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The Buttonhole

Perpetually Flowering Carnations (and Borders) are probably the most popular flower for for buttonholes. Although over the last 50 years or so, there has been a decline in everyday use, they remain an essential requiements at most weddings and important functions and there seems to have been a resurgance of interest. Although other flowers are used such as roses and camellias, carnations with their avaliability all year round, their diversity of colour and their robustness and longevity make them admirably suitable.
I was recently shown a copy of the 1935 Carnation Annual published by The National Carnation and Picotee Society (one of the organisations from which ths BNCS was formed). It is a copy of a letter to The Editor of The Times by Allwoods and it is reproduced below. (At the time of writing this introduction I was sitting on a trian to London with a bloom of “Doris Allwood” in my button-hole. How appropriate!).

Tailors out of Fashion

To the Editor of the Times

Sir,- Button-holes are worn by men today more than for a decade past. The carnation is the popular flower, but is an improved flower in every respect to what it was even 10 years ago.
To look smart the calyx should go into the buttonhole up to the guard petals, but tailors make little 3/4in. button-hole in our coats, which are too small. A tailor who wishes to be really up to date and in fashion should make a 11/4in. button-hole. The variety “White Pearl,” which the King wears requires a large button hole; so do all the present-day varieties if they are to look really smart in a man’s coat.

Yours faithfully,

ALLWOOD BROS

Wivelsfield Nurseries, Hayward’s Heath, Sussex.

Recently I saw the well known gardener and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh comparing the “Last Night of the Proms”. I sent him the following self explanatory letter refering him to our website. Below I print his kind response! 12/09/2005

Dear Mr Titchmarch,

Having watched your presentation of “The Last Night of the Proms” I felt compelled to write to you. It is always a pleasure to see a gentleman sporting a buttonhole, particularly a carnation. However I was saddened to see the stem displayed on the front of your lapel.

I would refer you to a letter to The Times by the late Montague Allwood (copy enclosed) reproduced on the British National Carnation Society’s website www.carnations.org.uk . The lapel buttonhole should be enlarged to take the full width of the calyx. This does improve the appearance.

I hope you find this helpful in the future!

Yours sincerely,
James Dennison
Web Editor BNCS

Glad you enjoyed the buttonhole at the ‘Last Night of the Proms’. It was given to me by the Promenaders and had I realised I would have had my tailor adjust the buttonhole to make sure it fitted.

All good wishes.

Alan Titchmarsh MBE VMH
30 Sept 2005