Boutonnière

The boutonnière (French, German Boutonniere ) is carried by men in the buttonhole of the jacket lapel flower.

In the time of the French Revolution (1789-1799) nobleman ascended the scaffold to her execution, often with a red carnation in his buttonhole as a sign of fearlessness. Later, during the time of the labor movement (from about 1840), a red carnation was worn at demonstrations or public meetings often when the carrying of flags was forbidden. Thus, Socialists and Communists could recognize the red flower.

Early 19th century was also the so-called dandies the Boutonnière as an expression of their idleness. Today, the flower in the buttonhole of men is only sporadically as a personal trademark or - worn on special events as weddings, dance event, where festivities often in the form of a small floral grouping - slightly more often.

Famous bearer

• Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands (1911-2004); He usually wore a white carnation in his buttonhole
• Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), former President of the Republic of South Africa
• Umberto Angeloni, former CEO of the fashion company Brioni
• Amir Abbas Hoveyda (1919-1979), former Iranian Prime Minister; wore every day a fresh carnation in his buttonhole