Tuesday 6 July 2010

The Importance of Shirt Buttons


 Aww - I love this photo.  I have it as my desktop wallpaper on my work computer and my laptop. It captures a beautiful moment on the happiest day of  my life.  But - oh my gosh it irritates me, too.  Drives me mad.  Just -just look at it...



I have known my utterly wonderful husband for about four and a half years. During this time, I have explained, demonstrated and cajoled, but still he insists on unbuttoning one, but not two of his shirt buttons - I've more or less given up with him, but it just looks odd.  And yet, as I look around at the gentlemen of Britain, this one-button-madness seems to be rife.  The problem is one of connotation. Two open buttons give an impression of comfort and relaxation.  One button open is, well, more buttoned-up.



The king of 'Only Opening One Button Land' is actor / writer / presenter / comedian and all-round likeable chap David Mitchell. But it works for him. Mitchell's media persona is one of slight diffidence and discomfort, a man who finds himself ill at ease with things like relaxation, fun and the modern world.  As such, the single button open at the neck says "I didn't want to wear a tie, but actually, I'm not quite sure what to do if I don't have a tie on. I know that leaving all my buttons done up looks weird, so -there - look, I've undone one. It's more comfortable and I don't look like I've just taken off my tie. Even though I probably have." And while that works for him, it's not the kind of image many men want to project.  It's also true that, having two buttons open makes you look leaner both in the face and neck; and in the body. It's the same optical rules that make V necks so flattering for women.


When I was at the pub on Saturday, I got some of the gentlemen to pose for us, with one and two buttons undone. Ignore the odd orange glasses - and instead, notice how - when Adrian has more buttons done up - he looks a bit geeky.



It's even more pronounced here, on Harry - perhaps because of the long sleeves - that with only one button undone the wearer looks uncomfortable and uptight. It's important to notice that if you undo two buttons you're not normally going to expose great acres of chest-flesh: you just give the impression of a longer neck.



Undoing two buttons is flattering, and it also marks a clear distinction between work and play. On the left, Pete would be smart enough for many workplaces... but who (except barstaff) wants to look like they could be at work on a Saturday in the pub? On the left, Pete looks laid back and casual.  It's so simple.


There's always one. It's funny, though - a few men have pulled their shirt open in a similar way when I've brought this subject up. Assuming it's not a crazy desire to show me their manly chests, it sometimes seems to be a way of jokingly dealing with insecurities related to showing off  more of their bodies.  Or perhaps it's not feeling it's ok for everyone, even very 'blokey' blokes, to look stylish and be aware of what suits them.  As I said above, most shirts won't show much more flesh if you open two buttons than one, but actually, very soft, unstructured shirts like Steve's will tend to fall open in a wider V shape.


I think the more open neck here looks great - very relaxed and summery, but you can go too far with a good thing.  It takes a certain type of person to pull off more than two buttons open, and on others, it can look a little odd...


In the unlikely event that you are Mr David Mitchell and you are reading this blog, please accept my apologies. I think you know that you've a look and persona that work for you - but should you ever want to change all that, I think you should start with the hair. Seriously...

19 comments:

  1. i had 3 buttons undone on saturday and i looked fucking lush if i say so myself.

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  2. haha well said mrs, your comment on the wedding photo made me snort :D

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  3. But Rob, you're a man apart. Always have been!

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  4. ROFL at David Mitchell - shall I tweet him? :D

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  5. I'm always a two button person myself wherever possible, but seem to have to have this constant battle with my other half who insists it should be one!

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  6. Trashy, if I thought he'd read my tweet I'd have done it myself. So please, be my guest.

    Bods, show your other half this blog, or simply keep invoking the name of Mr Mitchell. I find it very effective. Except on my husband.

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  7. It's not about the number of buttons, it's about the style of shirt. A fitted shirt needs two buttons open in order to look comfortable. A more loose-fitting shirt, like Mr. Mitchell is rocking in that last picture, looks untidy when left hanging open.

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  8. It's more spacing between buttons for me - I have some loose shirts that are fine with two buttons, but one where the buttons just seem to be spaced a bit further apart. It's one I never wear with two buttons open.

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  9. James, I mostly agree - it's what I was getting at with the comments about structure and fabric... But I maintain that even a very casual shirt looks better with two open buttons that one. David Michell's casual shirt has at least three buttons open, which is why it looks extreme. But I think one button would be a formality at odds with the style of shirt.

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  10. Nothing sartorial is a cast iron rule. Bods, some shirts are designed with different button spacing so that they obviously fall open a certain way, and then others just have odd spacing to be awkward. But I'd err on the side of open if you're chunky and closed if you're more slghtly built.

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  11. In a post about shirt buttons, I cannot believe you didn't include a picture of the king of button minimalism!!

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  12. Clare, your 'medallion man' boyfriend is not going to help me make my point...!

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  13. He interprets the rule of two buttons in his own unique way: two buttons done up: max!

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  14. Yup. i couldn't agree more. One button undone looks like choking.

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  15. the other half has started wearing his shirts with two buttons undone- it looks gooooood...

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  16. i feel more comfortable and sexy with two button undone

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  17. I know I'm a bit late to this post, but I HATE not having all buttons and a tie with a shirt. It's just wrong and I feel like I've not bothered to get dressed properly if I'm not buttoned up, and don't have a tie tied properly.
    Horses for courses etc.

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Thanks for commenting - always nice to know I'm not talking to myself...