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. Fasten every button save for the bottom button, though even here there is some leeway.
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There’s a basic rule when it comes to buttoning up a suit jacket: “Sometimes, Always, Never” — if you have a three-buttoned jacket, sometimes button the top one, always button the middle one, and never button the bottom one. In a two-buttoned suit, you should always button the top button and never the second.
The top button on these jackets should ALWAYS be buttoned when standing. Unbutton the jacket only when sitting down to avoid creases. Fasten it again as soon as you stand up from your seat. NEVER button the bottom button.
Conventional wisdom states that you always button your suit jacket. This is good advice: a buttoned suit jacket is more slimming than an unbuttoned one. What’s more, it shows off the cut of the suit itself to the best possible effect. When in doubt, you should always fasten your suit jacket.
If you have a single button suit or jacket, you should wear it fastened when standing or walking and leave it open when sitting so you don’t pull the fabric.
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.
In most situations, this makes a suit look better on a man. A buttoned suit when standing cuts a cleaner silhouette. Prevent the buttons from popping. When seated, unbuttoning allows you to sit more comfortable, prevents wrinkles and keeps the buttons from popping.
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.
Should I be able to lift my arms in a suit?
The sleeve of your suit jacket should rest just above the hinge where your hand meets your wrist. If all of your jackets are tailored to this point and your shirts fit properly, you’ll always show the proper amount of shirt cuff, which should be between 1/4″ – 1/2″.
How tight should a suit jacket be?
With the top button fastened (never the bottom button), the jacket should lightly hug your midsection, but not feel tight or constricting. The jacket shouldn’t be pulling at the button, creating an ugly “X”. The X mean’s it’s too tight.
They are customary with a one-button suit, which lowers the button stance and is ideal for taller men. Therefore, a one-button suit is often recommended for a great look that can fit both casual and formal settings. It’s also good for complimenting a body shape that has a little weight on it.
How do you wear a perfect suit?
Read more about suit buttons, everything you need to know here.
- Never forget to unbutton the jacket when you sit down.
- Always keep the top button of your shirt buttoned.
- Don’t let the shirt cuffs go over your hands.
- Never look like you choke yourself.
- Wear only a jacket that fits.
- Never let your socks be seen.
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.
The bottom button is never buttoned. Unbutton your jacket when you sit down. Make sure about a quarter inch of shirt cuff is showing.
How should you sit with a suit jacket?
This only applies to single-breasted jackets since double-breasted jackets should always be left fastened. Seeing that only one of the suit jacket’s buttons should be buttoned anyway—only the top button of two buttons and only the middle button of three buttons—it’s easy to open one button when sitting down.
Usually, you have all the buttons buttoned simply because it’s supposed to keep you warm. Yes, you have the option to leave the bottom button undone because that creates a little more range of movement and it allows a little more air in when it’s not so cold outside.
What other colours can it be worn with and the ultimate style question is can you wear navy and black together? The answer is YES! It has long been considered a winning colour formula, dark navy and black and both from the same colour category (Winter), so sit tonal well together.
Back in the day, wearing a navy suit with black shoes was viewed as a clash in both color and formality, as black shoes were more for formal and “black tie” events. But lucky for us living in 2014, designers from Calvin Klein to Ovadia & Sons have been breaking this rule for years now.
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.
Are suits supposed to feel tight?
Should suits be tight or loose? Whenever you button the top button (never the bottom), the jacket should hug your stomach softly without feeling constricting. The jacket shouldn’t be pulling on the button, forming an unattractive “X.” The “X” indicates that the fit is too tight.
How should a suit look when I raise my arms?
If the suit raises up as you raise your arms, then your armholes are too low. The area around your armpit should snug but not too tight. There should also be enough room for you to wear a dress shirt without it constricting your arms.