The Button Box: The Story of women in the 20th Century, told through
the clothes they wore
By Lynn Knight
Vintage Penguin Random House
2016
What an absolute delight to read Lynn Knight's social history book on buttons.
Knight reflects on a collection of button's in a shoe box that have been passed down in her family.
In each chapter, a button is selected. Knight writes about the buttons connection with her family and with its connection with fashion and society.
An assortment of buttons like a shoe button, baby button, jet button. Mackintosh button, coat button. And my personal favourite the toggle button are just a small selection of buttons she discusses. When I see a toggle button, I automatically think of the childhood book character, Paddington Bear.
Each chapter intertwines history and quotes, accompanying stories of her family. The Button Box is an excellent book to illustrate to the reader that the humble button is not just there to help us wear our clothes, the button is there to also tell a story.
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