A Debateable Button
If you can call yourself a fan of anything vintage, funky, antique-y, or ‘different’ you will know exactly what I am talking about with this button. There are always certain items we come across in our search for the most unique and cool crafting stuff that are somewhat debateable. The terms ‘funky’ and ‘vintage’ are fraught with danger. One person’s funky is another’s ugly and one person’s vintage is another person’s dated. In this free for all world of taste what is unique and cool and what is just plain odd?
My mother and I debate these items quite frequently. With slightly differing tastes (neither is better or worse, just different) we are often caught off guard by the others opinion on an item. I will hold something up in an antique store and at the same time I will say ‘awesome!’ and she will make the face that can only mean one thing: ugly. Sometimes one or the other can be convinced, but certainly not always. It all comes down to personal opinions and individual tastes.
My friend Robin and my Aunt Tessa are always on the cutting edge of tres chic. They knows just what will work and be cool and what is over the top or dated. I can never keep up but I am most often convinced when they tell me that something is hip. I know they are right because whenever I have second guessed them someone on the street or at a party or in a coffee shop will comment on the debateable item. Then I know I have been proven wrong, yet again!
I also find myself second guessing my own tastes. Once I am on a kick I have to think twice before purchasing, lest I end up with too many or too much. I know that an item is good if I walk away for about a week and I can’t stop thinking about it. That was the way with my debateable button.
When I first saw it at the button shop I overlooked it completely. Then Robin saw it and said ‘Wow!’. That should have been a guess that it was cutting edge cool. I walked away but I thought about that button (not obsessively, just passingly, I swear!). What would I put it on? What colors would it go well with. Should it be prominently featured in the garment? The list of questions goes on. I just didn’t know what to do about it. When I was back at the button shop I decided I could ponder the purchase no more: that button was mine!
Just when I thought I had made my decision on the button someone said “I didn’t know you were into old lady stuff”. My button-choosing confidence took a serious blow. I put away the button and didn’t give it another thought……until now. Some may like it and some may not but that makes it an interesting piece and I will walk the perilous lines of fashion! I’m planning on prominently featuring this button on a beautiful soft white Malabrigo Worsted.
