Q: A friend of mine insists that gold blazer buttons look terrible. I like them, but now I’m worried they’re uncouth. What’s your opinion?

A: Uncouth? Hardly. Do sea captains look uncouth? Buttons of a brass or golden hue are traditional with blazers, and they are perfectly acceptable. But American men tend to consider the blazer more formal than it is. It is not a substitute for a dark suit; it’s fine for smart casualwear. Men have their hobbies and enthusiasms, and blazer buttons often reflect these, from numismatics to gentlemen’s clubs to alumni associations. I wear a quieter button, but when I get my yacht things might change.

July 2007

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