancy. Popular options include roses, orchids, lilies, and carnations. However, there are some drawbacks to consider.

Fresh flowers can be challenging to find exactly what you’re looking for. The flower stems might be too thick for a lapel, and most importantly, they wilt and stain your dress shirt or suit jacket.

Silk flowers

While fresh flowers have their traditional charm, silk flowers present compelling reasons to favor silk boutonnieres:

• Durability: Silk boutonnieres remain pristine throughout a long event, with no worries about wilting or staining, making them ideal for long events or travel. This is especially important for landmark events like weddings, proms, or graduations.
• Wider Variety: Silk flowers are available in a vast array of colors and styles and can even mimic the look of exotic blooms that might not be readily available.
• Lower Maintenance: Unlike fresh flowers, silk boutonnieres require no watering or special care.
• Realistic Look: High-quality silk flowers, like the ones created here in Gentleman’s Gazette, look very realistic. We use special techniques to achieve natural coloring and size down flowers that would be too large for a lapel.

Although silk flowers offer significant advantages, they also have drawbacks. Less-expensive silk flowers made with cheap fabrics show unrealistic details identifiable even from a distance. Furthermore, they may lack the vast color and size variety found in natural blooms.

Finally, creating high-quality, realistic silk flowers requires significant craftsmanship, which can sometimes lead to a higher price tag compared to simpler silk options.

So, which is better? Fresh or silk boutonnieres? Considering all of that, while quality silk flowers may have a slightly higher initial cost, their enduring beauty, versatility, and ease of use make them a superior value overall.

How to Style a Boutonniere for Different Events (Formal & Semi-formal)

Here are some key factors to consider when choosing your boutonniere:

Did You Know? While the groom and groomsmen typically wear distinct boutonnieres, other wedding guests are welcome to add this touch of refinement as well. Just make sure that your boutonniere is not overly showy, bold, or large, as this touch often indicates a member of the wedding party.

Important Note

The color and style of your suit should influence your boutonniere selection. A bold-colored flower might overpower a light-colored suit, while more muted boutonniere flowers might complement a patterned jacket.

Moreover, you should pay attention to the proportion of the lapel and the flower when selecting your boutonniere. It should be in scale with the lapel of your jacket. Opt for smaller flowers for a balanced look, as a large flower head on a narrow lapel will look out of place.

Modern Adaptations (With a Caveat)

Today, contemporary trends and a decline in jackets with traditional buttonholes have led many to latch their boutonnieres directly to the fabric using 1 or 2 pins. 

However, it’s important to be aware of the drawbacks of direct pinning. As mentioned previously, this method often damages delicate fabrics and compromises the elegance of the overall look.

Plus, the visible pin detracts from the beauty of the flower and creates an informal aesthetic. While you can creatively adapt a boutonniere directly to dress shirts, vests, suits, blazers, and pocket squares and sometimes see them pinned to hat brims or ties, it is not considered classically “correct.”

Remember, these placements deviate from the classic approach and are often more difficult to secure neatly than a lapel buttonhole. But when left with no choice, always use caution with pins to avoid causing accidental injury.

Ready to Elevate Your Style?

Whether you’re a guest, heading to a wedding or a prom, or want to add polish to your everyday look, the boutonniére is a timeless touch.

Remember, always start with a functional buttonhole, add a stem keeper for a polished finish, and don’t be afraid to express your personality through your choice of flower and style.

Want more style guidance beyond the boutonniere? Sign up for our free newsletter and receive the “Gentlemen of Style” ebook to discover color-pairing secrets and build a wardrobe that makes you feel confident and stylish.