Dressing left or right?

[DennisN]

No, it's not that!!

I have bought two poppies, one for working dress and one for other.

In my reflective waistcoat which I wear all the time I'm working, is a plastic see-through pocket for an ID badge if I were to wear one. Because I always lose my poppies very quickly when the pin drops out, I have put my work poppy in the plastic pocket and it rests there secure and sound. On the right.

However, I notice that everybody on telly is wearing their poppy on the left lapel (or area) and we know the TV companies all make sure that everybody wears one, provided by Makeup. That's EVERYBODY. When I was in her majesty's service, the only rule I knew of was that it had to go behind our cap badges, but I never heard anything about where it went on other clothing.

I always put my "other" clothes poppy on the left lapel area, but that is simply because I'm right handed and can do the pinning with my right hand whilst the left holds it in place.

So is there a rule?
_________________
Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

[fruit]

Pin it on your tie? ;)

[M8TJT]

In my considered opinion, it matters not. It's the fact that you are remembering that is the important bit.
Medals are a bit different insofar as if you are wearing medals on someone else's behalf, you should wear them on the right so that people don't think that you have won them.

[253]

An issue that always provides a debate from all sides.

Personally, I always wear one on the left because that is where you would usually/normaly wear any 'honours' you might have been awarded during a persons life.
Also, it is the side of a jacket where the button hole is - or was.

I read, last year I think, that the RBL say that it doesn't matter where you wear it, as long as you wear it with pride.
I like the right handed reason though, and it works for me.
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Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100.

[253]

Probably off topic a bit, but may be relevant.
Back in my school days Iseem to remember reading or being told that during the days of chivalry (long gone), Knights wore their identifying coat of arms on shields which were carried on the left arm. Most Knights apparently being right handed and had a sword in that hand.
So apparently wearing badges, coats of arms, identifying tokens etc is a carry over from that.

Think I'll have a look at Google etc
_________________
Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100.

[DennisN]

[Privateer]

Hi Dennis,

I have always though that the etiquette was that men wear the poppy on the left, whilst ladies wear the poppy on the right.

I'm afraid that I don't know the etiquette about wearing medals.

I tend to wear the modern metal poppy lapel pin as it stays in place better than the traditional poppy.

[Guivre46]

I don't think it matters which side you wear it. I also prefer the metal poppies, the paper ones always rolled up under a coat, or came off. There is still a debate about the orientation of the poppy leaf; a lot of people go for two o'clock, but the 11 o'clock position is supported by some as representing the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Not that it matters much. The main point is to recognise bravery and sacrifice.
_________________
Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom

[bmuskett]

I saw this on Facebook today, I don't know how true it is.

"A lovely military man selling poppies stopped me today and asked if he could reposition mine - while doing so he told me that women should wear their poppy on their right side; the red represents the blood of all those who gave their lives, the black represents the mourning of those who didn't have their loved ones return home, and the green leaf represents the grass and crops growing and future prosperity after the war destroyed so much. The leaf should be positioned at 11 o'clock to represent the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the time that World War One formally ended. He was worried that younger generations wouldn't understand this and his generation wouldn't be around for much longer to teach them. "

[Privateer]

Both Guivre46 and bmuskett mentioned that the leaf should be positioned at 11 o'clock to represent the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. I've had a look at my metal pin poppy and its leaf is indeed positioned at 11 o'clock.

I think that the Royal British Legion gives the best Poppy and Remembrance etiquette, which M8TJT and 253 have already said:

[DennisN]

Thanks for all contributions.

My small metal poppy has a central pin which allows the whole poppy to turn to any direction. The pin grip is so loose that I can no longer wear it.

My Hi-Vis jacket pocket has the poppy in the viewing patch, with the leaf at about 8:45 - it wouldn't fit upright, so it points horizontally.

I'm not sure it should be "wear with pride", rather "Be proud to wear". Just me.
_________________
Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

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