You probably wonder how to pair a lapel pin with a suit if you plan to purchase one. Several caveats should be kept in mind. Find out how to place pins on your jacket, what colors to choose, and even what to avoid. You can dress up your suit with your tie pin depending on the occasion.
1. Precautions for Suit Piercing Pin
Lapel pins can add a little something extra to your sports coat. Most sport coats have fancy designs, so you can use a collar pin for that extra oomph. But when choosing a collar pin, make sure the color matches your suit. You can also wear one over a tie, blazer, or another casual shirt. While collar pins are common in menswear, you should take some time to consider your personal taste and style when choosing one.
Lapel pins can be made from many different types of fabric, including metal (especially custom enamel pins), leather, cotton, and even silk. Silk or satin florals look great with a suit, but cotton is best for evening wear. When wearing a lapel pin with a men’s suit, you should wear it in a way that makes a statement while keeping it low-key.
The brooch should be worn on the left lapel without looking too bulky. Also, don’t wear collar pins on your cufflinks as they will look awkward and out of place. When wearing a men’s suit with a collar pin, it must be worn on the left collar. If the lapel is not pierced, make sure the lapel pin sticks out above the center of the square.
Collar pins can be attached to a blazer through the buttonholes, but cannot be hooked into the material. Remember to use neutral colors in your suit. If you’re wearing a solid-color blazer, wear a solid-color tie, as this will minimize the impact of a single pin. Another way to pin a collar pin on a suit is with a T-shirt or sweater. Adding a simple button-down tee will give your blazer a chic, casual edge.
（Another related post: How to Make Profit from An Enamel Pin Business?)
2. Choose A Color for the Collar Pin
If you’re thinking of adding a lapel pin to your suit, there are a few things to consider before making the purchase.
1) Complement Color
First, you need to choose a color that will complement the rest of your suit. The pin should not conflict with the color of the tie or square scarf. If you’re not sure about the color of your suit, choose something neutral and not too bright. To pick the right colors, it’s a good idea to know a little bit about color theory. Colors that match each other are called hues and complementary colors, respectively.
If you’re new to color theory, neutral colors are your best bet. Choosing a color for a suit’s lapel pins isn’t difficult—all you need to do is choose a color that complements the other metals in your garment. You can also decide on the length of the collar pin. For a sleek look, it can be pierced through the front of the lapel.
2) Conservative Look
On the other hand, if you want a more conservative look, you can leave the back of the pin visible. Regardless of your personal style, long-handle pins look great when worn with care, but be sure to choose the right length. Long lapel pins can also have long handles, so it’s important to make sure the angled pin is flush with the lapel.
3) Metal Lavalier
The color of the collar pin should coordinate with the other hardware in the suit. This is especially important when you are choosing a metal lavalier for a fine dinner. Remember to match the color with the other metals in the set. Also, if you’re wearing a suit to the office, avoid any unnecessary metal such as tie clips and ties. Metal tie pins are the highlight of detail and should not be overdone.
（Another related study case: Fantasy Pin Project from USA)
3. How to Wear a Lapel Pin On A Suit: Step-by-step
Adding lapel pins to a boring suit adds personality and interest. Whether you wear lapel pins regularly or are just starting to experiment with them, you can create a look that stands out. By choosing a brooch and wearing it correctly, you can wear your brooch with confidence.
1) Choose a lapel pin
If you are new to using lapel pins, try using lapel pins. Choose a pin that is safe and easy to wear for a classic look. These pins have a needle with a design on it, a thin needle, and a collar that slides up and down on the needle to secure it. A timeless look is assured with this lapel pin, which is the most common of all lapel pins.
Use a magnetic pin to protect a beautiful suit. Choose pins with magnetic clasps to avoid leaving tiny holes in your precious suits. These closures use 2 magnetic clasps to hold your pin in place through the lapel fabric. Unfortunately, these pins tend to be less secure than other types of pins.
If you are moving, use screw and nut pins. If you will be playing lawn games at the wedding or moving around a lot, choose screw and nut pins. These pins use threaded screws to hold the ends of the pins in place. They are considered the most secure clasp of all lapel pins.
Show off your cheeky side by trying a butterfly clip pin. If you want to wear a novelty pin, choose a butterfly clasp. These pins have a sharp needle on one side and a cup-shaped closure that grabs the needle on the other side. Typically, these pins are small and work best for school badges, flags, or other novel shapes.
2) Wear a badge
Place the pin on the left lapel. Plan to pin the lapel pin above the left pocket of your suit. Unscrew or loosen all the backings and place them on a small plate in front of you so you don’t lose them. If you’re going to wear a pocket square, choose a pin that won’t be covered by the handkerchief.
- Lapel pins are traditionally worn on the left-hand side, above the wearer’s heart.
Put the pin through the buttonhole on the left lapel. Put the pin of the safety pin through the buttonhole of the lapel. The front side of the needle should be pointing forward and out of the hole, while the needle is still on the back. Be careful not to stick yourself when the back of the pin comes off.
