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What the pointless buttons on jackets are actually for

Fashion is a wonderful way to able express yourself through clothing and accessories.

But, as we all know, it creates some bizarre trends too.

While trends come and go, one that has stuck around is those extra – and arguably pointless – buttons on jackets.

So, what actually is the point of shoulder buttons on coats? Source: ASOS
So, what actually is the point of shoulder buttons on coats? Source: ASOS

Seriously though, what are they actually for?

Well, the seemingly redundant buttons do, in fact, have a purpose.

One woman on social media connected the dots – or buttons – revealing the button, paired with the extra material, has an extremely practical purpose: to stop your bag slipping off your shoulder.

The woman’s revelation on Twitter has gone viral receiving nearly 70,000 retweets and over 160,000 likes.

However the origins of the design feature, which has become a fashion trend, are more complicated than meets the eye.

Shoulder buttons and the piece of flat material they come with are also known as shoulder straps or epaulettes.

In traditional army uniforms, epaulettes are used to attach ornamental shoulder pieces or decorations (which are also, confusingly, known as epaulettes) to jackets. This marks out whether a soldier is in an elite rank.

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