Poppylicious: Reinventing the Poppy – Lest we Forget

A legion of new poppies has sprouted, thanks to some rather dubious rebranding.There’s no denying that all monies raised are in aid of a very worthy cause, but shouldn’t a little more respect be paid to the timelessly understated and universally recognized, bog standard Royal British Legion poppy? Personally, I prefer the traditional paper and plastic version, but…

It all began with the larger-sized, more elaborate blooms – a sort of ‘mine’s bigger than yours’ war of the Poppy-fancying populace. A self-made millionaire (recently sold the limo hire business) might have paid a few extra quid for a car poppy, only to find he’d been outdone by Liverpool’s Poppy Appeal version, which took two men to hold erect. Then Victor Meldrews started wandering around Sainsburys with poppy jute bags, whilst their fragrant wives purchased colourful poppy scarves (now out of stock).

Recent additions to the poppy fold have included designer brooches of the type worn by X-Factor judges and Z-Factor celebrities. The uniquely ornate Kleshna originals have already been replaced with slightly toned down crystal encrusted Buckley poppy brooches, which are said to be ‘attractively boxed’ too.

The executive who wishes to wear his poppy earlier than anyone else may now opt to display one all year round in the form of a poppy golf umbrella, a poppy lanyard… or in extreme cases of OCPD (Obsessive Compulsive Poppy Disorder), perhaps even the British Legion’s 90th Anniversary instant hand sanitizer.

There’s a sculpture for arty types as well – and Poppy Man (Wicker Man’s country garden offspring) has been recreated on a mug – although it appears that this is out of stock too (do poppy collectors know something we don’t?)

Good causes gurus and members of the younger generation may be tempted by the Max Res arm band, or decide to download the 2011 offical Poppy Appeal single – The Soldiers with Robin Gibb, singing I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You.

But, with the exception of the must have (aka out of stock) poppy spoon rest, the ultimate accolade in poptastic cool goes to the Barclays sponsored poppy-clad Boris bike, as modelled by poppylicious Christine Bleakley…

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About Author Profile: Susan Muncey

Trend consultant Susan Muncey, is Editor of Visuology Magazine. In 2008, she founded online curiosity shop, ShopCurious.com. She writes on style and trends for several blogs, including Visuology.com, ShopCuriousMag.com and The Dabbler. She previously owned cult West London boutique, Fashion Gallery, one of the first concept stores in the world. Susan graduated in geography from Cambridge University and is also an Associate Member of the CFA Institute. She lives in London with her husband.

13 thoughts on “Poppylicious: Reinventing the Poppy – Lest we Forget

  1. Wormstir@gmail.com'
    Worm
    November 5, 2011 at 08:27

    I actually rather like the umbrella I must say! The hand sanitizer is a product too far though…

    Regarding the whole poppy thing, I wonder if there’s a danger that we’re reaching a tipping point

    • info@shopcurious.com'
      November 5, 2011 at 14:14

      I don’t see a problem with introducing new products to expand the market and attract new funds, I quite like the idea of a mug, which is, after all, a little more useful than a poppy (though unfortunately no longer available). As far as a tipping point is concerned, I think we’ve gone over the edge in terms of tastefulness, Worm.

  2. Gaw
    November 5, 2011 at 11:41

    This year I discovered that there’s a Scottish poppy. From http://www.poppyscotland.co.uk:

    Since Earl Haig first launched the Poppy Appeal in Scotland in 1921, we have always had our own unique design. The Scottish poppy features four petals, whereas the poppy produced by the Royal British Legion for the Appeal in England, Wales and Northern Island has two petals and a green leaf.

    Why, you ask? An excellent mix of pedantry and parsimony (I make no comment as to how typically Scottish this might be):

    Apart from being botanically incorrect it would cost £15,000 to make leaves for all poppies – money we feel is better spent on veterans. We might be slightly biased but we think the Scottish poppy looks nicer too!

    • jameshamilton1968@googlemail.com'
      James Hamilton
      November 5, 2011 at 12:08

      Ah, you beat me to it, Gaw! I was just going to mention the Scottish poppy. One of those local peculiarities that reveal whether those who claim to like local peculiarities really do. I like it – and it’s more durable, in my experience, than the England/Wales one, and doesn’t need a pin to fix to your lapel.

      • Gaw
        November 5, 2011 at 12:29

        You don’t need a pin! Is there no end to the ways the Scots can improve on the English?

        • jameshamilton1968@googlemail.com'
          James Hamilton
          November 5, 2011 at 13:31

          I don’t think it’s a Scotland v England thing – can’t afford it to be, since I’m half of both. But the Scottish poppy is better for all that. Didn’t want to derail the thread away from Susan’s eyeopening survey (did you think it had all gone this far? I hadn’t!)

    • info@shopcurious.com'
      November 5, 2011 at 14:07

      I had no idea there was a Scottish Poppy, Gaw – thanks for letting us know. I’ve a smidgen of Scottish blood, but I think I’ll stick to the British? Legion’s English/Welsh/N Irish version …

      • Gaw
        November 5, 2011 at 14:52

        Susan, on Monday I put my money in the box outside Sloane Square tube station and was presented with a gorgeous version made of some sort of silky material, not just the petals and leaf but eye too. It also had a cunning green wire stem, which allowed one to wrap it around a button hole. It was altogether rather extravagant. I assumed it was a posh Chelsea thing – I believe you are much more familiar with the locale than me so could you let me know if this is right?

        • info@shopcurious.com'
          November 5, 2011 at 17:21

          Sorry, I can’t corroborate this, Gaw – perhaps it was something to do with Basia Zarzycka, who has a shop selling silk flowers in Sloane Square… I saw some little children wearing poppies today, which I thought was rather sweet — and a good idea for them to learn about the significance.

  3. info@shopcurious.com'
    November 5, 2011 at 17:01

    So are you still flouncing around the streets in your poseur’s poppy, Gaw? I recall the twisty paper on wire stems from some years ago, I thought they’d been ousted by Health and Safety. I’m not a great fan of those crimply silk creations – in fact I have to confess I rarely wear a poppy (unless it’s on a hat, or a shoe), though I always make a donation. One novel idea is to make your own poppy – eg you can download a pdf knitting pattern for this poppy, with proceeds going to the Poppy Appeal.

    • Gaw
      November 5, 2011 at 21:00

      Yes, I am and I’m now feeling quite self-conscious. I didn’t mean to make a ‘statement’.

      • Wormstir@gmail.com'
        Worm
        November 5, 2011 at 21:12

        He sa Hullo birds hullo clowds hullo poppies

  4. rosie@rosiebell.co.uk'
    November 6, 2011 at 00:38

    Ah, you beat me to it, Gaw! I was just going to mention the Scottish poppy. One of those local peculiarities that reveal whether those who claim to like local peculiarities really do. I like it – and it’s more durable, in my experience, than the England/Wales one, and doesn’t need a pin to fix to your lapel.

    I bought one the other evening and couldn’t get it to stick at all – I owned it for about an hour. Is that the one with 4 plastic leaves, and a stalk with one tiny offshoot – as I couldn’t fix mine to my jacket.

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