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

[miamimike]

With all the different styles of suits nowadays, how do u know what to get as far as 3 buttons, 2 buttons, or one button suits. I use suits to go out to dinners, meeting, casual events, etc, but recently people have told me 3 button is out since it looks like a uniform when both top and middle button is closed, and 2 buttons is more casual and business like. Whats your opinion?

[PJC in NoVa]

For me it's a body-shape thing. I'm 5' 10" and burly so I favor dark (often striped) suits with 2 buttons.

I do own some 3btn suits and jackets, which work OK if they're cut with a bit of waist suppression (which I can then have my tailor add to) but the 3btn silhouette is generally not optimal for a guy like me.

The idea is to use your clothes to offset your body type a bit.

On the closure question, I find it's generally best to fasten only the middle button of a 3btn jacket.

Another consideration is that whatever your body type, a 2btn coat can show off more of your shirt and tie by virtue of its deeper V in front--the same feature (an added impression of verticality) that makes it a good choice for shorter/thicker men.

[Aaron in Allentown]

Two button and three button are both equally classic and equally appropriate. They are interchangeable as far as the circumstances in which you would wear one or the other. If the occasion calls for a suit, then either is perfectly appropriate.

Choose between the two based on:

• Your personal preference
• How well you think the particular fabric looks in the different styles
• (Most importantly) Your body type.

I am fat, so I stick to two button jackets (and the occasional one button jacket).

[landho]

If you have a thick chest, then a two-button suit will tend to favor you. Much has been said about former-football-players-turned-television-commentators wearing three-button suits and looking somewhat awkward in them.

Two-button suits also look good if you trust your ability to coordinate patterns and colors. Show off that ability!

I'm not sure why, but (in line with the comments above), slimmer people tend to look good in three-button suits. I've read that it's especially popular in Japan, and as we all know, Japan is always ten years ahead of everyone in everything.

[Mike Petrik]

Originally Posted by Aaron in Allentown

Two button and three button are both equally classic and equally appropriate. They are interchangeable as far as the circumstances in which you would wear one or the other. If the occasion calls for a suit, then either is perfectly appropriate.

Choose between the two based on:

• Your personal preference
• How well you think the particular fabric looks in the different styles
• (Most importantly) Your body type.

I am fat, so I stick to two button jackets (and the occasional one button jacket).

Not only do I agree with that advice, but I love the "I am fat" quote. Now there is a well-adusted guy. If you're ever in Atlanta, Aaron, PM me -- I'll buy you a beer.
Cheers,
Mike

[Zubberah]

My personal preference is for 3 button suits. i just look better in them as i have an slim athletic build.

[68chevy]

I have a small beer gut so I pretty much stick with 2 button suits. I have found certain 3 button coats that have looked ok as long as I button the two top buttons.

[Will]

I like them both, depending on the suit.

But I never button the top button on a 3B.

[larsrindsig]

I agree they are for all purposes interchangable. However, it would seem that a 3-button jacket works better if you ever venture out without a tie since it covers more of the chest which would otherwise have been left bare, showing only a vast area of barren, un-silk adorned shirt. Similarly, with a tie, I feel that perhaps a 3-button covers too much silky goodness. (My personal preference, on the whole, is for 2-button jackets and I will wear them with or without a tie so, again, this is not a hard and fast rule - and come to think of it, my point may be invalidated by waistcoats that cover as much of the chest as a 3-button jacket, if not more, and which would always be worn with a tie ... still, it may make some sort of sense?).

[gordgekko]

Originally Posted by miamimike

... and 2 buttons is more casual and business like.

As opposed to formal and sporting like? :-)

I prefer three buttons but I wear both and do as Will does.

[jfr333]

It's all about the fit, as far as I'm concerned.

[Aaron in Allentown]

Originally Posted by Mike Petrik

Not only do I agree with that advice, but I love the "I am fat" quote. Now there is a well-adusted guy. If you're ever in Atlanta, Aaron, PM me -- I'll buy you a beer.
Cheers,
Mike

I'll buy the wings. Cheers!

