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.
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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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is it appropriate to wear a suit without a tie?
It depends on the occasion, however the answer is generally no. Not wearing a tie with a suit, would be like not wearing socks with your shoes or not wearing cuff links with your cuffs! The suit is designed for the tie and would be lost without it.
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.
A half sleeve shirt is also called a camp shirt. It is similar to the classic button-down and often has a full-length front button closure. These shirts are casual, and it is common to wear them untucked.
Button-down shirts and polos
A button-down shirt is a business casual must.
Is it OK to wear a polo shirt to an interview?
Both men and women can consider wearing tailored khakis, a nice polo shirt or button-down, and a pair of sensible shoes—but no flip-flops!
Is it OK to wear a tie with jeans?
Strictly speaking, it is physically possible to wear jeans with a dress shirt and a tie.
Is tucking your shirt in fashion?
Now we’ve made a return to tucked in tops being fashionable, but oh no this isn’t just the traditional full tuck. Right now there are so many more trendy ways to tuck in your shirts and look super fashionable.
Is it okay to wear a dress shirt untucked?
Dress shirts made in more relaxed and soft fabrics such as oxford dress shirts, flannel shirts and chambray shirts are great for the untucked look. These often have a more straight hem that make them great to leave untucked. Dress shirts in linen are also perfect if you prefer the untucked style.
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.
Can you wear dress shirts casually?
With a casual dress shirt, you should feel comfortable being as bold with your colors and patterns as you want, and always feel free to undo as many buttons as you feel fit for the situation. Given that wearing the dress shirt untucked is encouraged, the length of the shirt is going to be crucial.
We will cover more specifics, but as a general rule of thumb for formal environments, if it’s extremely hot outside you can skip the undershirt, but otherwise wear it. Just make sure you don’t show it. Showing an undershirt is akin to showing your underwear.
You can pair short-sleeve button-downs with everything from shorts to jeans all the way to dress pants and make them work for just about any occasion like that hot date you’ve got lined up for Friday, the big meeting you’ve been prepping for or your family’s annual beach trip.
Should I tuck in my short sleeve shirt?
Short sleeve shirts are best worn untucked or casually tucked. That means you don’t want the shirt hem to fall too low or too short, but hit just the right length, around midpoint between your waist and crotch.
Is a pink tie unprofessional?
Orange, Pink and Lilac ties
Neck ties in such bright and refreshing colors are usually worn with white, light blue or other light-colored dress shirts. These ties are generally a perfect choice for spring and summer or for a commemorative event. Also, such neck ties, if not too bright, are still fine for formal events.