After a heavy session of window shopping for a dress I had no occasion for, I kept coming  across a number of clothes that were damaged. Not severly damaged, just a button missing here and there, a loose thread or a dirty mark.  Normally I wouldn’t look twice at damaged goods, but then up until recently, I wasn’t writing for the Style Diaries…

I’de like to think that it was my charm and great haggling skills that got 30% of the most gorgeous sequin and chiffon dress (see above)…but alas, it wasn’t! Apparantly it was already discounted on the ticket I’de missed. Damn!

My point? Don’t be put off by that missing button or dirty mark. It takes 2 minutes to sew a button back on, stitch the hem back up or bung in the washing machine. Some shops will already have it discounted for you on the ticket, but if you spot the damage first you are more than entitled to ask for those all important pounds off!

And every little helps!

I have a million memories of buttons. My Grandma was an avid seamstress, as were most Grandmothers i expect. And in a little room hidden under the stairs, inbetween the yards of ribbon, thread, wool and bits of patchwork quilt, stood the tallest glass jar containing the most incredieble collection of buttons. I used to love pouring them all out onto the floor. Watching as they spilled out and over one another, listening to the song they sang as each button met. Scooping up piles and feeling them fall through the gaps in my fingers, bulding up mountains and flattening them down, running my hands over their shiny surfaces. Splitting them into groups, schools, armies of colours, sizes and most favourite. And buried deep within i would always find the old tobacco tin filled with small white shirt buttons. Far too practical for my little imagination, but it smelt of Grandad. I was entranced. Tell me i wasn’t alone?

Nowadays I’m a bit more constructive with the little gems

 It always amazes me how little buttons cost and yet how much they can change a garment. Still going strong are my oversized shirt dresses (£2 Primark)  which are now adorned by the most gorgeous gold military buttons, which for me changes the whole look. I have a feeling Buttons arent as readily available as they used to be. If you live in London, then The Button Shop in East London, and The Button Queen in Marylebone are a must. Hidden in the depths of Norwich lies Anglian Fashion Fabrics which is a little gold mine for buttons. Infact i would expect most cities and towns to have their own unique haberdashery shop (family run no doubt).

Personally i would stay clear of online shopping for buttons. If for no other reason than half the joy is holding them in your hands, making sure they are the right ones. Also avoid John Lewis if you can, purely because they are overpriced. Make an effort to check out local Jumble sales and Charity shops! And don’t be afraid to snip buttons of old garments to stich onto new. And the best place for Buttons… ask your Grandma, Aunts, Mothers, they’ll have a Jar stashed away somewhere.

I recently inherited my Grandma’s button collection. And still buried between the millions of those magical colours and shapes was my Grandads old tobacco tin. I have a use for them now.