Button up or down?

harmonica

This is probably a very stupid question, but it is clothes related, so here goes: What's the difference between a button up shirt and a button down shirt? Is there any difference or is it the same?

9 years ago

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from Jenn

Mauvish

Active Member

I recently learned the difference too. Any style of shirt which uses front buttons to close all the way up are button up shirt

A button down shirt closes buttons in front AND have buttons on each side of collar

So all button down shirts are button up but not all button up shirts are button down

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9 years ago

Mauvish

Active Member

Also: apparently wearing ties with button down shirts is a No- No.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Angie refers to all of them as button downs. But my husband (a New Englander by birth) told me the same thing that Mauvish said, so I differentiate. Button ups are those that....well...button up! And Button downs are those with collars that button down.

9 years ago

harmonica

Veteran

Great insights! Thank you, Suz and Mauvish!

9 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Not a stupid question at all. It is a thing that comes and goes from my mind.

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

When I found YLF I was confused by the use of the term button down shirt. All my life it meant a shirt with buttons on the collar.

Wearing ties with a button down shirt is common. There might be some controversy whether wearing a bow tie is okay with a button down shirt.

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9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

What I say?! I've never heard of 'a' button up. I've heard of being buttoned up...but this is somewhat different. And differentiated from being button down. Button down collars have always, in my world, required the whole phrase or been called oxfords, because they are.

But that's right - no tie with an oxford.

9 years ago

Gail

Veteran

My Husband refuses to wear a shirt and tie unless it is a button down collar, he hates the spread, pointy and all the other types of collars.

9 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What Suz said.

9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I have to hold forthwith more: ties with oxfords are preppy/academic and thus a little shabby. Classic but not polished classic. Not Sua-vé like Cary Grant Sua-vé

9 years ago

Anonymous

This is interesting. I thought they were all the same thing.

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Rachy, I posted a picture of Cary Grant wearing a button down with a tie. He looks polished to me.

9 years ago