Button Up vs. Button Down: What’s the difference? (2024)

FAQs

Button Up vs. Button Down: What’s the difference? ›

The main difference between a button-down and a button-up shirt is the collar. A button-down shirt has small buttons on the collar to keep it in place, while a button-up shirt has no buttons on the collar. Button-down shirts are more casual and button-up shirts are typically dressier.

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.

The 2024 fashion trends do reflect several nods toward menswear…we will discuss this more later. The oversized button-down shirts are a part of that menswear influence. But, they can build polished, comfortable casual styles.

T-shirt – also "tee shirt", a casual shirt without a collar or buttons, made of a stretchy, finely knit fabric, usually cotton, and usually short-sleeved. Originally worn under other shirts, it is now a common shirt for everyday wear in some countries.

To "button up" a shirt implies that you start from the bottom button and work your way up. You can just say "button your shirt" and leave to the listener to decide how they prefer to do it. A button-down shirt is one with an extra button for the collar.

The Oxford shirt is a type of button-down that is made with Oxford cloth. Woven with a basket-weave pattern, Oxford cloth has a unique look and feel and is coarser and heavier than the thinner, smoother, shinier fabric used to make more formal dress shirts.

What Is A Button Down Shirt? Button down shirts aren't really that much more complicated. They have buttons all the way up the shirt like a button up shirt, but also have two buttons on the collar, to fasten it down to the shirt. So the phrase 'button down' actually refers to fastening the collar down.

: conservatively traditional or conventional. especially : adhering to conventional norms in dress and behavior.

However, the button-down shirt soon gained popularity in the fashion world and has since become a very common item that we see today. The shirts are usually made of more casual fabrics like cotton or flannel and are available in a wide range of styles and patterns.

Most often, classic button down collars are worn without ties. Having the collar buttons still fastened will keep the collar standing up, helping the shirt still look crisp, yet casual. For a more business causal look, pair your shirt with a jacket.

Are button-down collars out of style? ›

The button-down collar is likely the second most-common style in your wardrobe. But, whereas the spread style has a monopoly on your formalwear, the button-down design was made to ground both your collar points and your fashion — and is ideal for more casual get-ups.

Three button shirts are called a henley because this type of shirt features 3 buttons at the top of a collarless long sleeve shirt. The henley shirt type can be worn buttoned or unbuttoned and are a casual long sleeve shirt type to have.

As a general rule, if a shirt has a straight hem, for example, a polo shirt, it is designed to be left untucked. However, if a shirt has a curved hem, for example, a business shirt, it is designed to be tucked in.

A half-placket means that the buttons only go halfway down the front of the shirt. This style of shirt is also sometimes called a "popover" or "henley" depending on the design details, such as collar style or number of buttons.

They're both valid terms, but here is the difference: 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.

Formal: Always tuck in for formal events like weddings or black-tie galas. Semi-Formal: Tucking in or leaving out for co*cktail parties or business casual settings depends on the overall vibe and your personal style. Casual: Untucking reigns supreme for relaxed outings and everyday wear.

The main thing to understand is the fineness of yarn woven into a substantially thick fabric. Cheap shirts tend to have thin fabrics made of junky thick rough cotton. Fabric is the most expensive component of a shirt and the easiest way to save money for a maker so it is the thing that will be sacrificed the most.

The grandad shirt, otherwise known as the mandarin collar, band collar shirt or collarless shirt, has been something of a Marmite piece of menswear, depending on which 20th century decade you were born into.

You won't be surprised to learn that a poplin shirt is a shirt that's made from cotton poplin fabric, sometimes with a blend of other fabrics for added benefits. It's a smooth, crisp and tightly woven fabric that uses fine yarns and a simple weave. The end result has a lustrous surface with very fine horizontal ribs.

In short, a twill shirt is a shirt that's made with cotton that has a twill weave. It's not a type of fabric, but instead relates to how the fabric is woven with one thread over the other and a step between rows to create a characteristic diagonal pattern.

What is the difference between button up and top down? ›

Each approach can be quite simple—the top-down approach goes from the general to the specific, and the bottom-up approach begins at the specific and moves to the general. These methods are possible approaches for a wide range of endeavors, such as goal setting, budgeting, and forecasting.

The Three-Button Jacket

The three-button suit, like others, comes with a simple rule: "sometimes, always, never." This means you should sometimes fasten the top button (if you want to), always fasten the middle button, and never fasten the bottom.

The two button suit rule says you should button the top button while the button on the bottom is left open. Like every other type of suit jacket design, this style exudes a timeless and bold look. This can also be seen in how designers cut the suit to accommodate this style.

The general rule for buttoning vests or waist coats is to always leave the bottom button undone. This tradition dates back to King Edward VII, who unbuttoned his vest due to his expanding waistline. Buttoning all the buttons on a vest can create an uncomfortable strain on the fabric and restrict your movement.

Three Button Suits

When you're standing up, fastening your top button is optional - unless it tampers with the fold of the lapel. The middle button should always be fastened, and the bottom button should never be buttoned. As always, remember to unfasten all the buttons before sitting down.

Formality Level

While both have a place in your wardrobe, a button-down shirt is inappropriate for formal events. That's anything from a job interview or meeting with the shareholders of your company right through to a black-tie or co*cktail wedding/event.

Button-down shirts can be worn in a variety of settings from casual to formal. However, because of their sporty origins and the fact that they have a more relaxed collar than others, they are generally considered to be one of the more casual dress shirts.