2-Hole or 4-Hole Buttons?

[paborden]

I'm purchasing a bunch of unpolished horn buttons to send to my tailor, since all they really have in stock is either polished horn or corcorzo the latter of which I have come to very much dislike.

Of these, I can choose either Two-Hole or the traditional 4-Hole button. The 4s are pretty much ubiquitous except for with certain tailors on Saville row. Curious to hear if anyone has any preference or thoughts on which I should go with.

 

[Easily Amused]

I'm partial to four buttons on suits and sport jackets/blazers, though I've experimented with one and two occasionally on sport jackets.

Check out this old thread about two button cuffs.

 

[Ben W]

I think the OP is asking about the number of holes in the buttons, not the number of buttons on the jacket. It isn't a detail I've paid any attention to. Without looking, I assume most everything I own has four holes in each button. Four seems to be the more common option. So I'd say go with that unless you are intentionally trying to make the buttons stand out, and then realize that most people are unlikely to notice anyway.

 

[paborden]

Yes, holes in buttons! I know this is a very small detail lol

 

[aristoi bcn]

4 and corozo if the tailor is italian, 2 and horn if its british.

 

[usctrojans31]

4. Makes falling off or snagging much less likely.

 

[Easily Amused]

Hahaha, apologies, that's what happens if I try to go through the mornings without coffee. Looks like the OP has some food for thought, and it looks like I've learned something new about the number of holes in individual buttons...

 

[dieworkwear]

I think we've reached level 1,827 of sartorial overthinking.

 

[dieworkwear]

Use different holes for different buttons, so they spell out something in Morse code

 

[usctrojans31]

Use different holes for different buttons, so they spell out something in Morse code

Ah, so it was Savile Row that lobbied for Alan Turing on the 50 pound note.

 

[dieworkwear]

Ah, so it was Savile Row that lobbied for Alan Turing on the 50 pound note.

All my buttons look like this: :foo:

(Two holes, if you're wondering, and through the eyes)

 

[dieworkwear]

4 and corozo if the tailor is italian, 2 and horn if its british.

Crows foot stitching if your tailor is, in fact, a crow.

 

[circumspice]

4 and corozo if the tailor is italian, 2 and horn if its british.

I foresee this advice causing the boys at Anglo-Italian having to field requests for three hole buttons

 

[Despos]

Have seen the two hole buttons on jackets occasionally. Oxxford is the only maker I know of that used both regularly. Not certain if they had a protocol for when to use which button but IIRC they used the two hole for sport coats and more casual items and the four hole on suits. Not that this was a hard and fast rule. Just my recollection. After the buttons are obtained and sewn on, doubt you will ever pay attention to this again.

 

[paborden]

Thanks all - overthinking yes but for all I know there's some rule that I don't know about, or a functional reason to prefer one over the other. The lining company forces you to choose between 2 and 4 hole buttons, which is where this came from ...