Buttons are an important part of a garments structure. From blouses to coats, they are utilized for both function and fashion. Buttons as decoration have been dated back to at least 2800 B.C.E., and in fact, buttons were more of an ornament than a fastener when they were first used. They’ve even been used as secret containers, and during both World Wars, the United States and the United Kingdom used buttons containing tiny compasses.

Buttons are measured in lignes. A ligne, typically shortened to L, is an internationally recognized unit of measurement for buttons where 1 inch is equal to 40L and 1L is equivalent to 0.635 millimeters.

Now, you can download your very own Mood made button chart, all set to print to scale; simply insert your email below!

When it comes to fashion, the designer is in the details. Buttons may seem like a small part of the design process, but they can make or break an ensemble. From oversized pearl buttons to tiny buttons of gold, there are trends and styles in buttons in the same way that there are trends for prints and skirt lengths. Let’s take a look at the most popular buttons from Fall 2018.

Gold

Gold buttons add the perfect pop of glamour to any ensemble. Louis Vuitton and Alberta Ferretti both utilize gold buttons on pencil skirts, although Louis Vuitton features two columns of buttons while Alberta Ferretti went with one. Brooks Brothers and Red Valentino also both utilize the two columns of buttons, and Dolce Gabbana features a beautiful military style blazer with posh gold buttons.

Stay gold with these buttons:

Matching

Buttons that blend were featured prominently in Fall 2018.  Zac Posen and Bottega Veneta both utilized cover buttons for their brightly colored ensembles, Giambattista Valli added some sparkle and shine with silver buttons to match their gray coat. Dolce& Gabbana’s sweet blazer features smaller buttons, and Karen Walker utilized two columns of buttons for their jacket.

Match these buttons:

Pearls

Pearls add elegance and glamour to any ensemble, especially when utilized as buttons. Luisa Beccaria and Alena Akhmadullina both featured smaller pearls, while Dolce & Gabbana used much bigger pearls. Elie Saab’s casual jacket is given a chic look with pearl buttons, and Chanel’s tweed blazer is enhanced even further with pearls.

Pick up these pearls:

Small

Although these buttons are little, they still pack a punch when it comes to design. Dolce & Gabbana and Alexander Wang feature as many buttons as possible on their garments, while A Detacher simply uses three. Gucci features a double column of small buttons on their skirt, while Karen Walker utilized small, matching buttons on their lovely cardigan.

Check out these small buttons:

What are your favorite buttons? I love the pearls! Let me know what you think in the comments!