Boutonnieres and the history of the buttonhole on a lapel

It was said that Prince Albert was presented with a small bouquet from Queen Victoria on their wedding day. He made the gentlemanly gesture in cutting a hole in his right lapel and put the flowers in his lapel. He later had his tailor put holes in all of his jacket lapels and history then followed!

It's also true that the hole in the lapel had a real use which was to be able to button your suit jacket before overcoats.  "Boutonniere" is French for buttonhole.  In the US boutonniere is the flower itself that adorns the lapel.

The proper way to wear a flower in your lapel is to place it into the buttonhole and not pin it to your jacket.  Typically there is a thread that can be found on the rear of the lapel slightly below the buttonhole.  The thread holds the flower stem upright against the lapel.  A pinned boutonniere is on par with clip-on neckties and fake pocket squares.  The buttonhole is there for a purpose, so use it!  However, don't offend your family and friends if you're being asked to pin on a boutonniere.  You can always have your tailor sew one into your lapel if you do not already have a buttonhole present.