Buttercups Midi Colours 4: A Collector’s Guide to the Four-Shade Sets

The Buttercups Midi Colours 4 set, packaged in a simple cardboard sleeve, contains four clips from the same colour family. This focused selection, produced from the late 1970s into the early 1980s, offers a carefully chosen palette that collectors appreciate for its coherence. Understanding what's inside the box, how the shades were selected, and how they fit into the broader Buttercups colour system helps with identification, dating, and styling.

What the Midi Colours 4 Box Contains

Unlike the larger Buttercups Midi Colors 10 set, which includes ten distinct shades spanning the full Buttercups spectrum, the Midi Colours 4 is a focused selection of four hair accessories. Each box contains four identical clips—usually the classic Buttercups Midi barrette shape, approximately 6 cm in length, with the signature spring-loaded metal clip and a plastic decorative top. The four colours are not chosen at random. Archival packaging from the period shows that the four shades were always selected to form a coherent colour story. Common combinations include:

• Buttercup Yellow, Pale Lemon, Cream, and White – a light, sunny gradient that works well for summer weddings and garden parties.
• Rose Pink, Coral, Peach, and Shell Pink – a warm, romantic sequence that flatters fair and medium hair tones.
• Mint Green, Seafoam, Teal, and Deep Green – a cool, nature-inspired palette that gained popularity in the early 1980s.
• Lavender, Lilac, Violet, and Plum – a purple family set that is particularly sought after by collectors today.

The box itself is a simple cardboard sleeve, often in a solid colour with the Buttercups logo and the words "Midi Colours 4" printed in a clean sans-serif typeface. The back of the box lists the four shades by name and sometimes includes a small illustration of the clips. If you find a box with a price sticker still attached, the original retail price in the UK was typically between £1.50 and £2.50, depending on the year and the retailer.

How the Four Shades Relate to the Full Buttercups System

The Buttercups colour system, which was developed in the late 1960s and refined through the 1970s, used a combination of colour names and numbers. Each shade had a three-digit code: the first digit indicated the colour family (1 for yellows, 2 for pinks, 3 for greens, 4 for blues, 5 for purples, 6 for reds, 7 for neutrals), and the next two digits specified the exact tone. The Midi Colours 4 sets always used shades from the same colour family, which is why the four clips inside a single box look harmonious together. For example, a set of four yellows might include codes 101 (Buttercup Yellow), 103 (Pale Lemon), 107 (Cream), and 109 (White). Knowing this code structure helps you date the set: early 1970s boxes used a two-digit code system, while the three-digit system appeared around 1975 and continued until production ended in the mid-1980s.

If you are building a collection, the Midi Colours 4 sets are an excellent entry point. They are more affordable than the larger sets, easier to store, and they teach you to see the subtle differences between shades—something that becomes invaluable when you start hunting for specific colours to complete a larger Buttercups rainbow. For a deeper dive into the full palette and how to identify each shade, the Abigail Lace Collar: A Vintage Hair Accessory with Edwardian Grace article includes a comparative colour chart that covers the Buttercups numbering system in detail.

Styling the Four Clips Together or Separately

One of the practical advantages of the Midi Colours 4 set is its versatility. Because the four shades are closely related, you can wear all four clips at once—for example, placed in a row along a low chignon or spaced evenly across a half-up style—and the effect is intentional and polished, not chaotic. The gradient from lightest to darkest creates a subtle ombré effect that catches the light differently as you move. Alternatively, each clip can be worn on its own, paired with other accessories from your collection, or used as a gift set for a friend who is new to vintage hair accessories.

When styling these clips with a modern wardrobe, consider the colour story of the set. A pink-family Midi Colours 4 set works beautifully with a cream blouse and a soft grey blazer: the pink tones add warmth without overwhelming the outfit. A green-family set pairs well with navy or denim—the contrast between the cool greens and the blue denim is unexpectedly fresh. For evening wear, the purple-family set against a black dress or a deep burgundy top creates a rich, jewel-toned look that feels both vintage and contemporary.

Identifying Authentic Midi Colours 4 Sets

Because the Midi Colours 4 sets were produced in relatively small quantities compared to the single-colour Buttercups clips, fakes and mislabeled sets do appear on resale platforms. Here are the key markers of an authentic set:

• The box – genuine boxes have a matte finish, not glossy. The printing is slightly raised (letterpress-style), and the Buttercups logo features a small flower icon above the wordmark.
• The clips – the metal spring mechanism should be silver-coloured, not gold or black. The plastic top should be smooth, with no visible mould lines. The colour should be consistent across all four clips.
• The back of the box – look for a small sticker or printed line that says "Made in England" or "British Made." If the box says "Made in China" or has no country of origin, it is almost certainly a reproduction or a later imitation.
• The colour names – authentic Buttercups shade names are always printed in full on the back of the box. If the colours are listed only as numbers, or if the names seem generic (e.g., "Light Pink" instead of "Shell Pink"), the set may be a re-packaged assortment rather than a genuine Midi Colours 4.

If you already own a Buttercups Midi Colours 4 set and want to document it for your collection, consider creating a simple record that includes the box front and back, the four clips, and any price labels or store stamps. The The Quiet Craft of a Vintage Blog Index Page article includes a template for cataloguing your accessories that works well for small sets like this one.

Caring for the Clips

The plastic used in Buttercups Midi clips is a cellulose acetate, which is stable under normal conditions but can become brittle if exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. Store your Midi Colours 4 set in the original box, away from windows and radiators. If you wear the clips often, wipe them with a soft, dry cloth after each use to remove hairspray residue and natural oils. Never soak the clips in water, as the metal spring can rust and the plastic top may lift or discolour. For deeper cleaning, use a cotton bud lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol—test on an inconspicuous area first, especially on lighter shades like cream or white.

If a clip becomes loose over time, the spring can be gently tightened with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Work slowly and check the tension after each small adjustment. A clip that is too tight can damage fine hair, while a clip that is too loose will not hold. The ideal tension is one that holds the clip securely in place but releases easily when you press the back tab.

Where to Find Midi Colours 4 Sets Today

Complete sets in good condition are becoming harder to find, but they do surface at vintage fairs, charity shops, and online marketplaces. The most common colour families to encounter are the yellows and pinks; the greens and purples are rarer and often command higher prices. Expect to pay between £10 and £25 for a complete set with the original box, depending on the colour and the condition. Sets without the box are worth significantly less—perhaps £5 to £10—because collectors value the packaging as a dating and authentication tool.

If you find a set that is missing one clip, do not dismiss it. The remaining three clips can still be worn together, and the box itself is a useful reference piece. Over time, you may come across a single clip in the missing shade and complete the set yourself. That kind of patient, piece-by-piece collecting is at the heart of the vintage hair accessory community.

A Final Note on the Shade Names

The shade names printed on the back of the Midi Colours 4 box are not always intuitive. "Buttercup Yellow" is a warm, golden yellow. "Pale Lemon" is cooler and lighter, almost chartreuse in certain light. "Cream" is a soft off-white with a yellow undertone, and "White" is a true white with no visible tint. When you compare them side by side, the differences are clear, but when you are searching online listings, sellers often mislabel the shades. If you are unsure of a colour, ask the seller for a photo of the clips next to a known reference—a white sheet of paper or a Buttercups clip you already own. This small step can save you from buying a duplicate or a mismatched set.