In addition to being the man with the most comprehensive collection of buttons in the world – more than ten million cute lil’ thingies – Franco Jacassi is also one of the leading fashion experts in Italy. But his connection to fashion isn’t simply academic; in his Milan atelier, Mr.Button retains a collection of clothing and memorabilia that all the big boys of past and present fashion – from Gianni Versace to Karl Lagerfeld passing through Miuccia Prada and Thierry Mugler – have consulted in their search for inspiration, unique materials, and ideas to steal.

We went to have a friendly chat with Mr.Button in his fashion museum of the cute and wonderful.