Faux Cuff Buttons...

[Zach R.]

When did they come about and do they always signify a low quality suit?

 

[Matt Deckard]

You will hear alot of things, though here is my answer... Used to make it easier to open your sleave to wipe your nose on your shirt before the hankerchief pocket showed up.

The non working buttons don't determine whether or not a suit is of quality or not as some of the highest end suits in the world sell their jackets without sleave button holes. It is better to ad the holes after the jacket if altered because arm lengths vary.

 

[Thomas Walden]

wipe your nose on your shirt

Seriously? That's very interesting. Was this common practice?

 

[Zach R.]

some of the highest end suits in the world sell their jackets without sleave button holes.

Are you talking about modern suits or golden age? This applies to both?

 

[Matt Deckard]

Yes both. It is very rare to find a suit from the 30's or 40's with working sleave buttons.

 

[Flitcraft]

Lore of the cuff button

The story used to be that the Master of the H.M.S. Blazer originally put cuff buttons on the eponymous uniform jacket so the crewmembers would cut their noses if they tried to wipe them on their sleeves.

Jimmy Cagney makes fun of this in Public Enemy when he pantomimes cutting his nose on his sleeve buttons.