Acceptable. Across the pond
We have some clothing buffs here so I wondered: What is the view of button-down collars worn with ties? Acceptable or faux pas?
Last edited by markrlondon; 22nd April 2014 at 07:22.
Acceptable. Across the pond
Fas est ab hoste doceri
Until recently, I've almost always worn (white) shirts with button down collars when I've worn a tie. I don't so often now because my wife bought me a bunch of shirts without button down collars. It isn't that she has anything against button down collars; it is just that they weren't available in the Tyrwhitt sale. :)
I also always change the lacing on my shoes from the straight across to the over and under pattern. (I can feel the apple pie coursing through my veins.)
Best wishes,
Bob
PS Button down collars don't work with broadcloth. Best to go with either Oxford weave (my favourite, although too textured for really formal wear), or Oxford pinpoint (a bit more formal). Broadcloth for formal.
RLF
Last edited by rfrazier; 18th April 2014 at 20:17.
Last edited by zelig; 18th April 2014 at 20:16.
no-button down collars are casual
Only if it's a skinny black tie, you're wearing an ironic short sleeved white shirt, and sport a hipster beard.
Perfectly acceptable...
As others have said, only the septics can get away with button-down collars, an appalling sartorial faux pas for the rest of us.
I used to wear Ben shermans with a tie, never saw it as an issue. Still have a couple, but I rarely wear ties these days. Never considered the cross cross shoelace as a US thing either, all depends on the footwear.
Another in agreement that this is only for the folks across the pond.
Somebody's going to suggest in a minute that it's OK to play polo whilst not wearing a tie. Bloody hell.
Last edited by Carlton-Browne; 18th April 2014 at 22:42.
Yes, but only with a Brooks Bros or Mercers shirt and Rooster or J.Press knitted or Repp tie. It's part of the classic American Ivy look.
Absolutely fine - it can look great, although NOT with a suit which requires a shirt with a traditional semi-spread or English spread collar (this is where many North Americans get it wrong). A shirt with button-down collar and appropriate tie works well with odd jacket and trousers for smart business-casual. As has been mentioned, shirt should be made of one of the less formal and more textured fabrics such as an Oxford weave. And, if wearing with odd jacket and trousers, try and make sure jacket is darker than trousers (and shirt). Much easier to get right than lighter jacket and darker trousers.
Last edited by Argon; 18th April 2014 at 23:24.
Charles Tyrwhitt posted pics on facebook of their new button down shirts with ties.....I don't think it went down well with non-Americans. Personally I think a tie with a button down shirt is only marginally better than a tie with a short sleeved shirt!!
Next we'll have people saying its ok to wear a crew neck jumper with a shirt!!!!
Last edited by Rob; 18th April 2014 at 23:43.
I think it looks terrible, cringe every time I see it (usually US based thankfully)
Very Brooks Brothers.
I'm not so stuffy as some folk are on here about sartorial rules but this looks very obviously like poor taste.
So the answer is no.
No,unless you're a badly dressed American
If it's good enough for Cary Grant, it's good enough for me.
Notice the lovely "roll" in the collar. Not the sort of thing you'll get with those flapping things. :)
Best wishes,
Bob
^ Yes! Good call. That elegant roll is what the button-down is all about.
http://oxfordclothbuttondown.com/2013/07/collar-roll/
This is how my collars roll and I cross the laces on my Gunboats too.
Last edited by bonzo697; 19th April 2014 at 06:19.
Unless you're going back to the mid nineties, it's a definite no.
It's fine. What is not fine is short sleeved shirts with a tie. If you are hot, roll the sleeves up to below the elbow.
You can only do button down and tie if you wear a diamond encrusted PVD Rolex.
Defo says "American" or you spent a lot of time there. Much like tee shirts used as vests.
Not "British" But like Bob I've worn button downs for years with and without ties and prefer them. Be your own man and wear what you like.
And get sweaty and yukky creased sleeves as well, and worse, look like a Tory minister trying to look cool.
We can learn some things from the Yanks, and ventilation is one of them. Remember asking if a new car had air con, only a few years ago?
'Oh no sir, you would only use it for a few days a year here in the UK, so why bother?'
For the last few years of my working life I worked for a Nordic company, and no-one wore ties; I only ever wore one again for funerals, and then only to avoid arguments.
Don't get me started on the trend for not wearing ties with suits and Jermyn St shirts. And as for blokes inadvertently looking like ironic versions of Alexei Sayle....
(Apologies for the lack of sequence, but haven't found how to cut and paste with me cheap tablet).
Wearing a short sleeved shirt in an office makes you look like the guy who's come to fix the photo copier.
Button-down collars are fine with a tie and suit, just not with a Dinner Jacket.....
I've done the botton-down collar and tie look before a I think it's fine as long as it's on a casual basis, i.e. no suit, top button open, tie loose. This may be a younger persons thing though. If you're in your 30's I think it's definitely cooler than wearing a t-shirt for a smart-casual occasion; not so cool if you're in your 50's giving a presentation to the the client.
That's just too sweeping a statement. I've had clients that would far prefer that image to a pin-stripe suit (etc) and most organisations are seemingly more and more tolerant of smart/casual styles of clothing. It's really just the financial and legal sectors that are lagging behind in this regard.
Why not go the Gianni Agnelli route and wear (always) button-down collar shirts with a suit and tie and leave them (equally always) unbuttoned. Team up this look with a wristwatch worn on the outside of the shirt cuff.
I suspect to pull this look off you need to be Italian, fabulously wealthy, head of a huge corporation and have patrician good looks and charm in spades.
I'm surprised this topic has gone on for as long as it has. Really, you're not talking to the right person - someone who's got his finger on the pulse.
Why didn't you ask Steve ? You know, Steve, TZ's resident style guru, (if we're honest, the style benchmark around here)......... you know, ........... Steve McQueen.
Nuff said
I`m a fan of button downs, with or without ties.
Paul
Thanks everyone! So the consensus is that it's an American thing rather than a British thing. Interesting.