A new exhibition at London's Victoria and Albert Museum showcases how buttons evolved from practical fasteners to artistic statements. Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, opening March 28, features about 80 decorative buttons alongside vintage and contemporary pieces, highlighting the Italian designer's collaborations with artists like Jean Schlumberger and Alberto Giacometti.

The show includes 10 Schlumberger jewels and 29 contemporary designs by current creative director Daniel Roseberry. Lydia Caston, V&A project curator, notes that Schiaparelli's buttons weren't merely functional but served as "conversation starters and finishing touches" that distinguished her work from contemporaries. The exhibition features designs by François Hugo, who created approximately 1,800 buttons for fashion houses including Chanel and Dior until 1955.

Buttons by renowned jewellers continue to command strong prices at auction, with Bonhams selling Giacometti's "Femme aux Bras Levés" buttons for £28,160 and £33,280 in December. Modern designers like Boucheron and Noor Fares are creating contemporary button collections, recognizing their appeal as wearable art. As Charlotte Holmes from Bonhams observes, these pieces offer collectors and fashion enthusiasts the opportunity to own historically significant designs that can transform ordinary garments into unique statements.