Carnation in lapel?

[Levallois]

How many of you wear a carnation (or other flower) in your lapel on occasion? If you do, is it real or (gasp) fake? Do you just stop in a flower-shop and buy a single flower? Keep a bunch on hand? Grow them yourself? I like this look but would love to hear others experiences. Thanks!

John

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"One wonders if there is a colour code?, apart from white at weddings, of course"

 

[Cody Pendant]

But of Course!

I love to wear a boutonnière in my lapel.
I normally just stop into the flower shop and buy a single flower and make it a boutonnière my self at home.
The biggest obstacle has been getting the hole cut in the lapel. Most suits no longer have one and one has to get one sewn in. Then most tailors are afraid to open the hole up, they say just a little for the pin, I say no, all the way for a flower. They just look in disbelief and I usually have to finish cutting it at home. sigh.
And Binkie, yes their are some color codes meanings. Most I am aware of deal with formal / semi-formal wear

 

[dhermann1]

When I used to MC dances at NY Swing Dance Society back in the 80's and 90's I would wear my vintage double breasted tux (with different colored bow ties and a cummerbund and all sorts of stuff I'd never do now since I KNOW BETTER ) I used to stop off at a florist on my way and get a red carnation, cut off the bottom foot and a half of stem, and pin it to my lapel. I was Mr Cool personified.
P.S. And always remember what Soupy Sales used to say: "Show me a country with pink automobiles, and I'll show you a pink car nation. Now what do we mean by that, right gang?"

 

[Dashing1]

In regards to the "fake" portion of your question...

I have seen a few old pics of classic, upscale menswear that referred to the use of a feather flower as boutonniere. I would love to find a few in various colors and in the right size, as I recall them looking good and would like to have a backup for days that a trip to the florist just can't be scheduled.

 

[Vanessa]

If you gentlemen always get a bouquet for your date, you'll always have a lapel flower.

 

[kuwisdelu]

If you gentlemen always get a bouquet for your date, you'll always have a lapel flower.

Aye, I never put a flower in my lapel on my own, but whenever I pick flowers for a young lady, I somehow always end up with one in my lapel

 

[skyvue]

I wear a flower sometimes, but I wish it was like the old days (as depicted in old movies, anyway) where there was a flower vendor on every corner and a flower could be had for a pittance and slipped right into the button hole.

NYC has lots of fresh flowers available at corner markets and such, but they don't sell single flowers, so a visit to a florist is required and the cost adds up.

 

[Slim Portly]

My local grocery store has a floral department, and the manager has given me carte blanche to steal individual flowers for my lapel whenever I wish. I try not to abuse the privilege, but it's nice knowing that I can just run in quickly on my way to the office every once in a while.

 

[HadleyH]

........ if you must wear something [huh] try a gardenia instead!
Menswear designer Tom Ford, often wears a fresh gardenia in the lapel of his double breasted tuxedo.

 

[Slim Portly]

I'll wear any flower that stikes my fancy.

 

[HadleyH]

I'll wear any flower that stikes my fancy.

Sure if it was worn well [huh] even an artichoke stuck on the lapel would look good.... you know...

 

[skyvue]

I always wear something other than a carnation.

 

[Cigarband]

Couldn't find a color code, but here is what different flowers mean:http://marriage.about.com/od/flowers/a/flowermean.htm

 

[Pyroxene]

No.

I don't but now I am interested.

 

[Sean1982]

I often wear a red carnation, in fact I have been for the last few days (they last about 4 if you put them in water at night). Cost 50p from a florist I was passing in Stoke Newington, North London.

It can be hard to find a carnation (not in fashion), or individual flowers at all now. Sadly the local florist does not have carnations, so I sometimes get a coloured flower, the one that looks like a ginat diasy crossed with small sunflower (nicer than it sounds)!

When I wear black tie to Glyndebourne (s summer opera festival in the UK), I call into the florists in Lewes who make me up a proper buttonhole (the wire and leaf etc, but with a white carnation usually). Also have button holes made from time to time if I pass competent looking florists. About £1 to £1.50

P.S: Most of my suits are vintage Savile Row, so all have working buttonholes, most with a little strap to keep the flower stem in place on the back of the lapel.

 

[avedwards]

All but one of my suits and jackets have functioning button holes, though no straps at the back. Ironically my one which has no button hole is my most vintage one, but a casual sport coat. I had to get some fake button holes opened up by a friend with a seam splitter though.

When I find a chance to wear black tie I wear one, usually just going into the garden and taking whichever flower catches my eye.

 

[Nick D]

I never have, but I've considered it. I have five large rose bushes in the back garden, I may take one off next time they're blooming to try it.

 

[Torpedo]

Hello,

There is a colour code, at least for roses - I guess must be applicable to other varieties of flower. Out of my head, red is for love; yellow, friendship; orange, passion; there are more.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

When we were at the black tie dinner at the vintage themed Yosemite Heritage Holidays in March, our son Daniel and I snitched him a mauve carnation from one of the Great Room's big flower arrangements. He got several positive comments that evening from the Art Deco Society gentlemen about it. Still need to find him a proper men's tussy mussy. Some of the Deco gents seem to always wear one at events, always looks very sharp. We have over 100 antique and modern rose bushes here, and cottage garden plants too so getting a rose or other flower for a lapel is easy to find here all year round. One time Daniel wore a love- in-the-mist flower in his buttonhole and it looked really nice for a change of pace. Husband Chuck for several years now has made my corsage for wearing to church on Mother's Day, so he can make up a proper wedding type buttoniere if that is better suited for the occassion than a lapel flower.