How to recognize authentic Chanel Buttons:
Needless to say: it will be bloody perfect to use Vintage Chanel buttons for your diy-couture-garment. But how to recognize these beautiful buttons-jewels? 'Buttons-jewels' says it all: most real authentic Chanel buttons are really jewels !
Fabric Buttons
Chanel once started to produce buttons hand-made mainly from fabric. These couture-made fabric buttons are now very rare. These fabric buttons are often recognizable by the lion's head in the middle. A lot of buttons before the 1970s will actually have a lion’s head embossed on them.
Chanel buttons are also known for their logos of the letters C, the perfume bottles and even the famous jackets.
Chanel buttons are ALWAYS of quality and durable material. Metal, mother-of-pearl, rhinestones and jewels. Coco Chanel also used the Camellia flower as Theme. These Camillia flower buttons are mostly black/gold or white.
Real authentic Chanel buttons
Authentic Chanel buttons are (rarely) on the market, because they are produced in small amounts and mostly made to match the unique garments. Vintage real authentic buttons are difficult to recognize because they used to match the garments perfectly. They are very expensive and for a collector of great value.
New Chanel buttons do not have stamping on the back. Vintage authentic Chanel buttons have stamping on the back. New Chanel buttons are often copied in China and very similar to the real (new) Chanel buttons.
Real Chanel buttons (especially the Vintage buttons) are looking like little jewels.
Fake and copies
Fake or copy-Chanel buttons are often lighter, of cheaper material and less subtle. Almost any copy-Chanel button is called a real Chanel-button. It all depends on where they are for sale. Do not expect treasure authentic Chanel buttons for sale on big internet selling-markets/websites.... If you can not believe it is real.... it probably isn't....
Fabric Buttons
Chanel once started to produce buttons hand-made mainly from fabric. These couture-made fabric buttons are now very rare. These fabric buttons are often recognizable by the lion's head in the middle. A lot of buttons before the 1970s will actually have a lion’s head embossed on them.
Chanel buttons are also known for their logos of the letters C, the perfume bottles and even the famous jackets.
Chanel buttons are ALWAYS of quality and durable material. Metal, mother-of-pearl, rhinestones and jewels. Coco Chanel also used the Camellia flower as Theme. These Camillia flower buttons are mostly black/gold or white.
Real authentic Chanel buttons
Authentic Chanel buttons are (rarely) on the market, because they are produced in small amounts and mostly made to match the unique garments. Vintage real authentic buttons are difficult to recognize because they used to match the garments perfectly. They are very expensive and for a collector of great value.
New Chanel buttons do not have stamping on the back. Vintage authentic Chanel buttons have stamping on the back. New Chanel buttons are often copied in China and very similar to the real (new) Chanel buttons.
Real Chanel buttons (especially the Vintage buttons) are looking like little jewels.
Fake and copies
Fake or copy-Chanel buttons are often lighter, of cheaper material and less subtle. Almost any copy-Chanel button is called a real Chanel-button. It all depends on where they are for sale. Do not expect treasure authentic Chanel buttons for sale on big internet selling-markets/websites.... If you can not believe it is real.... it probably isn't....
Beautiful Buttons
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Buttons ideas - suitable for:
The classics buttons: Gold, metal, diamonds, black and white - Garbadine, light-weight woolblends and linen The heavy (shank) tweed buttons: Metal, black, beige, neutrals and pearls - Tweeds and bouclé fabrics The creative buttons: Ivory, pearl, red/black and roses - Bouclé, jaquard and colorfull wool-blends The vintage buttons: Pearls, velvet, ivor and metals - Wool, tweeds and bouclé |
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Some "golden" rules:
- Always choose buttons according to the size and type recommended on the sewing pattern instructions.
- Choose shank-buttons for thicker fabrics such as: Tweeds, Bouclé, wool blends, jacquards.
- Choose sew-through buttons for medium weight fabrics such as light-weight wool blends, linen, gabardine.
- Try to avoid plastic buttons or painted buttons. The couture garments will live like for-ever but these buttons wear out easily or dis-colored in time.
- Learn how to make fabric-buttons. It is worth all the extra effort !
- Learn how to couture- sew on a button: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkDQQmgeJtc
- Focus on the appearance and the total look of the garment. Tweed and bouclé jackets are more "couture-like" with shank-buttons. Light woolen blends or linen should have sew-through buttons with matching thread-colors. It is a great advantage to learn the sewing-technique of the bound buttonholes. Bound buttonholes that fit/match the buttons, stand for pure luxe and class Haute-couture.
- Buttons are not FINISHING material but a big part of the look of our self-made jackets, skirts and couture garments. Plan the fabric, lining, buttons and trims. Plan the project with great care. The look and feeling of your couture is the greatest appreciation.
- For seamstresses there is enough choice to buy beautiful, decent and fitting buttons. Do not focus too hard on Chanel-buttons but try to find buttons which really match your diy-garment. It looks ten times better to use very good matching buttons, instead of cheap "CC" buttons which are too obvious fake or over-done.
