If you are wearing a tie, the top button should always be buttoned. Otherwise, you have crossed the into the informal realm. If you are not wearing a tie, I would recommend keeping the top button unbuttoned.
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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.
According to British GQ, the buttoning the top button debate has been running rampant in the fashion world for the last few years. It used to be a definite no-no, especially in the days of suit-and-tie rigidity, but it has emerged as a serious trend.
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.
Ensure that everything fits properly. If you’re wearing a button-down shirt, make sure the buttons ride down the center of your body and that the shirt is properly buttoned. You may leave the top button unbuttoned.
Polo Shirt Collars and Buttons
And yes, you can actually button the top button if you want to create a clean, polish outfit. It’s not something you want to do in all situations, but if you’re wearing a polo shirt with a blazer, for example, then it’s perfectly acceptable to button all the way up.
Here, you’re probably wearing a shirt with an abbreviated spread collar, a looser style where you can easily leave one or two buttons opened from the collar. Anything more and you’ll enter sketchy territory. For a grill-out with your buds, the standard rule of thumb is two to three buttons undone from the collar.
The two-button jacket should never have both buttons fastened. The three-button suit comes with a simple rule: “sometimes, always, never.” It means you should sometimes fasten the top button (if you feel like it), always fasten the middle button, and never button the third.
Unbuttoning the Collar Buttons
For the most relaxed look, unbutton the collar point buttons and unbutton the top button. This option for wearing button down collar shirts is best when you need to look your most casual, whether on weekends or after dinner. We do not recommend this look for professional settings.
Which one is more formal – button-up or button-down collar? Button-ups are the more formal of the options. You can wear it for your most dressy occasions. On the other hand, the button-down shirt gives a more casual look and is never appropriate attire for formal wear.
But in the interests of giving a definitive answer to a direct question, the answer is: two. Undoing just the top button on a dress shirt when going tieless often looks uptight, not terribly relaxed. This is particularly the case if you can see any strain on the fabric around the second button. It wants to be undone.
Keeping the button fastened maintains a balanced proportion. These jackets should ALWAYS be buttoned when standing. Unbutton the jacket when sitting down, so that it doesn’t crease. The traditional way to button a two-button jacket is to Always fasten the top button and leave the lower undone.
Is a dress shirt business casual?
Appropriate business casual dress typically includes slacks or khakis, dress shirt or blouse, open-collar or polo shirt, optional tie or seasonal sport coat, a dress or skirt at knee-length or below, a tailored blazer, knit shirt or sweater, and loafers or dress shoes that cover all or most of the foot.
That being said, more than two buttons open is never acceptable,” said Mimi Fukuyoshi, vice president and director of men’s merchandise of sportswear and shoes at Bergdorf Goodman. That’s a fair point, as a lot of this comes to down to how your roll with it.
You don’t have to button it or unbutton it any time, but it usually looks better and helps to slim your silhouette to have it buttoned when you’re standing. Button the top button only, if there are multiple buttons on the jacket.
How to wear a 3 piece suit? Jacket can be worn buttoned or unbuttoned. The waistcoat must always be worn buttoned all the way up, leaving the bottom button open. In the past the open bottom button prevented the waistcoat from riding-up when on horseback.
Vest Buttoning
Similarly to the jacket, when buttoning your vest you should always leave the bottom button undone. Your look will be sleek, and you will be comfortable weather you are sitting or standing without having to make any adjustments.
Should you wear a white shirt under a dress shirt?
Undershirts can also make your dress shirts look neater (especially if you care for them properly). The extra layer will hide chest hair, ensuring that they don’t show through lighter shirts. Wearing long sleeved undershirts can also make you more comfortable when wearing dress shirts in cold weather.
Due to their origin in sports, button-down collars are less formal than point collars. They tend to be softer and have more of a roll than point collars, which are straight and often stiffened via the insertion of collar stays.
Are black dress shirts unprofessional?
Black dress shirts are a dicey proposition for most men. Even if you are a guy with a high contrast complexion you are better off steering clear from them. The foolproof alternative to black is the basic white dress shirt. It’s a safe choice to be sure, but one that will work in practically any situation.
Are short sleeves unprofessional?
Strictly speaking, short sleeve shirts don’t pair with formal suits because of that tiny little flash of shirt cuff that you want to show at your wrists. And that’s why we said at the outset that short-sleeved shirts don’t have a place in more formal work environments.