Why the aversion to button-front shirts? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

About: Five On Trend T-Shirt Alternatives

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Why the aversion to button-front shirts?

Aziraphale

Veteran

Hi Angie (and anyone else who would like to comment!). This is only tangentially related to today's blog post, but you mentioned that there is a general aversion to button-front shirts. Why is this? Just curious.

Dressing

45 replies

Latest reply was from Mona

MsMary

Veteran

I have such an aversion, and I have several reasons:

1. Bustal gappage. It's hard to find a button-front shirt that doesn't gape in front. This is the biggie for me. Hate it.

2. Ironing. Most button-front shirts need at least a minimal amount of pressing to look decent, and that slows me down.

3. Sleeve length. I have short little T Rex arms, and a long-sleeved button-front shirt is almost certain to have sleeves that are too long.

4. Comfort. Let's face it -- a structured woven shirt isn't the most comfortable garment in the world. especially if it fits close to the body (see below).

5. Fit. A woven button-front shirt has to fit just right. Unless you're going for "fashionably oversized" (which isn't really right for the office), there isn't a lot of room for error.

Now all those elements can be worked around (I'm wearing my fave 3/4 sleeve, wrinkle resistant, non-gaping white button front shirt today, in fact), but it involves a lot of trial and error. The alternatives are generally easier and more forgiving.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I love most of mine but they are very lightweight and soft for the most part, chosen carefully so as not to really require ironing for my casual lifestyle, and recently I've been opting for "pop overs" like below, which are not really button downs but have a similar aesthetic (with more comfort for tucking).

Lattice medallion popover

View Info

Top Pick

4

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Comfort, and bust-area opening up. But more importantly, poor quality construction, especially in the realm of buttons being loosely sewn on and fabric ripping at the seams and within the material itself. (J.Crew cotton/linen blends, I'm looking at you).

ironkurtin

Veteran

I love mine, but I have very broad shoulders and a smaller cup size. I am also incredibly fussy about how they fit, but even so I often must use safety pin or put a tiny tie tack right where my bra would show, even on my looser shirts. When I find one that doesn't gap or pull, I jump.

Gracie

Veteran

No aversion over here, quite the contrary, lots of love.

merwoman

Veteran

I'm with you Aziraphale, i quite enjoy wearing a button front shirt. However, my summer shirts are loose fitting and light fabrications. I also find them a great topper (denim shirts in particular) to wear when I'm in fitness gear biking to the pool or or pilates class. Very effective at blocking sun on shoulders, and not looking scantily clad

eds

I adore buttondowns for the structure they offer and I have many... tailored, oversized, you name it. LOVE. The ironing is an issue, but worth it to me. The bust gap thing...what IS the deal? I am not busty, but still a huge issue. Often, a little fashion tape does the trick. If it actually pulls because there is not enough fabric, I just put it back on the rack.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Elizabeth, most regular sized curvy women - in my experience of dressing women for a living - are against masculine shirts because they think they have to be fitted which causes a challenge on the bust and torso. Actually these days they shouldn't be fitted to look fashionable, which I am shouting from the roof tops. Most don't want to send stuff to the cleaners, nor do they want to iron themselves. Furthermore, women feel too formal, stiff and business-y in a shirt. Or too masculine. Also, the collar is not the best match for those with a short neck.

Interestingly, my plus sized curvy clients love to wear fitted shirts. They enjoy the structure, polish and forgiving fit on the torso.

It's true that straighter bodies are easy to fit into button downs and LOVE wearing them - Suz, Viva, IK, Inge, Merwoman, Tex, Gracie, Claire and I raise our hands. It's like the planets align when we wear them - it's a magical fit almost every time.

Mary, a fashionable oversized look should eliminate most of those challenges. As will one in a softer fabric.

kkards

Veteran

until i realized that i could size up, i felt they were confining--they just don't have the same easy flow as knits.
i also don't iron, so i have to factor dry cleaning into the equation.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

No aversion here, either -- only love! But as Angie says, I'm an easy fit in a button up shirt. So the only issue is ironing. Which I don't really mind, just have to schedule in.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Ah! OK, good reasons. Thanks for clearing that up, everyone.

I admit that getting a button-front shirt to fit is trickier than for knits, because they don't stretch. I didn't wear them up until I discovered that I need a petite size (duh) but when I find one that fits well, I think they look great. I'm unfortunately not flat-chested or long-necked enough to wear them buttoned up all the way, but they make a very flattering v-shape neckline if I leave a few buttons undone. And they are very forgiving on the midsection, even the tailored ones. But I'm especially loving the loose-fitting boyfriend ones at the moment. I have a silk one I adore. I love the masculine vibe, but maybe that's because I'm so small and feminine-looking. I like the juxtaposition of boy shirt + small female body.

And I see the point about ironing, too. Although non-iron shirts help with this.

Makrame

Veteran

I love button-down (or button-up) shirts, especially in soft fabrications. I have the JCrew popover that texstyle included in her post, and another silk-cotton shirt from JCrew that is a true buttoned shirt, as well as some non-iron Brooks Brothers shirts. I like the soft silk-cotton shirts for the more casual situations. I like the shirts because they cover up the "apple bits" around the waist. Silk-cotton fabrication from JCrew does not require ironing.

