Buttercups Midi Colors 7: A Capsule Collection of Vintage-Inspired Hair Accessories
The Buttercups Midi Colors range has long been a quiet treasure among British collectors who value precision in both period accuracy and daily wearability. While the larger Midi Colors 10 set offers a sweeping spectrum, the seven-piece Buttercups Midi Colors 7 takes a different approach: it pares down the palette to seven carefully balanced hues that nod directly to mid-century morning-room interiors, garden-party dresses, and the restrained opulence of 1950s coat-dress buttons. Each piece in this collection is not merely a colour variant but a deliberate selection that can anchor a vintage-inspired look or harmonise with a modern neutral wardrobe.
Before we examine the individual shades, it is worth understanding why seven colours were chosen. In the Buttercups design philosophy, odd-numbered sets create visual rhythm when displayed together — a trick borrowed from the Georgian-era habit of placing seven dessert glasses on a sideboard for symmetry with a twist. The Midi Colors 7 also avoids the pure primaries found in the larger set, favouring instead muted, dusty tones that mix well with tweed, fine-knit cashmere, and the soft cottons of a vintage 1950s summer dress. The result is a collection that feels both intentional and effortless.
The Seven Colours: A Closer Look
Below is a breakdown of each shade in the Buttercups Midi Colors 7 line, along with its most flattering companion fabrics and typical hair types. All pieces in this set are made from polished cellulose acetate with nickel-free metal springs — a construction that has remained virtually unchanged since the original Buttercups workshop in the Cotswolds began producing them in the late 1940s.
| Colour Name | Approximate Era Reference | Best Paired With | Notes on Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dove | 1938–1945 | Grey flannel, pearl buttons, cream linen | Wipe with a dry microfibre cloth; avoid prolonged sun |
| Rose Dust | 1951–1954 | Pale pink wool, pearlised clips, ivory combs | Store away from direct light to prevent fading |
| Forget-Me-Not | 1956–1960 | Chambray shirts, navy blazers, silver hair pins | Occasional gentle polish with a damp cotton bud |
| Honey Glow | 1947–1950 | Mustard cardigans, oak furniture, tortoiseshell | Warm water and a soft toothbrush for crevices |
| Moss | 1963–1967 | Olive-green trousers, tweed jackets, wooden beads | Keep away from hair oils; wipe after each use |
| Slate | 1940–1945 | Charcoal silk, silver jewellery, dark denim | Do not soak; use a dedicated acetate cleaner |
| Fig | 1958–1962 | Aubergine knits, brass accessories, brown leather | Avoid contact with hairspray before inserting |
Why Seven Works as a Capsule Collection
Collectors who already own the Midi Colors 10 sometimes ask whether the seven-piece set is redundant. In practice, the two sets serve different wardrobes. The ten-piece set is a reference library — you reach for it when you need an exact 1950s pink or a specific grey. The seven-piece set, by contrast, is a daily palette. Each colour has been chosen because it can be worn in rotation without clashing with the others. You can, for example, slip the Honey Glow barrette into a low bun on Monday, switch to Moss on Wednesday, and finish the week with Fig — and the transition feels natural, as though the accessories themselves belong to the same season.
This coherence is not accidental. The Buttercups design team used a colour wheel limited to the tertiary range found in English country-house wallpaper from the 1890s to the 1960s. Colours that are too bright or too cool were excluded. The result is a set that whispers rather than shouts — ideal for the British sensibility that values subtle quality over loud novelty.
Styling the Seven with Contemporary Pieces
One of the joys of the Buttercups Midi Colors 7 is how easily it bridges the gap between a 1940s tea dress and a modern tailored blazer. Take the Slate barrette: its cool, soft grey reads as neutral against a crisp white shirt and dark jeans, but placed in a low side-swept style it can also anchor a vintage silk scarf tied as a headband. The Rose Dust comb, meanwhile, lifts a plain cashmere sweater in oatmeal or cream without requiring any other vintage element — it becomes the single deliberate accent.
For those who prefer a layered look, these seven pieces work excellently together. Two or three different colours from the set can be clustered on one side of the head, provided they are spaced at least two centimetres apart to let each shape breathe. The Honey Glow and Fig combination, for instance, echoes the autumnal palette of a 1960s Mary Quant-era coat.
A Practical Note on Hair Type and Grip
All pieces in the Midi Colors 7 are made with the same spring mechanism: a double-coil steel core wrapped in acetate. This design holds securely in medium to thick hair but can slip in very fine or very sleek hair. If you have fine hair, try roughing the section where you intend to place the clip with a texturising powder or a dry shampoo — that extra grip makes all the difference. For thick or curly hair, the barrettes open wide enough to capture a generous section without pulling.
Caring for the Seven-Colour Acetate Finish
Acetate is a natural material derived from wood pulp, and its lustre deepens with age if handled correctly. The Buttercups Midi Colors 7 pieces benefit from a few simple habits:
- Daily wipe-down. After each wear, remove the clip and pass a dry, soft cloth over the surface to clear any hair product residue. This takes ten seconds and prevents the dull film that builds up over months.
- Rotation storage. Keep the seven pieces in a lined box or a divided drawer, ideally away from radiators and windows. Sudden temperature changes can cause acetate to warp.
- Deep cleaning every three months. Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and a drop of mild dish soap. Dip each piece briefly (no more than thirty seconds), then use a soft toothbrush to gently clean the teeth and crevices. Rinse in cool water and pat dry with a lint-free towel. Let them rest flat for an hour before storing.
Never use alcohol-based cleaners, nail polish remover, or ultrasonic jewellery cleaners on acetate. The solvent will cloud the surface irreversibly.
Where the Set Fits in a Growing Collection
If you already own the Buttercups Midi Colors 10, the seven-piece set can serve as your travel companion or your Monday-through-Friday rotation. If you are new to Buttercups, the Midi Colors 7 offers a curated entry point without the overwhelm of a larger palette. Many collectors start with this set and then add individual pieces — such as a singular Arizona Bow Barrette in a contrasting shade — to fill specific gaps. (The Arizona Bow Barrette Black, for instance, pairs strikingly with the Slate and Fig tones.)
For those who appreciate the historical resonance of each colourway, the Midi Colors 7 also works as a small study in twentieth-century British textile dyes. The Rose Dust, for example, closely matches the shade used by Liberty of London in their 1953 “Tana Lawn” prints. Honey Glow is a near-perfect reproduction of the yellow found on 1940s utility teacups. Owning these seven pieces means carrying a miniature museum of colour history in your hair — without the weight of a glass case.
One last detail: the spring tension in these clips is calibrated to last for decades if not overworked. Avoid opening and closing them repeatedly out of idle habit; each cycle wears the metal slightly. Instead, decide on your placement, slide the clip in closed, then release it. A little mindfulness preserves both the function and the finish.