How do u decide? 3 button or 2 button suits?

[Sean1982]

I like 3 button roll or 2 button suits, and think that 3 button suits can look a little inelegant.

However, a three button suit can hide the sins of the larger chap on some occassions, but more often make them worse.

[Matt S]

What Will said. I have one-, two-, and three-button suits. But, like Will, I generally do not button the top button on my 3-button suits. It diminishes the barrel-chest effect of them, and looks a little more relaxed.

Same for me. The lapels on all but one of my 3-button suits roll over the top button. The one that doesn't is from Bookster and I still only fasten the middle. I think it looks best that way.

[eagle2250]

My preference is for the three button suit/sport coats. However, my body shape seems to prefer a two button, for the deeper gorge the design affords. Hence, as often as I can find them, to fit properly, I go with jackets that are of a 3R2 Sack design and enjoy the best of both worlds!

[windsor]

For the OP...Make a note as to who it was who "informed" you and treat future information from this source with a grain of salt. I think the postings here clearly indicate you were misinformed.

[johnpark11]

I only have a few 3 buttons and all have a lower top button. Not sure what thats called but if you see 1/2 the guys on ESPN, not like that...

[shorty]

I like both the 2btn and 3btn suits. I tend to decide what to wear based on whether I feel like leaving them unbutton. Typically, I wear my 3btn more often during the winter and I never unbutton them. Yes, I get sloppy and leave my 2btn undone often.

I am a short guy who looks fine in a 3btn suit or at least that's what I tell myself. IMO, having a darted and more fitted suit, whether it be 2 or 3 button, helps tremendously with the height challenge unless I'm standing next to my 6" taller wife. Boxy, blousy, loose fitting makes me look shorter.

And I look ridiculous in a DB suit.

[phyrpowr]

Three button suits designed to button the top button run the risk of looking like smocks.

[Checkerboard 13]

Folks, I hate to break into the happy discourse, but has anybody taken a moment to notice that this is a two year old thread, dragged to the top by a noob on his first day on the board?

[Mad Hatter]

Folks, I hate to break into the happy discourse, but has anybody taken a moment to notice that this is a two year old thread, dragged to the top by a noob on his first day on the board?

Sometimes, it's not bad. There's a lot of recurring questions, and it would've been asked sooner or later. Really, the only problem is timeliness WRT the OPs questions.

Just don't restart the epic "Why a 3r2 instead of 2B" or concealed carry threads.

[sowilson]

I like 2 button suits and 2 or 3 button sport coats. With my body (somewhat fat bastard) I like bowties with a 3 button as I find there is too much shirt showing with a two button. I also like wearing 3 button jackets when it's fall (20-30's in the morning, 45-60 afternoon) as my scarfs lay better and the 3 button is a bit warmer.

[Grainraiser]

I prefer 3 button suits. I'm 6ft 220 lbs but pretty athletic. They just seem to fit my body type better than a 2 button suit. I guess it is just a personal matter for most folks.

[Musick]

Im 6'0", 175 lbs. and much prefer the 2 over the 3.

[deanayer]

I love when an old thread gets dragged up, sometimes everyone goes off trying to help a guy with his wedding suit and he's already divorced by the time I respond. Anyway...

I don't look at the three button and two button as interchangeable. I think a three button works well if you are on the tall side or really tall and I also think it works well if you are of average or tall height and you are wearing the three button as part of a three piece suit with waistcoat. If you are on the shorter side I think they accentuate your shortness with their smaller lapels and gorge.

I personally prefer a two button suit and as I am not in need of a large suit collection I dont own a three button suit (I do have one or two three button jackets). The two button shows more shirt and tie when buttoned and I prefer that since head-on you arent confronting people with an acre of suiting material, two collar points and a tie knot like the three button.

The three button look used to seem like the more old-fashioned and banker-ish of the two until the NBA discovered it. Since then three button jackets and suits have made a fashion comeback and are often coupled with trendy skinny lapels which look extra bad on a three button IMHO.

The true monster is the three button dinner jacket. ouch! I think the three button can also produce more complicated button stance issues than the two button because the top most button has to be able to close without tugging or folding the lapels weird. This isn't an issue with the 2btn since only the top button is ever placed under a load, the bottom one is generally along for the ride.

[amplifiedheat]

I don't look at the three button and two button as interchangeable. I think a three button works well if you are on the tall side or really tall and I also think it works well if you are of average or tall height and you are wearing the three button as part of a three piece suit with waistcoat. If you are on the shorter side I think they accentuate your shortness with their smaller lapels and gorge.

I personally prefer a two button suit and as I am not in need of a large suit collection I dont own a three button suit (I do have one or two three button jackets). The two button shows more shirt and tie when buttoned and I prefer that since head-on you arent confronting people with an acre of suiting material, two collar points and a tie knot like the three button.

