How to Wear a Lapel Pin: Rules and Ideas for Wearing Pins

A lapel pin is a type of accessory that goes on the left fold of a jacket or coat, right above the heart. These statement pins are both ornamental and symbolic, as when organizations use lapel pins to indicate a person’s accomplishments or status. The finish of lapel pins varies from glossy to matte. While most lapel pins are metal pins of copper, gold, or brass, you can also find wood, felt, and silk lapel pins.

Lapel pins use different construction methods and design techniques to result in unique finishes. Common lapel pin styles include:

1. 1. Badge: The badge pin serves a political purpose. These pins display emblems of political organizations and parties to encourage people to vote or participate in another way.
2. 2. Boutonniere: Incorporating real flowers, boutonnieres are elegant, one-time-use accessories for formal events, such as weddings and proms. These flower pins were traditionally menswear accessories; however, anyone can add a flower lapel pin to their look.
3. 3. Butterfly clutch: Military branches use butterfly clutch pins to indicate a person’s position. These small pins often have unique shapes and use a needle and screw-back for fastening.
4. 4. Die-struck: Featuring a two-tone finish, die-struck pins are often elaborate in design. These types of pins use sandblasting in the recessed areas to display the material’s texture and create a polished look.
5. 5. Enamel: Offering good durability, enamel lapel pins bake at high temperatures and fall into two categories: hard enamel and soft enamel. Hard enamel pins, or cloisonné pins, bake different colors separately, while soft enamel pins bake the color cutouts at the same time.
6. 6. Photo-etched: An ideal choice for large pin designs, photo-etched pins chemically add an image to a metal pin. Custom lapel pins often use this process to create inexpensive pins that showcase a printed photo of an organization, sports team, or school.
7. 7. Stick pins: Unlike other types of lapel pins, stick pins use a needle and cap to latch onto the fabric. The stick pin has a long, narrow piece of metal that displays the pin design on top. These types of pins are easy to attach to a jacket or shirt.

Similar to incorporating cuff links into your outfit, adding a lapel pin is a simple way to make a fashion statement or display your achievements. Traditionally, lapel pins sit on the left lapel of a jacket; however, you can place your pin according to personal preference. Consider these styling tips for wearing a lapel pin:

• Choose a pin. Select a pin style according to your outfit. For special events that require formal attire, consider an ornate pin, such as a boutonniere or die-struck pin. Stick pins and butterfly clutches will make a fashion statement with even an everyday outfit.
• Open the clasp of your lapel pin. Different types of lapel pins have varying clasps. Remove the backing of your lapel pin by either unscrewing or unpinning the back piece. Some lapel pins have a needle or safety pin backing you can simply snap open.
• Place the pin on your lapel. Place the top piece of your pin on the left side of your jacket, just below the collar. For suit jackets with a lapel buttonhole, place the pin over the opening to cover the hole. If you have a pocket square in your breast pocket, place the pin above the top of the pocket square so the fabric doesn’t block the pin.
• Secure the pin. Hold the top piece of the pin in place with one hand. With your other hand, guide the needle of the pin through the buttonhole, lining up the back of the lapel piece along the inner fold of your jacket or blazer. Secure the pin to your jacket by reattaching the backing to the front piece. If you don’t have a lapel buttonhole, pierce the fabric of your jacket or blazer with the needle of the pin.
• Play with pin placement. Consider changing up the placement of your lapel pin to create a unique look. During the summer months, secure your lapel pin to a dress shirt or tie rather than a warm jacket. When styling a lapel pin with a tie, opt for a solid-colored tie to avoid mixing patterns.

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