Quote Originally Posted by gilmore View Post
. . .I have noticed that some Prince Charlie's buttons are on the diagonal and some are on the square (that is, horizontal and vertical.) Which is correct? Or, (anticipating the "Wear them any way you like" responses), which is the customary way of wearing them? I would guess that all of them----on the front of the jacket, on the sleeves and on the "tails"---should be worn the same way for consistency's sake.

I have noticed that sometimes the buttons get askew from either of these alternatives. How do you fasten them down securely? Sew down the buttons' little bars inside the jacket in place from the inside of the jacket? Loosely, so the lining doesn't pucker?

Thanks for any advice, information or suggestions.
Well, here goes.

I looked closely at three websites: Kilt Store, Kinloch Anderson, and Geoffrey (Tailor), and they were inconsistent. One showed the buttons mostly parallel to the deck, i.e., the flat part was parallel to the ground.

One site showed the jacket and vest buttons parallel to the deck, but the cuff buttons seemed to be on the diagonal.

One had a duke's mixture, even on the same sleeve, they were different.

Personally, I always thought they were supposed to be diagonal like my doublet's buttons. I would take some upholstery thread --anything else is likely to break--and sew them down with a small shirt button backing them on the inside of the jacket. And I would make them all diagonal.

But that's just one man's opinion. And remember, I am a bit anal retentive about such things. I wouldn't have them mixed up or horizontal.

On the otherhand, what is on them. If there's a lion rampant or some such, I would sew them on such that the character/person/words/etc. were correct when viewed, whether diagonal or square.