Buttons

[Joe Tradly]

Apologies if I’ve gotten this into the wrong forum.

Does anyone have a source for highland buttons? If one were to replace the silver buttons on a Prince Charlie coat for instance with black of similar shape and size?

Thanks very much,
JB

[Father Bill]

My closest Scottish shop has them. Yours may too. If not, drop me a PM and I'll put you in touch. Bright silver or "weathered" are both available.

[Luke MacGillie]

I am in the process of changing out the garish chrome diamond shaped buttons on my Argyle jacket and vest with round knotwork pewter buttons from JoAnn's fabrics.

[Dollander]

I am in the process of changing out the garish chrome diamond shaped buttons on my Argyle jacket and vest with round knotwork pewter buttons from JoAnn's fabrics.

Nice to know I'm not the only one who did that. Though I wound up getting mine from Button Jones, since my local JoAnn rarely has enough of the smaller ones in stock for an entire Argyll and waistcoat, plus they have that design in additional sizes.

As for black Argyll buttons, that's a toughie. It's hard to Google, for one, since the jackets themselves are typically black. I have seen both Argyll jackets and Sheriffmuir doublets with black buttons, but the same sellers only offer chrome buttons as a spares. Though if you just want something subtler than chrome, and the above-mentioned knotwork buttons aren't your thing, there is the antiqued/weathered version that Father Bill mentioned:



If there's no Scottish shop near you, I know that St. Kilda has them at a decent price:
https://stkildastore.com/Accessories...tish-Five-Pack
https://stkildastore.com/Accessories...ttish-Ten-Pack
Still, you may wanna shop around and see if you find a better deal, but at least you know that those aren't cheap Pakistani "tat" like you might find on eBay.

And you may want to check out Button Jones as well. Just make sure that whatever design you choose is at the very least available in both 7/8" and 5/8" or comparable sizes:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ButtonJone...ref=pagination
Apparently any URL for their website now automatically redirects to their Etsy page, but this is specifically the link for their "Celtic" collection.

[The Wizard of BC]

You just have to decide which button you want.

Most shops will carry most, if not all, of these.

[ShaunMaxwell]

https://www.jhiggins.net/search.php?...uttons&Search=

[Luke MacGillie]

https://shop.buttons.com/400024815A-p/400024815a.htm

https://shop.buttons.com/400024814A-p/400024814a.htm

These are the ones I picked up. Not black, but they do have black background.

[ShaunMaxwell]

http://www.threefeatherspewter.com/P...c%20Items.html

If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you’ll see buttons.

[OC Richard]

"samey" or "cookie-cutter" as I believe the trans-atlantic phrase is.

Yes "cookie-cutter" here in the USA, a nice visual of identical things being repeatedly created.

"Samey" is the Scottish word? I think I've heard people here use it too.

When I first started wearing Highland Dress I was dismayed by the square buttons. Let's face it, they just don't work as easily as round ones. I wonder why, and when, they started using square buttons.

It's interesting, in MacLeay, to see what we would regard as Evening Dress jackets lacking this sort of button.

Black buttons.



Round silver buttons.



In old photos it's usually the square silver buttons, but not always.

Here round dark buttons with white tie



Dark buttons on a laced doublet



This is something repeatedly seen in MacLeay, rather plain jackets being worn with the most elaborate Evening Dress, once again the jacket having dark buttons



Years ago I picked up some Scandinavian buttons in Solvang that had cool dragons and interlace very similar to the motifs often seen on Victorian dirks buckles etc.

A quick search found some on Etsy. There's also galley buttons for MacDonalds!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1909066...iABEgK37vD_BwE

[Iowish]

I am in the process of changing out the garish chrome diamond shaped buttons on my Argyle jacket and vest with round knotwork pewter buttons from JoAnn's fabrics.

I sew and do shop at Joann's for some things. However, the quality of buttons there is not going to be of the quality that are used in the manufacture of fine highland clothing. Just beware of the Joann's buttons.