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First, a little terminology
Button up shirts are dress shirts that have full-length button plackets. This means that the buttons run all the way down the front of the shirt, typically from the collar down to the hem. These shirts are versatile and often worn in professional settings.
With the button down shirts, there are buttons on the collar points that fasten down onto the shirt to keep the collar in place. These shirts are often associated with a more relaxed style, making them a popular choice for casual wear.
So, where did the button downs start, anyway?
We can thank 19th-century English polo players for this one.
These players often faced the frustration of collars flapping in the wind during matches, which hindered their vision. So, to do away with this problem, they began attaching buttons to their collars to keep them in place. This practical solution soon caught on, and the button down shirt became a trend in the sporting world.
It was John E. Brooks who popularized the button down shirt as a fashion item. When he attended a polo match in England, he got inspired by the collared shirts worn by the players. He then started producing similar shirts in his American company and called them polo collar shirts.
The differences between button down and button up shirts
In truth, most button-down shirts are technically also button-up shirts, but not not vice versa. Let me talk about the two main differences worth highlighting:
1. Collar
Button down shirts have buttons on the collar points that can fasten down onto the shirt. The term “button down” actually refers to the buttons on the collar. On the contrary, button up shirts do not have these buttons on the collar—the collar line is clean and unrestricted.
2. Formality
In terms of formality, button up shirts are generally considered more formal than button down shirts. The absence of buttons on the collar gives button up shirts a sleek and polished look, making them suitable for professional or dressy occasions.
Button down shirts, with their unique collar design, are by nature more relaxed in style and are often worn in casual or business-casual settings.
When to wear button down vs button up shirts
I understand that this topic can bring a lot of controversy. While the most obvious answer is that button up shirts are a safe choice for formal events and button down shirts are perfect for casual or weekend wear, this isn’t usually the case.
Take my case for instance; I often wear a button up shirt with shorts. It is a little more formal than a polo or a tee, so I do it when I wish to look a little bit smarter.
However, other people may prefer a button-up shirt for more professional or formal occasions, while some may find it restrictive or uncomfortable. All in all, deciding whether to wear a button down or button up shirt depends on the occasion, individual fashion taste, and comfort level.