Lapel pins are a fun way of adding color to everyday outfits. Learn how to wear lapel pins for different occasions.
What is a Lapel Pin?
Lapel pins are a type accessory that is worn on the left fold or above the heart of a jacket/coat. Statement pins can be ornamental or symbolic. For example, organizations may use lapel pins as a way to recognize a person’s achievements or status. Lapel pins come in a variety of finishes, from shiny to matte. Most lapel pins are made of metal, such as brass, copper, or gold. However, there are also lapel pins made from felt and silk.
7 Types of Lapel Pins
Different construction techniques and design techniques are used to create unique lapel pins. Common lapel pin styles include:
- Badge: A badge pin serves a political function. These pins feature emblems from political parties and organizations to encourage people to vote, or take part in other ways.
- Boutonniere: Using real flowers, boutonnieres can be used as elegant accessories for formal events such as weddings or proms. These flower pins were originally made for men, but anyone can use them to enhance their look with a flower lapelpin.
- To indicate: The position of a person, military branches use butterfly clutch pins. These pins are often small and unique and require a screw-back and a needle to fasten them.
- Two-tone die-struck pins: These pins have a complex design and are often intricate. These pins are made with sandblasting in the recesses to show the material’s texture and give them a polished appearance.
- Enamel: These pins are durable and bake at high temperatures. They can be classified into hard enamel or soft enamel. Cloisonne pins or hard enamel bake colors in their own way, while soft enamel pins bake color cutouts simultaneously.
- Photo-etched: This is a great option for large pin designs. Chemically adding an image to a metal pein makes it photo-etched. This process is often used to make custom lapel pins. These pins feature a printed photograph of an organization, school, or sports team.
- Stick pins: These pins are different from other types of lapel pins. They use a cap and a needle to attach the fabric.Stick pins are made of a narrow, long piece of metal with the pin design at its top. These pins can be attached to a jacket, or shirt.
How to wear a lapel pin?
A lapel pin, which is similar to incorporating cufflinks into an outfit, can be a great way to show your accomplishments or make fashion statements. Lapel pins are traditionally placed on the left side of a jacket. However, you can position your pin wherever suits you best. These styling tips will help you style a lapelpin.
- Select a pin: Choose a style that suits your outfit. Consider an ornate pin such as a boutonniere, die-struck or boutonniere for special occasions that require formal attire. Even an everyday outfit can be made fashionable by using butterfly clutches or stick pins.
- Your lapel pin’s: Clasp should be opened. There are many types of lapel pins. You can remove the backing from your lapel pin either by unscrewing it or by unpinning it. You can snap some lapel pins open by simply unscrewing the backing.
- Place the pin on your sleeve: Place the pin’s top on your jacket just below your collar. Place the pin above the buttonhole on a suit jacket with a lapel. To ensure that the pin doesn’t get blocked by fabric, place the pin over the pocket square if you have one.
- Secure the pin: One hand holds the pin’s top. Your other hand will guide the pin through the buttonhole. Line up the lapel piece of the pin along the inside fold of your jacket. Attach the backing to the jacket to secure the pin. The pin can be used to puncture the fabric of your jacket, or blazer if you don’t have one.
- You can play with pin placement: To create a unique look, you might change the location of your lapel pin. In the summer, you can attach your lapel pin to a tie or dress shirt rather than a warm jacket. To avoid mixing patterns, use a solid-colored tie when styling a lapelpin with a tie.