Button Up Shirt Button Down Shirt the Difference

Alright, gents. Those of you who know the difference between a button up shirt and a button down shirt get a gold star. For those of you who don’t know the difference—or didn’t realize there was a difference—don’t worry. We were just as confused, and we’ll happily share our newfound knowledge with you.

Button up shirt vs. down what’s the difference

The button up

Turns out, like other fashion rules, the truth about men’s shirts is sort of complicated. We’ll break it down for you this way:

Whether it’s a Charlie Harper-style cabana shirt or a tuxedo dress shirts, if a shirt close all the way up in the front, it’s a button up.

If a shirt goes all the way up the front, and has buttons on the point of each side of the collar that goes into the top portion of the shirt, it’s a button down shirt. This shirt got its start on the polo fields of jolly old England. Polo players, sick of having their shirt collars flop up as they charged down the field, had the bright idea of fastening them down. Somehow the look caught on, and eventually came to symbolize a preppy, casually elegant style.

So a button down shirt is a type of button up. But not every shirt that goes all the way up is a button down shirt. Makes sense, right?

Now, for “The Rules.”

It is acceptable to wear a casual short-sleeved if:

1. You are sitting in an actual cabana.
2. You are from Miami, currently in Miami, and currently poolside, on the beach, or grilling something.
3. Your job requires it.
4. It is 1983.
5. You are in your 20s and a hipster.
6. You belong to a bowling league.
7. You are a woman and the shirt is a blouse.

We know there are cool versions of the short-sleeve out there, but it’s a fine line and, unless you know you can pull it off, it’s a risky fashion move. button up Short-sleeved shirt versions should be somewhat fitted and worn untucked with jeans and casual shoes.

It is acceptable to wear a long-sleeved flannel  shirt if:

1. You are a lumberjack of some kind.
2. You are an aspiring mountain man.
3. You are moving heavy furniture in the fall.
4. Your job requires it.

It is ONLY acceptable to wear a button down if:

1. You work in a casual office or it’s casual Friday at your swanky office.
2. You’re out with the guys at an upscale sports bar
3. You’re on a date at a semi-casual sit-down restaurant
4. You’re going anywhere you want to look put together but not stuffy, or your plan is to look dressy without wearing a tie a button up shirt is prefect.
5. Your job requires it.

You must wear a formal button up if:

1. You plan to wear a tie
2. You are going to a job interview at any place from which you seek gainful employment.
3. You are attending a formal or semi-formal wedding or cocktail party.
4. You are having dinner at an upscale restaurant.
5. Your swanky office job requires it.

Wondering what you should and shouldn’t wear with a button down shirt? Well, a tie is a real no-no. Also, you must not, under any circumstances wear a this kind of shirt with a suit. You can wear a shirt with a nice pair of jeans (tucked in, please, with a proper belt), with khakis, or with slacks no hipster style please, and you can pair it with a sport coat.