Wearing a pocket square / lapel flower when boss doesn't?

[flix]

G'Day Gentlemen!

Is it okay to wear a pocket square with your suit when e.g. my boss never does? What about a lapel flower / boutonnieres?
An employee shouldn't dress better than the boss does, right? But is a pocket square and lapel flower better? Or just different?

Please tell me your opinion, your experiences and share your knowledge. Thanks in advance!

Cheers,
Flix!

edit:
It would be while having meetings with customers, presenting products, training of customers, etc...

 

[edinatlanta]

You're going to get fired if you do. FYI

 

[mcbrown]



It would be while having meetings with customers, presenting products, training of customers, etc...

This makes it an especially bad idea. If you work hidden away from customers you usually have more leeway to be seen as "quirky" and deviate from the dress paradigm of your boss. If you have any kind of sales role, forget it. Dress conservatively, which in the modern world (like it or not) means no pocket square and definitely no lapel flower. "Better" has nothing to do with it - you don't want to risk appearing foppish to your customers, especially if your boss isn't.

 

[flix]

That's what I thought... Thanks mcbrown!

I'm not really a sales guy. My boss is, I'm just a programmer who supports him with technical issues.

 

[Dewey]

The OneAnswer to all of these questions: if you have to ask, then you should not do it.

Could someone pull this off? Yes of course. But that person did not begin by asking someone else if it was a good idea.

 

[Huntsman]

The OneAnswer to all of these questions: if you have to ask, then you should not do it.

Could someone pull this off? Yes of course. But that person did not begin by asking someone else if it was a good idea.

As someone who does pull that off, I can say this is entirely correct.

 

[flix]

I don't know if it matters. I always thought so - I learned that somewhere...
Recently I wore a lapel flower to work. I got some compliments on it from my colleagues. (Not from my boss, he'd never say something about someone elses clothes as far as I know... )
But that was only in the office, not in a customer meeting or on customer site.

 

[plei89]

I'd avoid it if you're doing any type of customer interfacing. I think a white cotton pocket square would be fine though.