Most people are familiar with the terms “button up” and “button down” when talking about shirts. But what exactly is the difference between the two? Both types of shirts are considered dress shirts but there is a small difference between them in terms of formality. People are often confused on which occasion to wear each and determining which is more formal. We wrote this article to help explain the nuances to this seemingly simple question Lets learn what defines a button up vs button down.
Button Up vs Button Down
To explain the difference simply: button down shirts have buttons on the tips of the collar intended to keep the collar down, while button up shirts are very similar except for the fact that they don’t have those two additional buttons. Button up shirts are also usually worn with a tie, while button down shirts can be worn either with or without a tie.
Which one should you wear? That depends on what you’re going for. Button up shirts are seen as more formal than button down shirts these days, so if you’re dressing for a more formal occasion, go with a button up shirt. But if you want something a little less formal, or if you want to be able to take your shirt off without having to undo all of the buttons, then go with a button down shirt.
History of the button down
Button up shirts were always the standard shirt throughout history, often worn for both formal and informal occasions based on the design and material of the shirt.
The button down shirt has a somewhat complicated history. It was first invented in the late 1800s by a man named Edward Smith, and it was originally called the “tab-collar shirt”. The collar of the shirt had small tabs on it that could be fastened to keep the collar in place.
The button down shirt didn’t become popular until the early 1900s in England, when it was adopted by the polo players. They liked it because it helped keep their collars from flapping in the wind while they were playing. The button down shirt soon became popular with other people as well, and it has remained one of the most popular types of dress shirts ever since.
Is a button up or button down shirt more formal?
The honest answer is that it is subjective and button ups and button down are both worn formally and informally so we can make a case for each. But to give you more direction, button up shirts are typically seen as more formal than button down shirts in today’s fashion.
There are a few reasons why button up shirts are more formal. First of all, they usually have a stiffer collar than button down shirts. They also usually have a longer tail, which helps to keep the shirt tucked in. And finally, they’re usually worn with a tie, or a blazer that helps keep the collar down, which is the most formal type of neckwear. Essentially, button ups are typically worn as part of an ensemble or with suits.
When looking at button down shirts in terms of formal occasions, we would recommend wearing these as more business-casual; usually paired with a pair of chinos, fitted jeans, or even tucked in with a nice belt.
So in short: button ups are more formal and typically worn with suits, while button downs are a little less formal and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
Should I button the shirt all the way up?
In general, you should button the shirt all the way up if you want to look more formal.
Buttons on a dress shirt serve two purposes: 1) Since dress shirts are typically made of stiff material, the buttons make it easy to put on (can you imagine if there were no buttons and you tried to put it on over your head). 2) They allow for customization so you could button all the way up or leave a few unbuttoned for style. When you button a shirt all the way up, it gives it a neater appearance and makes it look more like a uniform.
However, there are times when it’s okay to leave the top few buttons undone. For example, if you’re going to a casual event or if you want to be able to breathe easily, then you can unbutton a few buttons at the top. Just make sure that if you are wearing a tie, don’t leave buttons undone at the top or else it will look a bit sloppy.
Styling the Button Up
Button up dress shirts are a versatile staple in any man’s wardrobe. They can be dressed up or down and worn with a variety of different outfits. But how do you style a button up shirt? What are the best ways to wear one? Here are a few tips on styling your button up shirt:
- A button up shirt can be worn with dress pants for a more formal look, or with jeans for a more casual look.
- When wearing a button up shirt without a tie, always unbutton the top two buttons and tuck the shirt into the pants. This will give you a more polished but relaxed look.
- If you’re going for a more casual look, leave the top two buttons undone and pair with a chinos or well-fitting jeans.
- Button up shirts also look great when worn with a blazer or jacket. When pairing with a blazer or other jacket, try wearing with and without a tie to see what style fits you and the occasion best.
- Button ups should always be worn tucked in – especially with a more formal outfit.
Styling the Button Down
Much like button ups, button downs can be worn in various ways and can be as formal or as casual as you would like. Since button downs have a sporty lineage, our recommendations are to wear these more casually than you would button ups. Here are a few tips for styling your button down shirts:
- Generally, you should button the collar on a button-down shirt regardless if your outfit is more formal or casual.
- Never wear a button down shirt if you are going full formal (suit or other ensemble).
- Can be worn tucked in with chinos or fitted jeans for a business-casual look.
- When worn untucked, wear with jeans, chinos or even shorts if you’d like. Stay away from dress pants in this scenario.
Recap
To remember the difference between button ups vs button downs, just know they are essentially the same except button downs have buttons that…button the collar down. There is a lot of nuance between the two shirts but it is most important to remember that button ups are usually worn with suits and ties while button ups are a bit more versatile and worn more casually.
There is a lot of debate around the two shirts and which occasions to wear each. This article is not the bible on the subject, just our opinion based on current fashion trends. Rules are meant to be broken. It is ultimately up to you to decide how you will wear each and we hope you were inspired to put outfits together with your own creativity.
