Button-up, button-down, button-through?

Sisi

Today's Angie's post about shirts made me decide to ask something I wanted to ask since long time.
What do the different terms to describe a shirt mean ? I am not English mother tongue.
Thank you!

2 years ago

General

9 replies

Latest reply was from Sisi

JAileen

Veteran

Before I found YLF, a button down shirt meant a shirt with a collar that buttoned down to the shirt, as in #1. Here, though, button down just means a shirt that buttons down the front, as in #2. I don’t know what button through means.

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2 years ago

Helena

Veteran

Sisi, what Jaileen said, and usually a button-up would be more of a crisper fabric (more akin to a traditional men's business shirt); if it's more drapey or silky, it tends to be called a blouse - at least in my understanding.

2 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Mr. Suz, who grew up in Massachusetts, says that in menswear, button-down refers specifically to a shirt with a button down collar.

So, in deference to his views, I say button-up or button-front to mean a shirt that buttons up the front but does not have a button down collar.

On the subject of button down collars -- he likes them. I dislike them for myself because they make it harder to pop the collar!

2 years ago

whidbeygirl

Active Member

I, too, am wondering: What's a button through?

2 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Exactly what Suz and JAileen said.

Here are all my button down/up/through shirts in cotton and linen:

Banana Republic

Boyfriend Flannel Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Custom Find

by Angie

View Info

Nordstrom

COMME DES GARÇONS PLAY Black Heart Stripe Cotton Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Boden

Linen Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Custom Find

by Angie

View Info

Banana Republic

Quinn Straight-Fit Denim Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Nordstrom

Comme Des Garçons PLAY Cotton Button-Up Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Zara

Asymmetrical Poplin Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Boden

Modern Classic Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Boden

Linen Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Boden

Modern Classic Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Nordstrom

Boden Modern Classic Print Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Boden

Modern Classic Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Custom Find

by Angie

View Info

2 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I think of a shirt being crisp with a collar - a button down having the collar buttoned to the shirt, and a blouse being a woven top that isn’t a shirt - it could cover a buttoned silk top to an embroidered top that opened and closed at the back. Button downs are a sub set of shirts.

2 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Button through is for skirts and dresses, yes? With buttons all the way up and down, yes?

2 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I just call them shirts. But on the forum since 2017 and also in real life that same year I heard the term button-down for shirts that have buttons all the way down the front. I assume button-up and button-through can mean the same thing.

2 years ago

Sisi

Veteran

Clear. I understand that button-up, button-front and button through are the same thing (the various definitions made me confused) and the button-down has the collar buttoned to the shirt.
Thank you all!

2 years ago

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