A button-fly waist on a pair of jeans or pants is when the front fly consists of a vertical row of buttons instead of a zipper. The button fly can be exposed or concealed. If you wore Levi’s 501’s back in the day, you wore a bottom with a button-fly waist. 

Here are some more examples.

An exposed button fly makes a visual statement. It can look interesting and fun, but it might also draw attention to an area you would rather keep unadorned. When a button-fly waist is concealed, the effect looks much like a zippered fly. Only you know that you have buttons instead of a zipper.

You might find the button fly visually interesting and comfortable, but there are also many people that don’t like them. Some of my clients find button-fly waists ill-fitting and unattractive, especially when seated. Or they find the effort of doing up buttons bothersome and potentially painful on their fingers.

Personally, I don’t find button-fly waists uncomfortable, unattractive or bothersome, and I’m happy to wear them. I like the visual effect of the exposed buttons when the fly is not concealed. It makes a statement when you tuck or semi-tuck tops. Generally, I prefer the ease and speed of a zipper, but a button-fly waist is not a deal-breaker for me. I have four pairs of jeans with button flies, and adore them.

One little tip relating to the button and zipper fly that you may already know: With a zipper, do the top button first, before zipping up. With a button fly, do the top button last.

Over to you. What do you think of button-fly waists? Do you wear them?