If there are no buttonholes, place the pin directly through the lapel. If your suit does not have buttonholes, gently push the lapel pin through the fabric of the suit at a subtle angle that matches your lapel. Make sure the backing is secure. If you’re nervous about this, ask a more experienced dresser or tailor to do it for you.
Put the bottom of the pin through the front of the lapel. If you have pins, find a spot on the back of the lapel so that the fabric on the front of the lapel lies flat between the ends of the pins. The pin should be at the same subtle angle as your lapel. Bring the needle through that point to the front of the fabric.
- Attach the bottom of the pin so that it shows on the front of the lapel.
- What is considered a more modern approach is to thread the end of the pin through the front of the lapel. If you want a more traditional or conservative look, leave the back of the pin on the back of the lapel. You simply reattach the back of the pin to that side of the lapel.
- If opting for a more conservative look, ask your tailor to sew a discreet loop on the back of the lapel to hold the pin in place.
If you have a butterfly, magnetic, or screw-and-nut fastener, install the backing. Twist or clip the backing of the pin onto the pin to secure the pin. The backing should be hidden on the front of the lapel, with the head of the pin sticking out of the buttonhole.
- Adjust the pin as needed to keep it at the same angle as the lapel.
3) Design lapel pins
Match the metal of the pin to the other accessories. Wear uniform metal on belt buckles, cufflinks, watches, and pins for a unified look. This will help you look elegant and effortless. For example, pair a gold or bronze pin with gold and bronze accessories.
- Silver can provide a more casual alternative to warm-toned metals.
Choose pins that are proportional to the rest of your outfit. Avoid using overly large pins that look funny, or worse, they could be a clown’s gag corsage. Your pins should enhance your overall look, not be the focal point of your outfit.
- If you’re just starting out, choose smaller pins until you can more easily create a complete look with lapel pins.
- Department store staff can help you choose pins that fit the proportions of your suit.
Stick to tone-on-tone colors for a cohesive look. Choose a lapel pin that matches the color of your tie or suit. This will add texture to your look without creating too much contrast that could distract from your pins.
- If you’re feeling bold, try choosing a color from the same part of the color wheel as your suit. A purple or green lapel pin can provide great depth to a blue suit, while a red or orange pin may look tacky.
- Neutral colors like beige, gray, and black tend to go with everything, especially gray and black suits. Choosing pins in these colors will ensure your pins always match your look.
Try a personalized lapel pin. Make your own badges at online stores like SICpin. You can design a custom image that’s meaningful to you. For example, create a pin with your initials or family seal for a personal touch.
- A creative, eye-catching lapel pin can be a great conversation starter.
Choose a red or white floral pin for your tuxedo. Hot a classic corsage by choosing a red or white floral pin with your tuxedo. The brooch should usually be worn on the left lapel.
- Some flower pins even look like real flowers. Choose a formal fabric like silk or satin and pair it with elegant accessories like pearls to add a sophisticated touch to a traditional corsage.
Choose a design that suits your workplace. Wear a professional and office-appropriate badge that is appropriate for your job. While a naked woman or a knife in her lapel might be interesting for art, it’s not appropriate for work.
- For example, a typewriter badge might be an appropriate office choice for a newspaper job.
- When in doubt, stick with classic symbols that won’t offend anyone, such as lilies or feathers.
Wear only 1 pin at a time. Unless you are in a special club, such as a military organization, wearing multiple pins at the same time can appear confusing and distracting. Choose only 1 pin at a time to keep the focus on you, not your accessories.
（Another related study case: Soft Enamel Pin Project from UAE)
4. Advice on Wearing A Suit Collar Pin
If you’re trying to wear lapel pins on your suit, there are a few key things to keep in mind.
1) Similar Option
Instead of collar pins, you can also use enamel pins or badges. Adding pins to your suit won’t be a fashion disaster; however, it will be a distraction. In addition to choosing the right brooch, you should also consider the occasion for which it will be worn. When it comes to tiepins, you should also keep in mind that they are mainly used for dressier occasions.
2) Color Clash
You want to avoid color clashes, so a bright tie pin will look out of place. When choosing a collar clip, try not to use pins that match the color of your tie or square scarf. Instead, choose a pin in a complementary color or a lighter shade of the same color.
Keep in mind that suits will often come with black, gray, or white collar pins, choosing a color that doesn’t conflict with the shirt will ensure a good fit. A lapel pin is a decorative ornament worn on the lapel of a suit jacket. Its main purpose is to show club or guild membership. While it does add visual interest, the lapel pin is more for visual effect than practical tailoring function.
Additionally, many award societies offer lapel pins. France, for example, awards the Legion of Honor in the form of a discreet red rosette. Additionally, collar pins should be worn sparingly at formal events. However, corsages should be white or red single flowers.
（Another related post: Lapel Pin 101: Everything You Need to Know)
5. Conclusion
That’s how this guide summarizes the steps and tips on how to wear lapel pins on your suit. If you are a man wearing lapel pins for the first time, I am sure you will have something to gain after reading this article. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.