BUTTONS make or break a suit

[BellyTank]

herringbonekid turned me on to Button Queen in London...
bk

That's funny...

David Saxby gave me them- a good source indeed.

http://www.thebuttonqueen.co.uk/

B
T

 

[Alan Eardley]

Buttons in London

Also DM Buttons in D'arblay Street, Soho. Mainly covered and modern, but useful and they do while-you-wait button holes in a variety of styles.

Alan

 

[Dagwood]

An obscure question - What distinguishes modern buttons from those used during the 1930's and 1940's?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

An obscure question - What distinguishes modern buttons from those used during the 1930's and 1940's?

Not much. Today's suit buttons, especially the smooth, shiny, lacquered ones, look a lot like '30s-'40s ones. Perhaps the only real difference is that a lot more of today's suits have horn-looking buttons than did suits of the golden era. Conversely, butterscotch-colored bakelite buttons were more widely used in the old days.

 

[Nonchalant]

I liked the caramel better, Marc. (the colour, not those horrid buttons; a set of buttons just like the ones you chose, but in caramel, would have made this my fantasy jacket)

bk

I agree with BK and Paddy about the color contrast. Caramel colored buttons would look very fine on a gray suit like yours. It's also a neat period detail.

Personal color preferences aside, thank you for another very informative thread Marc. I've been wondering for some time now where I could go to pick up some nice suit buttons.

I have a modern DB Glen Plaid suit that I've been anxious to replace the buttons on. A great suit, but right now the buttons are these hideous reddish semi-transparent things. I was thinking to replace them with caramel buttons like I've seen on some vintage Glen Plaid suits... Well, now I know exactly where to look.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Nonchalant, you'll find all the button styles you could hope for at International Silks & Woolens. They have lots of deadstock vintage buttons from the '30s and '40s, too. Bakelite, corozo ... you name it, they've got it. Be sure to look at the buttons on the high shelves behind the counter.


The back room's wall is covered with inscribed photos by such stars as Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, and many more golden era actors who shopped there.

.

 

[Matt Deckard]

I like glass buttons myself.

 

[Dagwood]

Not much. Today's suit buttons, especially the smooth, shiny, lacquered ones, look a lot like '30s-'40s ones. Perhaps the only real difference is that a lot more of today's suits have horn-looking buttons than did suits of the golden era. Conversely, butterscotch-colored bakelite buttons were more widely used in the old days.

Thanks for the explanation M.C. I thought you would find this interesting:

"First thing you need to know is that Bakelite and Catalin are two different plastics, but are both commonly referred to as Bakelite. All of the 'Bakelite' jewelry that you see is actually Catalin. Bakelite was generally only used for electrical appliances, handles on pots and coffee pots, etc. because it will not melt. Bakelite/Catalin exposed to open flames will only char. Knowing how to test for Bakelite and Catalin can also help you date other items that have Bakelite or Catalin elements, i.e. handles. Bakelite was invented in 1907 and Catalin came around in 1928. The use of Bakelite and Catalin for everyday items pretty much died out after WWII. Therefore most items containing Bakelite or Catalin elements are from around 1907-1945."

"Bakelite was only made in two varying colors: brown and black. It could only be made in these two colors because of the extreme heat it endured while being cured."

"Catalin is usually very colorful"

She typed out a whole page. It's pretty interesting.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Fascinating! Had no idea about the difference between bakelite and catalin. Thanks!

.