Definition of button-down (Entry 1 of 2) 1a of a collar : having the ends fastened to the garment with buttons. b of a shirt. (1) : having a button-down collar. (2) : having buttons from the collar to the waist.
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A dress shirt, button shirt, button-front, button-front shirt, or button-up shirt, is a garment with a collar and a full-length opening at the front, which is fastened using buttons or shirt studs.
A button up is a shirt that buttons up the front of the body all the way. A button down is a shirt that has buttons on the collar points that you can, well, button down.
A button up shirt refers to any shirt that buttons all the way up the front. A button down shirt means any button up shirt with a collar that can be buttoned down.
So the phrase ‘button down’ actually refers to fastening the collar down. The history of button down shirts dates back to 1869, in England. Polo players often found that when they were charging around the field on horses, the collars of their shirts would flap up in the wind, and impair their vision.
The definition of button-down is having buttons fastened to the fabric on the collar of a shirt or being conservative or traditional. An example of button-down is the style of many business work shirts. An example of button-down is a person who follows tradition.
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.
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.
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. They even pair nicely with a classic navy blazer.
The Differences Between a Polo and Button-Down Shirt
Button-down shirts are often considered to be more formal than polo shirts, especially when dressed up with a tie and blazer, but this style can also be made more casual by wearing it without a tie, with the top two buttons loosened and the sleeves rolled up.
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!
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.
A polo shirt is a classic combination of the timeless button-up oxford dress shirt and the much more casual T-shirt. Polo shirts typically feature a collar and placket with a few buttons and are made with a knitted cotton known as piqué.
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.
Button-down shirts have extra buttons so you can fasten the collar and keep it in place. Take a look at “Modern Family” star Ty Burrell’s collar here. “A button-down is a button-up, but a button-up isn’t necessarily a button-down,” style expert Megan Collins of Style Girlfriend, a website for men’s fashion, explained.
What do you call formal shirt?
Formal. Formal shirts, or tuxedo shirts, are long sleeve, button-up shirts with a short tipped collar meant to be worn with a bowtie. Often paired with a suit, these are the dressiest of all dress shirts in menswear and rarely worn outside of black-tie galas.
What is difference between formal and casual shirt?
While formal shirts are generally quite fitted and have long tails, casual shirts are shorter and cut to give a little more room. This is because unlike formal shirts, they are usually left untucked and worn more casually.
What is an Oxford shirt?
The name Oxford refers to a type of cloth originally made in Scotland. It’s heavier and has a rougher weave (also sometimes known as a basket weave) than other types of shirts, which means it’s sometimes more durable. Oxford cloth tends to hold its shape well and is often stiffer than other types of fabric too.
It primarily comes down to a matter of formality, a button-down collar is inherently more informal and when paired with a suit and tie it offers a clashing level of formality. A standard collar dress shirt will look sharp and professional and it’s the best way to complement that suit and tie of yours.
What type of shirt do you wear under a suit?
2. A Polo Shirt. It may not seem like the most obvious choice to wear under a blazer, but a men’s polo shirt is a wardrobe staple for lots of men, and it can look nice dressed up under a blazer and tucked in with a belt.
What kind of shirts go with suits?
Don’t choose a dress shirt in the same color as the suit with which you intend to wear it. Instead, choose a dress shirt in a color that contrasts with that of your suit. If your dress shirt is the same color as your suit trousers and jacket, there won’t be any distinguishing features separating them.