I'm 5'7'' and have a pair of three-button suits. I swear they add two inches. A few years ago, the overwhelming consensus was that a three-button made men look taller. To my mind, the difference is minimal. Besides, most of the two-buttons sold today are cut just like a three-button in terms of button stance.

[Musick]

I love when an old thread gets dragged up, sometimes everyone goes off trying to help a guy with his wedding suit and he's already divorced by the time I respond. Anyway....

I enjoy playing devils advocate, so dont take this the wrong way...

I actually prefer when old threads get dug up on any forum. Why have 2 or more threads on the same subject? I despise having to look through so many pages of posts when so many of them are asking the same question. Search "shoe care" here and see what comes up as an example

Im stepping off my soapbox now...

[PJC in NoVa]

The true monster is the three button dinner jacket. ouch!

During the NFL telecasts today, I could swear I saw a beer commercial (it have been for Miller Lite) in which the actor was, kid you not, wearing a d.j. (it had a notch collar, but the lapels were clearly satin), wing-collar formal shirt, and black bow tie with what appeared to be belted trousers. The costumer for that shoot should be flogged with a damp cummerbund.

Of course I was pretty much beside myself with excitement at the time because the Skins were showing signs of life with back-to-back scoring drives in the 3rd quarter before a catastrophic defensive breakdown robbed me of all hope like Lucy endlessly jerking the football away from poor, trusting Charlie Brown . . . .

[deanayer]

During the NFL telecasts today, I could swear I saw a beer commercial (it have been for Miller Lite) in which the actor was, kid you not, wearing a d.j. (it had a notch collar, but the lapels were clearly satin), wing-collar formal shirt, and black bow tie with what appeared to be belted trousers. The costumer for that shoot should be flogged with a damp cummerbund.

Of course I was pretty much beside myself with excitement at the time because the Skins were showing signs of life with back-to-back scoring drives in the 3rd quarter before a catastrophic defensive breakdown robbed me of all hope like Lucy endlessly jerking the football away from poor, trusting Charlie Brown . . . .

I am guessing it was a brown belt at that.

[GWAlex]

I personally can't wear a 3 button suit. Too me, it's just ugly. The thing that gets me are the lapels, on 3 butotn suits, they are far too short, plus the fact that 3 button suits cover up most of the shirt. The shirt you're wearing is meant to be seen, it gives the suit more flare and contrast, which is why I only wear 2 button suit, to reveal more of the shirt (and if need be, the tie), also, the longer lapels just feel a lot nicer.

But once again, it's about body type. I'm 6'0", average build (no stomach), so 2 button suits fit me far better.

[Matt S]

I personally can't wear a 3 button suit. Too me, it's just ugly. The thing that gets me are the lapels, on 3 butotn suits, they are far too short, plus the fact that 3 button suits cover up most of the shirt. The shirt you're wearing is meant to be seen, it gives the suit more flare and contrast, which is why I only wear 2 button suit, to reveal more of the shirt (and if need be, the tie), also, the longer lapels just feel a lot nicer.

But once again, it's about body type. I'm 6'0", average build (no stomach), so 2 button suits fit me far better.

My father is the same way. He doesn't mind 3-roll-2 jackets but he can't stand full 3-button jackets. He groups them with 4-button jackets. I think it comes from growing up in the 60's in America where just about everyone wore 2 button jackets.

[GWAlex]

Apologies for going off on a tangent, but if I may.

6 button DB suits, in my eyes, are of the same kin as a 2 button single-breasted suit. Compared to 8 button DB suits, they have a longer lapel, and show more of the shirt and tie, which of course is something I like.

Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, CEO of Ferrari, pulls it off every time.



(The guy next to him is dressed horrendously)

This is what I don't like in a DB suit - 8 buttons, which is the same as a 3 button suit really.



You guys may carry on now, I believe I'm finished.

[Matt S]

Apologies for going off on a tangent, but if I may.

6 button DB suits, in my eyes, are of the same kin as a 2 button single-breasted suit. Compared to 8 button DB suits, they have a longer lapel, and show more of the shirt and tie, which of course is something I like.

Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, CEO of Ferrari, pulls it off every time.



(The guy next to him is dressed horrendously)

This is what I don't like in a DB suit - 8 buttons, which is the same as a 3 button suit really.



You guys may carry on now, I believe I'm finished.

That 8-button DB suit actually has the same button stance as the 6x2 shown above. The coat is just longer to allow for more buttons. It is quite a monstrosity.
Here's a proper 8-button coat:


There are many ways the buttons can be arranged on double-breasted coats with 4, 6 or 8 buttons. Have a look here for more about double-breasted coats (reefers): http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/f...ad.php?t=72196

[CuffDaddy]

Same for me. The lapels on all but one of my 3-button suits roll over the top button. The one that doesn't is from Bookster and I still only fasten the middle. I think it looks best that way.

Very few of mine roll to the second button, and I still only button the middle button.

[amplifiedheat]

Very few of mine roll to the second button, and I still only button the middle button.

This.