Buttons on tuxedo cuffs

15098 Views 16 Replies 11 Participants Last post by a tailor, Jul 11, 2006

Gurdon

Discussion Starter · Apr 29, 2005

I was fortunate in obtaining a new Oxxford peaked lapel single button Tuxedo in my size from ebay. And it has cuffs that button and the buttons in a little plastic bag. My question:
How many buttons per cuff and how and where should they be placed?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Gurdon
PS: I do not plan to wear it with cowboy boots.

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1 - 17 of 17 Posts

clarence

· #2 · Jul 7, 2006

Hello,

I am also about to make a dinner jacket and I was wondering how many buttons to put on the sleeves. It will be a single breasted, peak lapel, single button. I am of slight, slim build, and only 1.65m tall.

Thank you.

Clarence

Henry

· #3 · Jul 7, 2006 (Edited)

I'd say four is standard but 2 is acceptable too - but I'm no expert.

edit: can't spell 'for' (sic)!

whistle_blower71

· #4 · Jul 7, 2006

How many buttons per cuff and how and where should they be placed?

Definitely 4 per cuff. The first button should be 1" to 1.5" from edge.

eagle2250

· #5 · Jul 7, 2006

The Tux I wore a few weeks ago, has four buttons. I'm not sure if it's standard but, thats the way this one came from the shop.

kitonbrioni

· #6 · Jul 7, 2006

On my tux I did 4 buttons with working button-holes.

Romana1911

· #7 · Jul 7, 2006

4 buttons.

clarence

· #8 · Jul 9, 2006

Is there any particular reason why there should be 4 buttons?

I do not know what the 'traditional' standard is, but it just seems to me that 1 button in front and 4 buttons on the sleeves don't go together very well.

Do more buttons indicate more formality?

Clarence

Romana1911

· #9 · Jul 10, 2006

Almost every jacket I can think of has four buttons, whether it is a tailcoat or a linen blazer. Just one of those things...

jml90

· #10 · Jul 10, 2006

Romana1911 said:
Almost every jacket I can think of has four buttons, whether it is a tailcoat or a linen blazer. Just one of those things...

I have some with 4 some with 3 some with 2. It's all personal preference. Charles (Prince) has a blaer with 5 sleeve buttons. Spcing is also arbitrary I have seen coats with overlapping buttons and have seen coats with buttons quite far apart (X Men 3, Superman Returns)

Will

· #11 · Jul 10, 2006

Four is most common, and the edges should touch.

whistle_blower71

· #12 · Jul 10, 2006

jml90 said:
Charles (Prince) has a blaer with 5 sleeve buttons.
quote]

I think thats derived from the Welsh Guards who have 5 buttons on the sleeves of their military tunics.
Other regiments have their own figurations such as "two and two" (Coldstream?). Hackett copied this for their "SR" line a few years back.

An old tailor once told me the following "rule" re cuff buttons..

2 for odd jkts
3 for lounge suits
4 for tails
5 if you are the Prince of Wales

I have never followed it and usually have four on all my suits and jkts unless it is a linen or cotton when I have 2 (1" spacing)

jml90

· #13 · Jul 10, 2006

This guy has 5 on his sleeve

Here's some pretty spaced ones

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Andy

· #14 · Jul 10, 2006

Gurdon:

Four sleeve buttons were made standard by British tailors, but Italian tailors tend to favor three. It's really your choice.

The first button, the one nearest the hand, should be 1 1/4 inch from the bottom of the jacket sleeve.

Quality sleeve buttons "kiss" or touch.

jml90

· #15 · Jul 11, 2006

Andy said:
Gurdon:

Four sleeve buttons were made standard by British tailors, but Italian tailors tend to favor three. It's really your choice.

The first button, the one nearest the hand, should be 1 1/4 inch from the bottom of the jacket sleeve.

Quality sleeve buttons "kiss" or touch.

I don't beleive that last statement look at PAtrick Stewart's suit their and I doubt the suit is of low quality

Will

· #16 · Jul 11, 2006

"I don't beleive that last statement look at PAtrick Stewart's suit their and I doubt the suit is of low quality"

Hopefully you come here to learn. Andy is right, according to both Savile Row and Neopolitan standards.

Most contemporary movie suits are made as inexpensively as possible. No pockets. No linings. Don't believe what you see. Do believe what you read here.

a tailor

· #17 · Jul 11, 2006

buttons

it use to was long long ago. one button jacket had one button on the sleeve, two button had two on sleeve three button had three on sleeve. then ready to wear had a great idea, four button on sleeve. attention all salesmen, tell your customers that four sleeve buttons indicates a superior suit to the three button sleeve.

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

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