The new fashion comeback kid this year has to be novelty buttons. I remember as a kid buying novelty buttons (usually with funny slogans) but today’s buttons are more likely to have theme cartoons or graphics that go with the clothing on which it is pinned.

As a child of Woodstock, we felt that expressing ourselves, our feelings, our needs, was the most important thing. We actually had that part right, we simply did not know how to reach that goal. We left it to psuedo-gurus like Timothy Leary.

Looking back, we were hardly original. But it was fun to think we were. Talking back to our parents and teachers was fun, or at least it seemed quite cool at the time. Little did we know we were quite a bit out of control and merely trying to express ourselves.

Looking back, I can see that the sixties generation did have a little bit of originality. From that generation came some of the best music of that century. A whole new casual look of fashion evolved and it was more of what is your substance than who is your daddy. But still, we were in great need to express ourselves. I do not remember being very relaxed during that period of my life, nor did I do a good job of self-expression. Could buttons have helped? They help me now. I don’t know if they would have then or not.

Of course we are in a more subtle world now. We don’t make waves like we used to. We make “ripples” with our blogs on the Internet.

It is a rare social or business get-together when the question of “What’s your URL?” does not come up.

We are still all social animals, though, and have a need to interact beyond the computer screen.

I love the buttons and matching merchandise at RickLondonCollection.Com. I think it is that they contain hilarious cartoons by the owner Rick London and they mix and match very well. And, being theme-oriented, they make for great conversation pieces. I have bouth a lot of other items there as well from cartoon wall clocks to aprons. It is a very unique store.