[Matt S]

You have options. Studs are great, and I'd recommend mother of pearl studs over black. But you can also wear a shirt with a fly front (hidden buttons) or wear a shirt with quality mother of pearl buttons. In the picture below I'm wearing a midnight blue dinner suit from Anthony Sinclair with a cotton voile shirt from Frank Foster styled in the classic English manner with a pleated front and mother of pearl buttons. This kind of shirt is acceptable with buttons, whereas if you want a marcella-front shirt you pretty much need studs for it to look right. Also, when you have studs or a shirt with a bib front, you need a waistcoat or cummerbund. My shirt has the pleats the full length of the front so no waistcoat or cummerbund is necessary. The trouser rise is high enough and the jacket's button is low enough that no shirt shows between the two.