We’ll say this for summer: there’s always plenty of flair going around.

In particular, we’re seeing a lot of blazers and suits that have traded the usual buttons for something a bit more conspicuous. Most of them are coming from Italy (the one at left is from Bolglioli), but that’s just where the designers are into it. If you’re trying it yourself, it’ll work as well on a Brooks Brothers blazer as anything you might find on Yoox.

The classic combination is white mother-of-pearl buttons on a navy blazer (like this), but the only real guide is what looks good. It’s the semi-formal version of our shoelace experiment. The only difference is, you’ve got a lot more texture to work with—anything from wood to metal to opalescent synthetics.

And as always, we encourage tackling this yourself. You can test out colors by laying the buttons on the jacket, and an even dozen should be enough for the whole business. We’d be shocked if it costs you more than you spent on lunch—assuming you’re handy with a needle and thread.