Buttons On Both Sides of a Jacket Closure?

[Bugbear]

I had asked this question in another thread, but it got lost in the discussion. Is it all right to put buttons on both sides of a daywear jacket's closure, so that it looks symmetrical?

What I'm thinking about is a vertical row of two or three buttons on either side of the closure rather than the buttons on one side and buttonholes on the other. The jacket is never closed, so it doesn't need buttonholes in the first place.

In my mind, it looks good, but I don't know if there is anything wrong with that kind of arrangement. The question keeps bothering me.

Thank you.

[george7]

Whether or not it's traditional, if you come up with something that looks good you might start a trend.

[McMurdo]

That is how a Prince Charlie is set up, I'm not sure how well it would translate to a day wear jacket. I guess I'd have to see it first.

[Bugbear]

Just something that's stuck in my mind, and it keeps bothering me. I think I've seen jackets of some sort with that kind of button arrangement, though; not saying kilt jackets.

[Bugbear]

That is how a Prince Charlie is set up, I'm not sure how well it would translate to a day wear jacket. I guess I'd have to see it first.

Thanks, McMurdo. That might be what is stuck in my head. I was thinking about regular round buttons, though.

Maybe I'll try an experiment on the jacket I was converting.

[The Barry]

Thanks, McMurdo. That might be what is stuck in my head. I was thinking about regular round buttons, though.

Maybe I'll try an experiment on the jacket I was converting.

That's the only real way to know. Once you've got the buttons on, take a look in the mirror. Depending on the jacket and the buttons that you use, it might look spot on, or it might look terrible.

Only one way to be sure!

[Bugbear]

That's the only real way to know. Once you've got the buttons on, take a look in the mirror. Depending on the jacket and the buttons that you use, it might look spot on, or it might look terrible.

Only one way to be sure!

Well... Ok.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Ted,
I'm not too sure this would work, due to the spacing of the buttons. With a single breasted jacket the buttons are one inch in from the edge. With a double breasted jacket they are about five inches in from the edge. Because of the radical cut away of a day wear kilt jacket a double row of buttons, even three inches in from the edge, would probably detract from the graceful lines of the jacket.

Like you said, the best way to see if it works is to pin them on and see how it looks.

[Bugbear]

Ted,
I'm not too sure this would work, due to the spacing of the buttons. With a single breasted jacket the buttons are one inch in from the edge. With a double breasted jacket they are about five inches in from the edge. Because of the radical cut away of a day wear kilt jacket a double row of buttons, even three inches in from the edge, would probably detract from the graceful lines of the jacket.

Like you said, the best way to see if it works is to pin them on and see how it looks.

Thanks, MacMillan of Rathdown.

The buttons on the right side of the jacket would be staying almost where they are on this single breasted jacket. Essentialy, I am putting buttons over the buttonholes on the left side of the jacket, and that would require the buttons on the right side to be moved in about a half inch to make it all even.

To me, that makes the jacket front more symmetrical looking, rather than having the round buttons on one side and dash-like button holes on the other. I guess I will plan on looking for buttons for the experiment; I need slightly larger buttons than the jacket has now, so they will cover the buttoneholes.

[Colonel MacNeal]

A mess jacket closure will sometimes feature two buttons held together by a short chain, which goes through a buttonhole on each side.