Lewis & Taylor’s guide to dress shirt buttons

Anatomy of a button

Function

Join the front

Join the cuff and gauntlet

Add decoration

Different sizes – Generally

Size 18 (12mm) Front Placket & Cuffs

Size 16 (10mm) Guantlet, buttondown

Size 16 or smaller - multi-button collar bands

Size and style

Dress shirts usually

4 hole

Matching colour

Rim for additional strength

Thickness

Thin – 1.2 – 1.8mm

Normal 2.0-2.5mm

Thick >2.5mm

Plastic

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

The staple of the mass retail

shirt.

Rivershell

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

The simplest real shell button.

Often used on lower end

tailored shirs

Troca

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

Often used on tailored shirts. A

medium and natural pearl

essence.

Mother of Pearl

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

The most common high end

dress shirt button. Great pearl

essence and a natural look

Crozo

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

A vegetable alternative to Ivory

made from the Ivory Palm tree

from South Armrica.

Bone

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

A deep white and a solid feel

for alternative white button with

a twist.

Horn

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

A deep black colour with

natural features. Ideal for a

contrasting button with a

difference.

Acoya

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

A very natural looking button

with a high degree of pearl

essence

Abalone (bleached)

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

A whitish button with a highly

natural pearessence.

Abalone (natural)

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

A deep pear essence and a

natural looking surface finish

Mother of Pearl - Smokey

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

Ideal for a contrasting button,

Died mother of pearl buttons

can come in many colours

Mother of Pearl - Black

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

Ideal for a contrasting button,

Died mother of pearl buttons

can come in many colours

Troca - Blue

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

Died Troca’s bring out the pearl

effect and are often used as a

substitute to died mother of

pearl

Wood

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

Sometimes used on Tattersall

shirts to get a rural look

Coconut Button

Feature

Pearl essence

Dandyism

Smoothness

Washability

Strength

Very rarely used button that is

very robust and has a grained

texture. Ideal for rustic shirts

Order your buttons

From

Lewis and Taylor