Wear the shirt under a well-fitting sweater or over a full-sleeved shirt with cuffs rolled up. Such shirts go well with V-neck sweaters. Another complete look is to wear men’s button-down shirts under a blazer and tuck them into the jeans. Use matching accessories like a leather belt and branded shoes.
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24 Fresh Ways to Wear That Button-Down That’s Buried at the Back of Your Closet
- Knot a sweater over it for some dimension.
- Wrap it slightly and tuck into trousers.
- Leave it open with a monochromatic look.
- Knot a short-sleeved version with wide-leg jeans.
- Layer it underneath a vest to offset a statement piece.
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.
A classic button-down collar oxford or dress shirt, traditionally left to the, well, traditionalists, has made a comeback as of late with the rise of more ivy-influenced, preppy style. Since it’s more casual, wearing this type of shirt with denim, chinos, and generally more casual looks is the best way to go.
The best dress shirts fit comfortably around the chest, under the armpits, and across the upper back, giving you a full range of motion. A fitted shirt will feel snug, but not too tight. Your chest should “fill out” the shirt in a way where your body is discernible under the fabric.
Fitted jeans are usually the right option. You want the jeans to look tailored to your body, so slim and fitted will pair better with a dress shirt than loose fitting jeans. In general, they also cuff better at the ankle for a more tailored look.
The basic answer is a button up shirt is any shirt that has buttons running up the front; a button down shirt is the same but has additional buttons on the collar.
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.
A button down shirt is usually seen as more casual, while a button up shirt is more formal. These rules can be broken, and more often than not a button up shirt can be worn as part of a smart casual outfit.
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.
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.
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.
Stick a finger or two between your neck and the collar. Our Stylists say if you can comfortably fit more than one finger in-between the collar and your neck, it’s too big.
The collar must touch your neck when buttoned closed, and you should be able to place two fingers between the collar and your neck, without feeling any discomfort. If you can barely breathe and you can’t place any fingers between your neck and collar – too tight!
To leave the shirt out, it shouldn’t completely cover your bottom, or be longer than the end of the fly of your trousers/jeans at the front. If it’s longer than this, then tuck it in. The Oxford shirt below is just the right length to wear untucked.
A button-up shirt and jeans is a classic combination for any smart-casual outfit.
Button down shirts are a wardrobe workhorse in both women’s and men’s clothing, and yes, they can absolutely be casual, either by styling or by design!
Can I wear a button down shirt without a tie? Of course – button downs tend to be more casual due to their sporting roots, after all. And when you leave the top button or two on your shirt undone, fastening the collar buttons is what stands the collar up, giving you that crisp clean-cut look.
Button-down shirts and polos
A button-down shirt is a business casual must.
Button-down shirts are a perfect pairing with casual suits. You can wear button-downs in a business casual setting or a social event that isn’t formal. The button-down shirt is also a great fit with separates, such as trousers and a blazer, to give that smart-casual look.
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.