Silk Buttons

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been planning an outfit to wear for the Calderdale “Mayor-making” in May. This is an annual civic event in which the Calderdale mayor is inaugurated.It’s s as dressy affair, with a tradition of hat-wearing for the women, and floral buttonholes for everyone. The buttonholes are traditionally in the colour of the political party to which the councillors belong; red for Labour, blue for Conservatives, yellow for Liberal Democrats. I wanted to go a step further and give my whole outfit a red theme. This is helped by my acquisition last summer of a 1940s vintage style wrap dress in red that suits me particularly well. I have received compliments every time I have worn it.

Firstly, I needed a hat to coordinate with this dress. I purchased this: 

However, I couldn’t wear everything red, as that would mean finding and buying matching red shoes and handbag. Alas, my funds are low, so this wasn’t really an option. I also needed to work out how to cover my shoulders and arms for warmth, because after the Mayor-making reception (a morning event) the Labour Group will be going to an outdoor café and bar to socialise together. I decided to wear my black Oxford brogues, and to acquire an inexpensive (secondhand) black jacket, thinking I could swap the buttons out for red ones for better coordination with the dress. 

Of course, I wanted to put a bit of craft into the outfit, and having rejected the thought to knit a shawl (too time-intensive a distraction in my now very busy life), I decided to make and embroider some covered buttons. For appropriate elegance I chose to do this with silk, embroidered with red roses for Labour. I am delighted with the results.

As a child my grandmother taught me how to cover and embroider buttons. I like to imagine that from heaven she watched me make these ones with loving pride.