Adding second button to one-button jacket

[n00b2000]

***Apologies if this has been covered before - I searched the forums for a while and couldn't find anything, but if I missed a thread, please feel welcome to flame me mercilessly and then direct me to said thread.

I recently acquired a suit that, against all odds, fits me extremely well - actually a first for anything besides a MTM. The only issue with it is that it's a one-button. Now, I don't wish to start a thread debating the merits of this style - there's plenty of those already - but since I spend most of my time in the courtroom, my personal needs tend towards the conservative end of the spectrum and, as such, I'm not super comfortable with the idea of wearing this guy to work.

So I was wondering, from a technical standpoint, how feasible it is to turn this thing into a two-button suit? I realize of course that aesthetic feasibility is a different matter - it's at the cleaners now so I can't take a photo, but the button stance is comparable to my two-buttons, and the cutaway below that (not sure what this part of a jacket is actually called, sorry) is similar as well, so I don't think it would throw off the balance of the jacket or otherwise look especially out of place. I'm just hoping to get a more expert opinion on whether such an operation is more complex than it would seem to an amateur like myself?

I got it second-hand for 50 bucks, so within reason cost isn't an issue, and for the same reason I'm also not too concerned about the inevitable "try at your own risk" caveat- if something goes awry, I'll live.

 

[Millerp]

Assuming you can find an exact matching button and assuming you can find
a tailor/seamstress who can duplicate the stitching of the existing buttonhole
and use the same type and color thread to match both the existing buttonhole
and button threads, there's no reason it can't be done.

 

[David Reeves]



Assuming you can find an exact matching button and assuming you can find
a tailor/seamstress who can duplicate the stitching of the existing buttonhole
and use the same type and color thread, there's no reason it can't be done.

Exactly. I do it all the time, I often encourage people on the fence about a 1 button jacket to try one and see how it looks because the second button can always be added.

If you can't use the same person to do the buttonhole you may want to get the old buttonhole unpicked. Then have the new guy do both the front buttons, while trying to best match the style of the buttonholes on the cuffs. You should be able to get a very close uniformed apearance here although if you put the cuffs next to the front and stare you may see a difference.

 

[Ascot Everyday]

Or just remove all the buttons of the jacket and buy a set of new ones... it's only 8 sleeve buttons and 2 in the front. The new buttonhole won't match the existing one exactly, depends if that bothers you.

It has been done by forum legends:

http://www.styleforum.net/t/153327/onebutton-or-3-roll-2-what-do-you-think-not-that-it-matters

 

[David Reeves]



Or just remove all the buttons of the jacket and buy a set of new ones... it's only 8 sleeve buttons and 2 in the front. The new buttonhole won't match the existing one exactly, depends if that bothers you.

It has been done by forum legends:

http://www.styleforum.net/t/153327/onebutton-or-3-roll-2-what-do-you-think-not-that-it-matters

I was talking about getting the buttonholes to match. Of course the button set needs replacing completely unless you happen to have a spare button or access to more of the originals.

 

[n00b2000]

There was indeed a spare matching button sewn into the pocket that can be used. And the cuffs are non-functioning at the moment, so I may get those done at the same time as the front buttons. In any event, the suit is a very dark navy blue, so I don't think a difference between the front and cuff buttonholes would be noticeable to anyone except me - not 100% ideal, but I can certainly live with it.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!