How many sleeve buttons on a linen sport coat?

[josepidal]

I'm thinking of having a linen sport coat made in a classic postman blue, SB 3 roll 2.5, with Neapolitan shoulders and patch pockets. How many sleeve buttons would you have put if it were your jacket?

I imagine there's no real answer but I recall an old Manton post:

Originally Posted by Manton

I think three buttons on a suit sleeve is more Italian and four more Anglo-American. Three on an odd jacket is a bit more common everywhere, but four on a jacket is also quite common.

There is a Naples tradition which held:

DB suit = four buttons
SB suit = three buttons
DB odd jacket = two buttons
SB odd jacket - one button

I'm not sure how widely observed that is anymore.

Also, would turnback cuffs work on this kind of jacket?

 

[apropos]

For me, 3 buttons since it's a 3B (2.5B) jacket.

Manton's post is nice, but strikes me as somewhat archaic - just about no one observes that 'tradition' anymore. I've only seen one buttons cuffs in thrift!

 

[GBR]

4 - to me the only way whatever the purpose of the coat.

 

[Will]

One. The coat will look a bit more individual.

 

[maomao1980]

one or four, never liked 3 sleeve buttons.

 

[mack11211]

Ivy League trad would be two, widely spaced.

 

[yachtie]

Originally Posted by GBR

4 - to me the only way whatever the purpose of the coat.

+1

 

[Cary Grant]

A decidely "american" touch would be to do two. I did that on a houndstooth sport coat this past year. Otherwise, I find the suggestion for one interesting.

 

[Tumbleweed]

One large button would be fun. I've only otherwise seen it in action as a non-functional button on 70s polyester disasters. Time to claim it back.

Otherwise, four buttons is dull and two buttons doesn't quite work (I've tried it) Go with three. My favourite odd jacket has three and the jacket looks like I want to sell you a used car, which is what an odd jacket should do.

 

[T4phage]

Go with 3 button jose, with turnback cuffs!
You only live once, go for it.