Buttoning Collection

Advertisement for the London Glove Company of Cheapside and New Bond Street, showing a selection of womens gloves including long white evening gloves

An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog by Oliver Goldsmith. The good man of Islington dressing
866023 An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog by Oliver Goldsmith. The good man of Islington dressing. Illustration by Randolph Caldecott by Caldecott, Randolph (1846-86); Universal History Archive/UIG

Childs Shoe, 1940. Creator: Alexander Anderson
Childs Shoe, 1940

Fashion Show Backstage Date: 1948

Costume October 1868
Girl: pleated skirt, front buttoning tunic, cape collar & skirt ends caught up. Blue dress: double skirt, train, pelerine cape, over skirt with diagonal rows of puffings. Date: 1868

Riding Habit 1857
Amazon corsage buttoning to the throat & with a small white collar & reversed cuffs. Black velvet hat ornamented with a plume & worn with a veil. Date: 1857

Merchants & Noble 1350S
Merchants: hood, long cote- hardie, gipon, piked shoes, cape, front buttoning super- tunic, girdle with pouch, dagger & rosary. Nobleman: gipon, knightly-girdle, mantle Date: 1350s

Plum Coloured Dress 1899
Side buttoning dress: yoke, cuffs & hem in a contrasting colour. Skirt fits tightly & flares at the back & has a scallop design at the hem. N.B mink faces on muff & fur boa. Date: 1899

Brown or Blue Dress 1882
Front buttoning cuirasse bodices with 3/4 length sleeves & tie-back skirts with bustles. The brown dress has an apron front & checkerboard border, the blue has a peplum Date: 1882

Loung Suits Photo 1890S
Dapper young men in lounge suits, shirts with all-round stand collars, side buttoning boots & pinkie rings, also a tie fastened with a ring, a bowler hat, cane & a monocle. Date: 1890s

Photo / Stripe Dress 1880S
Tight fitting, high-necked bodice, buttoning diagonally from shoulder to waist, kilted under-skirt, draped tunic caught up at the rear. Watch & crescent brooch

Striped Dress 1866
Women: vertical stripes, basque-habit, front buttoning gored skirt; low cut dress with Swiss body, skirt with ruched trim & rosettes. Boy: jacket with strap like trim

Striped Dress 1861
Women: short cape & dress in vertical striped fabric & pleated border; high buttoning bodice, pagoda sleeves, purple vandyke & tassel trim. Girl: habit shirt, ankle boots

1860 Costume / Women & Boy
Boy: forage cap, knickerbocker suit with side buttoning tunic. Women: dress with single flounce, Swiss belt & unusual headdress; grey & blue, double-breasted coat

Costume 1860 / Jules David
Princess style black dress, tablier trimming, buttoning down the front, the skirt divided into 4 gathered horizontal sections. Lilac dress with bishop sleeves

Fashions / Toudouze 1875
Jacket bodices with stand-up collars in grey & black - front buttoning & with pocket flaps or sleeveless in brown with a pink plaid under-dress & elaborate trained skirt

Female Type / Sepia C1860
A dress in a horizontally striped fabric with front buttoning bodice, gigot sleeves, white cuffs & collar, a plain skirt, brooch & pendant on a long chain

Russian Children 1880S
Boys: felt hat, knickerbockers & Norfolk jackets & lace collars. Girls: white frock with shoulder ribbon bows & front buttoning velvet dress, lace collar & sailor hat

Costume / Girl C. 1890
Older girl in a tight fitting woollen dress, high necked front buttoning bodice, long sleeves with fullness & pleating at the shoulder & broderie Anglaise jabot

Girl on Chair C. 1870
Girl: front buttoning frock, low on the shoulders, short sleeves, high waistline, scalloped hem, white cuffs & tucker, socks & shoes with ankle straps, vandyked drawers

Doffing Top Hat 1834
Velvet D-B coat with broad M -cut collar, cut-away in a shallow curve, spurs, striped waistcoat, wool cloth & leather strapped pantaloons buttoning over the boots

Male Ball Dress 1820S
Red plush cloak (manteau) with green lining, black pumps, pantaloons buttoning at the ankle, stockings, top hat, waistcoat & cut-away coat with roll collar & white cravat

Dressing Gown & Pipe
Dressing gown with blue border & under-sleeves, outer sleeves buttoning from the elbow & soutache trim. Evening dress: tights (strapped pantaloons), top hat & cut-away coat. Date: 1839

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"Buttoning: A Timeless Art of Style and Elegance" Step into a world where buttons reign supreme, as we delve into the fascinating history of buttoning. From the Advertisement for the London Glove Company to an Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog by Oliver Goldsmith, buttons have played a pivotal role in fashion throughout centuries. Intricate illustrations like Randolph Caldecott's portrayal of The good man of Islington dressing showcase the meticulous process behind buttoning garments. Alexander Anderson's Childs Shoe from 1940 reminds us that even footwear embraced this timeless trend. Behind-the-scenes at a Fashion Show Backstage in 1948, models were adorned with costumes inspired by various eras. Costume October 1868 captures the essence of Victorian fashion, while Riding Habit 1857 highlights how buttons added functionality to equestrian attire. Travel back further in time to Merchants & Noble 1350S when buttons were considered luxury items symbolizing wealth and status. Plum Coloured Dress 1899 showcases how buttons became decorative elements, adding flair to women's ensembles. The versatility is evident in Brown or Blue Dress 1882 and Loung Suits Photo from the 1890s; whether formal or casual wear, buttons remained prominent features. Stripe Dress photos from both 1880s and earlier years like Striped Dress from 1866 demonstrate how patterns enhanced buttoned garments' visual appeal. As we celebrate this enduring art form called "buttoning, " let us appreciate its ability to transcend time and trends. So next time you fasten those tiny discs on your clothing, remember that you are partaking in a tradition that has shaped fashion for centuries – an artistry that continues to captivate our imaginations today.