A lapel is the folded down part at the front of a collar, or the fold at the front of a shirt or jacket that is an extension of the collar. A lapel pin is a decorative ornament traditionally fastened by a pin that goes through the clothing and has a catch for securing the pin. Worn as an accessory, lapel pins can be functional and/or fashionable. Lapel pins are also known as bar pins or brooches.
Types of Lapel Pins
Some lapel pins are designed for businesses or organizations to indicate membership or recognition within the group. Company logos are commonly adorn lapel pins. Some lapel pins also commemorate special events, such as an employee or volunteer’s years of service, graduation years or honors, or athletic events.
Lapel pins like pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness are often worn to promote interest in, and show support for, a cause. Other pins worn to show support include other colored ribbons (red for HIV/AIDS awareness, royal blue for child abuse, gray for diabetes awareness, etc.), and patriotic flags.
Decorative brooches are types of lapel pins often worn to dress up an outfit. For example, they often complement ladies suit jackets.
Styles, sizes, and materials used for lapel pins vary widely. Fabrics, metals, beads, and gems are often components of lapel pins.
Wearing Lapel Pins
Some lapel pins must be worn in a regulation way, usually on the lapel, to create a uniform appearance of everyone in the group. People expect to look at the collar for an indication of membership or recognition.
Wearing a cluster of lapel pins or brooches can be a fun way to modernize this look.
Pins or brooches are also being worn at different locations beyond the lapel. Some of these locations include: above a belt loop, as a closure for a fabric belt, or as an addition to a hair accessory.