I rarely wear lapel pins or boutonnieres. The reason is my first choice is cufflinks, and my second choice is a collar clip. Because lapel decorations aren't very high up on my favored accessories (somewhere above bracelets, which I never wear, and below tie bars, which I rarely wear), I'd rather skip them for the sake of avoiding visual overload and over-accesorized tackiness.
Made famous by the designer & architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1947, the dictum "Less is more" came to define the brave, utopian ideals of modernist design & architecture. Actually the phrase originated in Robert Browning's 1855 poem Andrea del Sarto. Great video!
I think it's a really cool act that the UK military gives out veteran pins. When I left the military, I got my service record and a plane ticket 😊. Thanks for another great video.
My father being a veteran of the Normandy Campaign in the Second World War, I always wear a poppy for Remembrance Day on November 11th, and in the week leading up to that date. Other than that, I can't imagine wearing any lapel adornment, except for a boutonniere if I were part of a wedding party. Having said that, if you have the desire and the confidence to wear a boutonniere, or a lapel pin, or even a brooch, more power to you. Wearing a tie and a pocket square with a suit or sport coat marks me out as an eccentric in my social circle. -If I'm wearing long pants and a shirt with a collar, I might as well be Fred Astaire in top hat, white tie, and tails.
Sage advice as ever Ash. It's a balance between a well landed point of interest. Versus "who does this guy think he is". A genuine forces or worthy charity affiliation is probably the best application. If I identify someone as ex Army, RAF or Navy they win my respect and am keen to learn more about their experiences. Aside from the day job they have some guts and character! Unlike me who is not a member of anything special😊
“Be careful not to over-egg the pudding.” Brilliant. I’m going to steal that line. Reminds me of another British expression I once heard: “Looks like someone’s had a fiddle and made a pig’s ear of it.”
I currently only have two lapel pins. One represents my university and so my past, and the other a charity I continually endorse and so my present and future. I think the key is when you said what should be shown is " discrete recognition".
I think that brooches have a place on the lapels of overcoats. Bold for certain, but the overcoat is usually sans adornment despite covering a lot of visual real estate. I suggest smallish modern designs such as a minimalist boutonniere, or something hinting at art deco.
I like boutonnieres when worn in a button hole. I think there are few things more ghastly than a flower with its stem wrapped in foil, pinned to a lapel. It is a shame that so many modern jackets no longer have button holes in their lapels. 😎
Great advice Ash. We here in the US have a lot of stolen valor. I like wearing lapel pins I have masonic and hunting and sometimes wear Coast Guard aux. Pins or ribbons. All are very good conversation starters. Less is more is a good guide. Cheers Ron
excellent topic Ash as I told you before I'm a massive shoe fan (Loake)so I wear a brogue shoe tie pin which astonishes me in the 4 years I've worn it it's never ever come into a topic or conversation with customer which I serve daily!! exellent change and great studio choice love it Ash.
Absolutely agree Ash. I do occasionally wear a small black cloth boutonniere. I find it goes well with every style and colour of blazer I wear. I never wear lapel badges other than a metal poppy every October and November. As for the broach....I can recall those being very "in" back in the 1980s. Would I wear then now? Maybe! Love your man cave Ash. What man does not want a place away from everything....may invest in one myself. Great video as usual Sir.
Well done as usual. I think your overall flair should blend together in such a way that no one thing stands out, but shows style and class all at once.
Nice vid Ash. I will be sending you an email shortly. Yes less is more always. What do you think of the Tudor BB in 36 mil vice the Explorer 1 that you are looking at? Greetings from Western Canada Chris
Great advice Ash, a quick question, if you have a patterned jacket or suit should you wear a plain tie and shirt? Also if you had a patterned shirt should you wear a plain coloured tie? Having different patterns when wearing the same clothes looks too busy, unorganised and a bit unprofessional?
I would be very careful when blending too many patterns. I usually wear a plain accessory with a patterned garment. Remember our mantra - 'less is more'
Brooches make you extravagant. Not for every person. I wear boutonnières from time to time but never a poppy (not even a lapel poppy pin). Every flower has a meaning of its own. Careful there.
Adorning lapels? Hm.. When I was in my teens I was introduced to a guy (the youngest son of an acquaintance of my parents) who wearing a donkey jacket with a whole row of heavy metal badges down each lapel. I've always tried not to judge people by their dress, but I just instinctively found this highly suspect. And I wasn't wrong either! He turned out to be a _total_ head case who (among other things) trashed hotel rooms! :-0