That kind of aesthetic can work if you’re wearing shorts or headed to the beach, but, for the most part, you’re better off keeping the collar buttoned and the roll firmly in place. And if you decide to wear the shirt with a tie, you should never even consider leaving the collar buttons unbuttoned.
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Here’s the short answer: yes, you can wear a tie with a button-down collar. The longer answer, as it always does, has a bit more complication. The button-down collar is a particularly American style. The oxford-cloth button-down is so beloved that in menswear circles it’s become known simply as the OCBD.
Button Down Collar Without a Tie
Having the collar buttons still fastened will keep the collar standing up, helping the shirt still look crisp, yet casual.
Whether you wear a tie or not, you should always button the collar of a button-down shirt. This is the one and only “rule” for wearing button-down shirts. Leaving the collar unbuttoned will not turn it into a makeshift point collar for more formal occasions. Instead, it will look messy and uninformed.
Formality of Button Down Collars – Casual Or Formal? The button down collar is casual by nature. If they are paired with a tie, it’s usually worn with a casual suit or blazer/odd trouser combo. It’s rare to see button down collars worn with formal suits, and also a little odd of style.
Unbutton Once: The only time those collar buttons should be undone is when you’re putting on your tie. During laundering, typical wear, or hanging in the closet, keep them snapped in and locked down.
What collars do not need a tie?
No tie needed, but if you do sport one, try a half Windsor with a collar bar. This is the most common collar on a shirt you’d wear without a tie—like a flannel, chambray, or oxford. Casual fabrics give it a workwear vibe. You don’t need a tie here, but dressing it up with one looks sharp and unexpected.
The button-down collar is a variant on the point-collar dress shirt and is stylistically appealing for those who want to dress down but. But, in today’s casual world, a button-down with a tie and a sport coat is still quite well dressed.
At its core, the answer’s simple. “Undoing your top button makes you look (and feel) more relaxed. It works perfectly for outfits with casual shirts. But in a formal outfit, like a suit and tie, you’d of course always do the top button up,” says Thread senior stylist Alice Watt.
This rule applies to button up shirting, and in its entirety really reads, “Never button the top button unless you’re wearing a tie.” The idea is that if you’re not wearing a tie, there’s no reason to close the top button—a move that may be associated with nerdy guys or the conservative clergy.
How tight should your collar be?
As tight or snug as possible without being uncomfortable. You should be able to fit 1-2 fingers between the collar and your neck when it is buttoned. You should not have a large gap showing between the collar and neck. Heavier men should make sure their necks are not puffing out over the top of the collar.
Button down collars have made a strong appearance in today’s business casual looks. They exude ease and carefree style, while still looking polished. You do not have to worry about your collar flying away with a mind of its own.
Can you wear a tie with an untucked shirt?
If you’re wearing a tie, you should definitely tuck, because nothing looks quite as silly as a tie worn with an untucked shirt. If you’re in pretty much any other situation, leave it untucked. If an untucked shirt looks sloppy, it probably wasn’t meant to be untucked in the first place—because it’s a dress shirt.
Tab Collar
This collar’s unique feature is a horizontal button tab connecting the two collar points (and fastening behind the tie), which pops the tie knot into relief and pulls the collar flaps down, more closely wrapping around the tie.
Why is a collar called a collar?
The Oxford English Dictionary traces collar in its modern meaning to c. 1300, when collars served as neck-protecting armour.
Button-down collars work well on short sleeve shirts. Button-down collar shirts truly shine when they’re dressed down relative to a suit. You can certainly throw one on with a pair of jeans and call it a day, but a button-down collar shirt works quite well with a sport coat and odd trouser combo too.
What is Italian collar?
Italian spread collars are often larger-scaled than British spread collars, with longer points and a higher band. Brosnan’s collar, however, is roughly the same height as Connery’s collars and has only slightly longer points.
Can you wear a tie with a collarless shirt?
The band collar, or collarless shirt, is relatively new in the world of men’s fashion. These collars represent menswear’s slow but steady gravitation towards casual styles and the cross between casual and formal. With all that said, pairing a tie with a band collar is a no-go.
Which collar is best for tie?
Also known as the point collar, the straight collar is flexible enough to wear to work with a tie, then go tie-less for dinner after. The straight is a universal collar; the most versatile, easy to wear style. This collar style is appropriate for many occasions from weddings to business functions.
Can you wear a tie with a wing collar?
Wing collar shirts should only be worn for formal occasions. They should always be worn with a bow tie, never a tie.
The tradition dates back to King Edward VII from the early 1900s. He unbuttoned the bottom of his waistcoat because he was too fat. He unbuttoned the bottom of his jacket to pay homage to the riding jacket that suits replaced.