I solved the gappage problem by using small safety pins (I always have a lot of them left over from running events). Recently I was in Germany and realized that I forgot to bring my safety pins, I had to scramble to (1) find out what they are called in German and (2) find a store that sold them. Otherwise I just did not feel comfortable enough wearing these shirts to conference events since I had to talk to a lot of people all day.

MsMary

Veteran

Ah! I forgot

6. SHORT NECK!! The collar can come up to my ears if I'm not careful!

And yes, Angie -- I love my oversized button-front shirts! And I have a lot of button-front tops in soft fabrics that I hardly even think of when I think "button front shirt."

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like them, even though I have problems with the bust gappage issue, even when the shirt seemingly fits fine (fashion tape to the rescue). I also find it annoying when the buttons fall so that if you wear it unbuttoned to the second button down, it's a little too low, but if you button it higher, it's too high. Maybe that's just me and my short little high-busted torso though!

I like the fitted variety, even though they are going unworn in my closet at the moment. They're so classic they're staying. But even more in the last year of so, I've been loving the softer, more fluid types of button front shirts in fabrications like silk or Tencel or even cotton blends. The potential for gappage is not as high, and they're also more on-trend right now.

I have one of those JCrew popovers (solid turquoise) and I love it. I don't love to iron, however, so it doesn't get worn a tremendous amount.

Anonymous

Add me to the button-down crew! I love them, especially now with the fluid fit. But, I am rectangular, small bust, and longish neck, so I think I just have a good foundation to work with that shape of top.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have just one standard, stiffer, woven white button front. It does fit snug across my high hip if I don't tuck, although everywhere else fits fine. For those rare occasions like job searching and whatnot I'm glad to have it. And some days I think I may eventually wear it with my BF jeans and heels, but haven't yet. In general, that buttoned up look (ha) isn't my style so one is plenty. I do plan on getting a silky blouse version this Fall/Winter, though.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I have had a hate-hate affair with button ups for a long time; same reasons as Mary K, essentially. Boob gape drives me crazy.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I don't like them for work but, I do love them for casual time. I buy mens shirts and have the tailor take them in at the bust and the waist for me. At work I have to wear them or polos and I remove the collars.

celia

Veteran

I love button down shirts and am willing to work around any difficulties they may present. However, I feel that the woven ones are sometimes to formal for a mom on the go style(which never stopped me from wearing them)

Hil

(website)

Veteran

Boob gape!

I have owned one or two button downs and they just never really work. When they fit the boobs, they don't work anywhere else. I also hate the constricted feeling that they sometimes give me.

Marlene

Veteran

I have had challenges with button front shirts in the past. I have short-neck syndrome. And I hate that stiff feeling of a crisp shirt. But then I discovered the casual and soft button fronts from Nordstrom Halogen line. Fun prints, thin fabric. I usually have one or two in rotation and they are great. I LIKE them rumpled and partially tucked. I don't bother ironing since I actually prefer the rumpled look. Sometimes its just a matter of finding the right one.

Marley

Veteran

I became a convert to button-down shirts several years ago - and now, I LOVE them! If you make sure that the fabric is soft and the fit is over sized, a button-down shirt can (IMO) become an essential in your wardrobe. I especially love wearing them with BF jeans that are slightly distressed and dressy shoes - love the juxtaposition with the shirt. Very fun!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I love mine, I wear them almost everyday to work. Mine are almost all from Costco (the ones Mary wears). Most of mine are years old, worn and washed fortnightly if not weekly. No buttons are missing. They are easy care, I tumble dry them with only a few items in the dryer and hang them before the dry cycle has ended. If they sit in the dryer for even a minute you might need to press them.

They are not as comfortable as a knit button down is (I wear those to work too) but they look more polished. Lately I've moved on to high waisted skinnies and the button downs stay put much better in a high waisted pant.

jenniecc

I love button downs and wish they worked better for me. I've taken a couple to the tailor to have them taken in at the waist, which is ... okay. I realized the issue is that the seams assume that half of my width is in my back, but since I'm busty, my back is narrow and the seams sit awkwardly across the sides of my bust, if that makes sense.

Anonymous

Hmm.. I do have a bit of an aversion to them. I simply don't like myself in them I don't feel like me and I think its partly to do with a bit of a masculine vibe I get from them. Hard to really rationalise though. I don't own a single one and haven't done for 30 years!

Suja

Veteran

Add me to those with an aversion. Bust gape is the biggest issue but so is ironing, dry cleaning. It is so, so hard to find one that is tailored. I know oversized is in but I just want a feminine fit in a masculine piece. Plus they remind me of my days in finance when a button down shirt and dress pants were my uniform. Glad I can be much more "me" in my work clothes now.

Claudia

Veteran

I love them too, soft and oversized. They are in regular rotation in my wardrobe and I am very busty (34G). My favorites have been GAPs 'fitted' and 'shrunken' boyfriend shirts.

Anonymous

I am the exact opposite. I have a strong aversion to tee shirts because they make me feel underdressed and sloppy. In contrast, I feel incredibly comfortable in button down shirts and wear them all the time. I prefer semi-fitted styles. The fact that ironing doesn't bother me at all may help too.

Aquamarine

Veteran

More love here for button-downs. However, I prefer them fitted with a bit of stretch and I do not tuck. I have had good luck with Eddie Bauer button-downs...they work with my body shape. I know they will never be exciting but then again neither am I

12