This thread holds the flower stem against the lapel, thereby holding the flower upright. If the buttonhole is present and functioning, be sure before wearing a boutonniere that there is a thread on the rear of the lapel and slightly below the buttonhole. In men's fashion, the word, 'boutonniere' can mean the hole in the lapel or the flower which decorates it. In the U.S., the word 'boutonniere' is associated with proms or weddings, as in the flower itself that adorns the lapel. Boutonniere is French for buttonhole, so this latter is easy to comprehend. In the U.K., it is called the 'boutonniere'. In the U.S., we call it the lapel buttonhole. Thence he had his tailor put the hole is all of his jacket lapels and society followed. He made the splendid gentlemanly gesture of cutting a hole in his lapel right there, and put the flowers in the lapel. The most popular story is of Prince Albert being presented with a small bouquet from Queen Victoria on their wedding day. Yes, we did, but the reason for the hole in the jacket lapel as we know it today isn't because of this old function. Didn't we need to button up our lapels back in the days before overcoats? What confuses fashion neophytes is the lack of a button on the opposing lapel, even on the rear side. The left jacket lapel of a custom suit jacket or sport coat today, more often than not, has what looks like a large buttonhole near the top of the lapel, below the collar. This is the gentleman's guide to what this little hole does, what to put in it, and then some final points to remember. This ever-present little line of stitches on the left jacket lapel is seldom utilized and almost never correctly exploited. Perhaps the least understood is the boutonniere, or buttonhole. Men tend to have an idea of what they like and deviate little from that idea, choosing to remain ignorant of such little pops of flair that can turn a decent outfit into an elegant and memorable one. A Flower Is Manlyįew elements of men's fashion are well understood by the general population.įewer still are those particular touches to a gentleman's look, such as the pocket square in a jacket, cufflinks on a shirt, or pleats on trousers which add real character. Use this information when you're through blending in and want to wear a flower in your lapel.

This is the gentleman's guide to wearing a boutonniere, the suit or sport jacket's buttonhole, and how to use it.

Boutonniere pins