Between the buttons, which way is up?

[gilmore]

Today I received my first Prince Charlie coatee and waistcoat. It is quite satisfactory, but for one thing, the square "silver" buttons. The three on the waistcoat seem securely fastened on the horizontal and the vertical, but the one on the jacket not so much.

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.

[Monkey@Arms]

Sorry, don't have an answer. Just can't help but chime in - what mad Victorian put buttons on the tail in the first place? Does your have fake flaps on the tail too, as if there were once pockets there?

Best regards.

Jake

[thescot]

. . .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.

[Chef]

I have always thought they should be diagonal and that is based on the fact that on several jackets I owned the buttons had images that were right side up when the button was diagonal to the level. I have had buttons where it wouldn't matter either way as well, but I have never had any buttons with images that only looked correct with the buttons square to level.

[Hamish]

Strange but I have never given this matter a thought until you raised the question which has, in turn, prompted me to take a look at the contents of my jacket wardrobe.

My Montrose Doublet (dating from 1968) has the buttons sewn on randomly - except those on the sleeves, which are sewn horizontal to the cuffs.

My barathea Crail jacket (1999) has all the buttons sewn randomly.

My Prince Charlie (2001) again has the jacket buttons sewn randomly and the sleeve buttons sewn horizontally to the cuffs. The three on the waistcoat are also placed horizontally.

My GT Doublet, a single-breasted Montrose, (2005) has the jacket buttons sewn randomly and those on the sleeves are again horizontal to the cuffs.

Since all four jackets came from entirely different Highland Outfitters in Scotland over a period of years, I have to assume that there is no regulation method of placing them. Were I wearing each jacket as part of a uniform, say in a Pipe Band, then I would like to see everyone's buttons the same way, but otherwise, for myself, I am not in the least bothered.

[McMurdo]

I just pulled my PC out of the closet, and looked at the pictures I have of it and other PC's there seems to be no rule as to how the buttons go, I agree wlth thescot, I was under the impression that diagonal was the way they should be, however I also agree with Hamish in that I am not bothered by it at all.