Guidelines on the wearing of Finnish decorations are laid out in a set of rules adopted on 1 June 1940 and in subsequent amendments to them. Decorations may be worn with all military and other uniforms (clergy, police, etc.) worn as formal dress.

CIVILIAN ATTIRE WITH WHICH DECORATIONS MAY BE WORN

• white tie (full evening dress): either full-size decorations or miniatures
• dark suit: for gentlemen, only full-size decorations; ladies may wear either full-size decorations or miniatures
• national dress: for gentlemen, only full-size decorations; ladies may wear either full-size decorations or miniatures
• black tie (dinner jacket): miniatures only

The organiser of the occasion will specify the dress code and whether decorations are to be worn. The invitation might say, for example, ‘white tie (full evening dress) and decorations’ or ‘dark suit and decorations’. For ladies, decorations are worn as indicated in the dress code for the corresponding gentlemen’s attire. In the case of ladies’ dress that corresponds to a dark suit, miniatures may be worn instead.

Decorations worn with a ribbon on the chest are attached on the left side with the top edge of the ribbons a little below the buttonhole on the lapel. If two or more decorations are worn, they should be sewn together in a row on the brooch-bar, though there should be no more than four decorations side by side if they do not overlap. If more than four, the ribbons may overlap such that the ribbon of a more senior decoration overlays that of a less senior one. The lower edges of the decorations must all be at the same level. This applies both to full-size decorations and miniatures. If a breast pocket handkerchief or pocket square is used, the decorations must not cover it. Breast pocket handkerchiefs and pocket squares are not used with full-size decorations. The total height of a full-size decoration with its ribbon should be about 10 cm. The corresponding height of miniatures is about 5 cm.