[Tiberias]

I wear both, but as a slim man the three-button works better. I would also venture to say that thin men can get away with the four-button suit, but we won't open that can of worms here.

[ilikeyourstyle]

I'm also slim and prefer three-button suits. Most of my under-35 friends prefer three-button suits as well. I'm not sure why anyone would inform you that three-button suits are out, unless they are trying to sell you some overstocked two-button suits.

[VAN DAMME]

I like the one button suit style and on the D.B's those that reflect the film Noir period of america with just two buttons showing.I bought material in the Czech republic and had it made up in Italy.Worked out really well as the cloth was superb.

[VAN DAMME]

Originally Posted by miamimike

With all the different styles of suits nowadays, how do u know what to get as far as 3 buttons, 2 buttons, or one button suits. I use suits to go out to dinners, meeting, casual events, etc, but recently people have told me 3 button is out since it looks like a uniform when both top and middle button is closed, and 2 buttons is more casual and business like. Whats your opinion?

Three buttons is OUT OUT OUT unles its a perfect Nicholson copy from Chinatown.Go for one button.Get the lapel right.M and S have a great blue one at 350 pounds.

[VAN DAMME]

Originally Posted by larsrindsig

I agree they are for all purposes interchangable. However, it would seem that a 3-button jacket works better if you ever venture out without a tie since it covers more of the chest which would otherwise have been left bare, showing only a vast area of barren, un-silk adorned shirt. Similarly, with a tie, I feel that perhaps a 3-button covers too much silky goodness. (My personal preference, on the whole, is for 2-button jackets and I will wear them with or without a tie so, again, this is not a hard and fast rule - and come to think of it, my point may be invalidated by waistcoats that cover as much of the chest as a 3-button jacket, if not more, and which would always be worn with a tie ... still, it may make some sort of sense?).

Suits without ties=the pits.Wear a sports jacket if intending not to wear a tie or wear a cravatte with your suit alla Gatsby

[Oxonian]

Originally Posted by Will

I like them both, depending on the suit.

But I never button the top button on a 3B.

Even if the jacket isn't a 3-roll-2? On a 3-roll-2 of course that's de rigeur, but on a plain 3-button suit I always feel the lapels are a bit "free" without the top two buttons done.

[Oxonian]

Originally Posted by VAN DAMME

Suits without ties=the pits.Wear a sports jacket if intending not to wear a tie or wear a cravatte with your suit alla Gatsby

I agree. I'll wear a sports coat or a blazer without a tie, but a suit without a tie just looks horribly unfinished, to me.

[Checkerboard 13]

Forgive me for asking, but has some sort of time warp occurred here?

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by Checkerboard 13

Forgive me for asking, but has some sort of time warp occurred here?

There was a thread where someone was soliciting ideas for groomsman gifts and got no answers. A year after the wedding date, somebody new with a gift business becomes a member here and resurrects the thread with his advice. He's told the information is obsolete. A few others post suggestions, and then the newbie pops back in to ask if the (now celebrating a first anniversary) groom has made a decision on what to get.

[PJC in NoVa]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

There was a thread where someone was soliciting ideas for groomsman gifts and got no answers. A year after the wedding date, somebody new with a gift business becomes a member here and resurrects the thread with his advice. He's told the information is obsolete. A few others post suggestions, and then the newbie pops back in to ask if the (now celebrating a first anniversary) groom has made a decision on what to get.

I too wonder: How do people (especially newbies) even find these ancient threads?

Nonetheless, I stick by my opinion of almost two years ago!

[cactiman]

Originally Posted by PJC in NoVa

I too wonder: How do people (especially newbies) even find these ancient threads?

The similar threads box at the bottom, or the search engine.

[lt114]

I prefer 2 button suits but as others said it depends on the body type. Short guys that wear 3 button suits look strange to me; it accentuates their lack of height imo.

[CuffDaddy]

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.