For years, men’s options in accessorizing a suit have been limited to the cuff-link and tie bar department, with an occasional pocket square thrown in. But as of late, guys from Hollywood’s red carpet to the halls of “The Hunger Games’” Capitol have been accessorizing their jacket lapels with some cooler-than-usual lapel pins. For buttonhole hardware that’s less about political or charitable affiliation and more about personal style, options worth exploring include: Orvis’ selection of German hat pins ($19 to $39) or “gamsbart” (literally “chamois beard”) came about as a sort of hunting trophy, which is why many of the metal and feather or deer hair pins include the stag head and cross insignia associated with St. Hubertus, the patron saint of hunters. Available online at Orvis.com and anyone placing an order at a retail store for delivery to the store will save shipping costs.
For something a little more unusual, there’s hardly a better conversation starter than wearing a silver, intricately detailed cockroach or housefly pin close to your heart. (MCT)
Lanvin’s delicate floral tie pins have garnered quite a celebrity following. New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony accessorized with a gray-check one in his buttonhole when he took in his first European runway show last summer. The cotton blossoms, which resemble roses or carnations, are available in solid colors and checked patterns for $170, with a more elegant, faded, silk rosebud version for $195. Available online at Lanvin.com.
George Esquivel, shoemaker to the well-heeled, started crafting his floral boutonnieres ($95 to $175) for himself and his friends after noticing the trend taking root during a trip to Europe. He makes them to order for customers using raw vachetta leather in a variety of colors, including lime green, blue, pink and red. Esquivel is partial to white because it “goes with everything.” Available by phone at (714) 670-2200 or by email at info@esquivelshoes.com.
For something a little more unusual, there’s hardly a better conversation starter than an intricately detailed cockroach or housefly pin worn close to your heart. Those are just two of the options offered by Los Angeles jewelry label Cast of Vices, the brainchild of creative director Christopher Glancy and jeweler Jay LeCompte. The silver cockroach ($270) and the fly in a variety of gem and metal combinations ($125 to $620) are available at A+R, 1121-1 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, California.
Vintage is another option when it comes to looking for a lapel pin. For evidence, look no further than “The Hunger Games’” President Snow, who manages to pull off the perfect balance of futuristic and retro by sporting a slender metal lapel pin that holds a white rose. According to the film’s costume designer Judianna Makovsky, the silver stem, designed to hold a moist bit of cotton in the bottom with a flower bud on top, was a 19th century Victorian corsage pin that belongs to Snow’s portrayer, actor Donald Sutherland, whom Makovsky describes as an avid collector of vintage men’s accessories. Options for vintage include various flea markets and jewelry resale shops and online sites such as EBay and Etsy.
By Adam Tschorn
(Los Angeles Times)
(MCT Information Services)
