Black blazer buttons: owner. Brass blazer buttons: crew. Is this the case?

shmoo

shmoo

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I have black buttons with fouled anchors on my blazer, becuase I thought they looked nice (bit of a joke since I look like a tramp mostly)

The topic of blazers and buttons came up in conversation with an American acquaintance and he suggested black buttons may be a bit posy, since they denote "owner" as distinct from "crew".

Perhaps I ought to be writing to Vogue or GQ on such a topic, but on the other hand this may be considered an extension of the ensign and courtesy flag class of debates and so of deep interest to forumites.
 
For the first year as an RN Apprentice, we wore uniform with black buttons. On 'passing out' at the end of that year, we got shiny ones. It meant quite a lot at the time.
 
capnsensible said:
For the first year as an RN Apprentice, we wore uniform with black buttons. On 'passing out' at the end of that year, we got shiny ones. It meant quite a lot at the time.
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Presumably as an apprentice you were not yet a petty officer.

As a National Serviceman in fore and aft rig, I remained in black buttons.
 
"Black blazer buttons: owner. Brass blazer buttons: crew. "

Surely it should be part of the crew's duties to polish the owner's superior brass buttons?
 
shmoo said:
The topic of blazers and buttons came up in conversation with an American acquaintance and he suggested black buttons may be a bit posy, since they denote "owner" as distinct from "crew".
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How quaintly American.

They don't, of course; but more owners than crew are likely to indulge in the peculiarly British marine tradition of wearing black buttons on a blazer. I gather it started as a mark of mourning Queen Victoria's death - and then, like the genesis of the best traditions, people just never stopped.
 
Contrary to other suggestions here, I was brought up to believe that black buttons suggested a gentleman sailor, brass buttons a cad. I have always had brass buttons!

My late father, ex-RN, ex-RYS, always had black buttons on his yachty blazer.
 
You cant trust etiquette advice from a country where every yachts skipper styles himself " Captain".

Yanks might be known for a lot of excellent characteristics but good taste isnt often one of them.
 
jamesjermain said:
Contrary to other suggestions here, I was brought up to believe that black buttons suggested a gentleman sailor, brass buttons a cad. I have always had brass buttons!

My late father, ex-RN, ex-RYS, always had black buttons on his yachty blazer.
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The Royal Yacht Clubs, as a rule, specify black buttons on blazers. Some of them specify blazers after 6 PM.
 
Tidewaiter2 said:
one's reefers (boatx1, homex1) have black, one's blazer has brass; social ostracism and finanicial ruin stare me in the face!
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Then there is another hurdle..

If you look at the photographs of classic yachting in the 30's..
Tommy Lipton, Charlie Nicholson and the J Class crowd..
...they wore whites at sea and then the trousers had 1 inch turnups.

So the kit to wear at the helm was:

Blazer with black buttons, white shirt double cuff and club cufflinks and club tie, white silk pocket handkerchief, white trousers with turnups, white socks and white tennis shoes and cap with shiny peak, club badge and white cover.

Oh for the days of Sartorial Elegance under sail..:D

If you don't believe me come here or consult the photo library at Beken of Cowes.
 
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