Men and flowers?

Flowers are given – not worn.

This is a common notion among men.

The wearing of a flower in one's lapel is the least used gestures of elegance seen in modern times.

Much of this stems from the perception that flowers lie within the domain of the fairer sex.

However this is completely false and a view ignorant of history & biology.

You see men – both kings and soldiers – have worn flowers for hundreds of years.

A freshly picked flower represents fleeting beauty and life, and remind us to live this moment before it's gone.

In nature, and in humans until recently, it's the male of the species who must draw attention to himself with color and adornment to prove himself to society, his peers and mate.

Just look around – outside my window I see the Red Winged Blackbird wearing a boutonniere of sorts.

From a lion's mange to a peacocks feathers – males across the globe know it better to be looked over than overlooked.

A Flower is Manly

Few elements of men's fashion are well understood by the general population. Fewer 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. 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. Perhaps the least understood is the boutonniere, or buttonhole. This ever-present little line of stitches on the left jacket lapel is seldom utilized and almost never correctly exploited. This is the gentleman's guide to what this little hole does, what to put in it, and then some final points to remember. A Buttonhole without a Button? 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. What confuses fashion neophytes is the lack of a button on the opposing lapel even on the rear side. Didn't we need to button up our lapels back in the days before overcoats? 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. The most popular story is of Prince Albert being presented with a small bouquet from Queen Victoria on their wedding day. He made the splendid gentlemanly gesture of cutting a hole in his lapel right there, and put the flowers in the lapel. Thence he had his tailor put the hole is all of his jacket lapels and society followed. In the U.S., we call it the lapel buttonhole; in the U.K. it is called the boutonniere. “Boutonniere” is French for buttonhole, so this latter is easy to comprehend. In the U.S., the word “boutonniere” is associated with proms or weddings, as in the flower itself that adorns the lapel. In men's fashion the word “boutonniere” can mean the hole in the lapel or the flower which decorates it. 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. This thread holds the flower stem against the lapel, thereby holding the flower upright. Visit your tailor if the thread isn't there, he can add it easily. If the buttonhole is present but not functional, that is, the hole is closed, then you can have the tailor open it, finish it (to prevent fraying), and add the thread behind the lapel. If you have a jacket lapel that is devoid of the buttonhole, your tailor can sew one into the lapel. The One Boutonniere Rule Do not pin the flower to the lapel. A pinned flower is on par with clip-on neckties and cardboard pocket squares. They are out there but no gentleman with decent fashion sense wears them. The buttonhole is there for this purpose, so use it. If the hole is closed, refrain from wearing a boutonniere or simply have the hole cut open. Approximately one inch below the backside of the button hole should be a latch – this is for holding a water vase and holding the flower in place throughout the day. Pinning not only ignores the function of the lapel buttonhole, it is bad for garments. The pin can break threads and permanently damage a suit or sport jacket's lapel, just like wearing a tie tack will damage a necktie. If there is no buttonhole, again, do not pin a flower on. However: we often wear flowers at weddings and other special occasions – don't offend your family and friends by refusing to pin on a flower when that's what everyone is doing. Going against the grain in this way is not gentlemanly. Swallow your pride and break the rule in this case.