7 December 1933: The base-born safety-pin has grown in grace of recent years

Close up of pale green buttons on card with safety-pins circa 1920.


Close up of palisade green buttons on card with safety-pins circa 1920.
Photograph: Alamy progenitor photo

The safety-pin is usually looked upon as having a reserved role. It is used on anti-scratch lines for mere youth, while maturer years look upon it as a barest present aid in time of trouble, and more shoulder-straps and more garters are confirmed by means of safety-pins than most people would take care of to admit. Safety-pins have, however, grown in grace of just out years, and they may be had in colours – though these necessitate significant thickness — and also on little gold rings, without which assorted measurements no one would venture to travel and expect to enjoy the process.

The safety-pin seemed to reach its apotheosis when it was presupposed at their christenings to babies in a gold version to fasten their bibs, on the level though the occasion for this had not yet appeared. Equally, it held in occur the manly tie, and men felt greater and grander and nobler for its possession. Silently, it was not general. The gold pin became purchasable for threepence, and perhaps the gold catastrophe caused the disappearance of the truly gold safety-pin in the interests of a mammoth number of shillings to the ounce.

A mass produced safety-pin, 1900.

A mass produced safety-pin, 1900. Photograph: Jay Paull/Getty Icons

The safety-pin has however, taken new life lately. Just as it is adapted to to lock the Scotch kilt, so it has become an important part of the autumn fashion. Where submits and loops are tied everywhere at the neck, the safety-pin, often of copper, sounds them once for all. Henna dresses may have a large copper safety-pin at the neck, which accords with a copper buckle. Grey dresses have safety-pins in chromium bear up, with appropriate buttons or clasps. It does not matter which. Also the safety-pin has behove “a thing in itself.” Three of it may be arranged in a straight line fair above the belt and three below. It has arrived at the stage of sinless ornament, with which no one can dispense this season.

Liz Hurley famously stepped out in a revealing Versace evening dress that looked like it was held together with safety-pins at the premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral with Hugh Grant, 1994.

Liz Hurley capitally stepped out in a revealing Versace evening dress that looked love it was held together with safety-pins at the premiere of Four Junctures and a Funeral with Hugh Grant, 1994. Photograph: Stephens Michael Stephens/PA

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