The only thing "cool" about it is better air circulation.

 

I will, on occasion, wear a sports coat unbuttoned. Never a suit however. Even though I deem the nature of this infraction small, some here would deem me heretical

Warmest regards

 

The people that frequent this board are some of the very few who would look at you strangely for unbuttoning your suit jacket. Far more numerous are those who will neither notice nor care, followed by those who will think you excessively stiff or snobby if you don't unbutton your suit jacket in certain situations.

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cpac

 

If I am moving more than a few feet from where I am seated, I invariably button my jacket. In hot weather, I don't unbutton my jackets, I either wear a lighter jacket or I don't wear a jacket at all (if it's boiling hot).

IMO, the unbuttoned jacket never looks good on anybody. It looks especially bad on men with too-short neckties, men who wear their trousers too low and on fat men, especially those fat men who wear their trousers low so their guts can stick over their beltlines more readily.

 

I have a silk knit flat bottom tie and I figured when wearing with a sports jacket it might be appropriate to unbutton my jacket. If I am walking any distance I obviously button my jacket.

 

I seldom button my jacket unless I'm having my picture taken. That may not be the best, but a lot of men seldom button their jackets.

That's why we try to wear tasteful ties.

 

quote:Originally posted by youngdandy
I know the rule is to wear one's jacket buttoned while standing and unbuttoned while sitting.

I thought the rule was to keep it buttoned all the time. That's what I do.

 

I think it looks best on a coat with a low button stance with lower rise, flat front pants (distinct from pants worn too low). It lets you show off a lot of shirt. Make sure your tie is tied to the perfect length.

Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man.

 

How are the rules if you're wearing a waistcoat or a sweater? Is it also then mandatory to keep the buttons closed while standing?

 

quote:Originally posted by Étienne

quote:Originally posted by youngdandy
I know the rule is to wear one's jacket buttoned while standing and unbuttoned while sitting.

I thought the rule was to keep it buttoned all the time. That's what I do.

Single breasted coats are ofte unbottoned while sitting so they don't bunch up in the front.

 

I don't always keep my jacketbuttoned. I like it both ways. Jackets, that is.

 

Unbuttoned seems to be the rule here, even for a DB (that is if the jacket is not slung over one's shoulder).

Aus

 

Apparently, the heresy abounds. Perhaps a few good burnings will stamp it out.

 

My jacket is SB. I would never dream of wearing a DB unbuttoned aside from the bottom left button.

 

I only button mine if I'm going to be standing for several minutes or am walking at least a block. Any other practice starts to look like some sort of nervous disorder as you button/unbutton over and over again.

 

quote:Originally posted by cpac
those who will think you excessively stiff or snobby if you don't unbutton your suit jacket in certain situations.

I'm curious as to what these situations might be. Can you give an example?

 

If you're lucky enough to have six-pack abs, why not flaunt it?

 

You should do what you feel comfortable doing. As a number of folks have already posted, the average person on the street won't give it a second look either way, that said, I usually button my jacket when standing or walking and only unbutton it when it is excessively hot outside.

 

quote:Originally posted by Tomasso

quote:Originally posted by cpac
those who will think you excessively stiff or snobby if you don't unbutton your suit jacket in certain situations.

I'm curious as to what these situations might be. Can you give an example?

Sure. It was noted in my law firm recently by some associates that a partner was overly stiff and formal - evidence cited being that "he never even unbuttons his jacket."

Similarly one could see how at a cocktail party or similar social gathering having a coat buttoned up can come off as being formal, closed or otherwise not socially warm.

For a mental picture, imagine a photo of a father in an unbuttoned jacket walking towards his child with arms held wide for a hug. Contrast that with the same image, but with the jacket buttoned -- it just seems colder somehow.

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cpac

 

Forgive my ignorance -- and I'm glad this subject came up actually as I've been meaning to ask -- but do the norms and standards regarding jacket buttoning apply only to suit jackets, or to sports coats as well?

For some reason I was under the impression that while it's proper to button one's suit jacket when standing or walking, it's best to leave one's blazer unbuttoned (in light of the garment's inherently more casual nature).

Am I way off in thinking this? What about when wearing slacks and a coat with an open collar shirt?

 

quote:Originally posted by cfriedberg

You should do what you feel comfortable doing. As a number of folks have already posted, the average person on the street won't give it a second look either way, that said, I usually button my jacket when standing or walking and only unbutton it when it is excessively hot outside.

You seem to be giving youngdandy mixed signals. This forum is not about the average guy on the street, it's about gentlemen of style. However, then you go on to describe how you usually keep your suit jacket buttoned, which is evidence that you are a gentleman of style.

 

Unbuttoned sports coats and blazers all the time when worn casually or in casual enviorment. Such as with jeans or khakis at a car gathering, school, daily chores and the like.

Suits stay buttoned. Double breasted suits or sports coats, always (ie also when seated), buttoned.

 

quote:Originally posted by forsbergacct2000

I seldom button my jacket unless I'm having my picture taken. That may not be the best, but a lot of men seldom button their jackets.

This may be, but not among those who know how to dress well. Perhaps a jacket covering a vest might occasionally be left undone, but even then, only rarely. It is these small details that lift us above the slovenly and the careless.

Train your eye! Then train your brain to trust your eye.

 

quote:Originally posted by Aureus
Such as with jeans or khakis at a car gathering, school, daily chores and the like.

What is a car gathering?

 

Keep your jacket buttoned while standing. That way the wind won't blow it open, exposing your Glock (or anything else that should remain out of sight).


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Fortuna elegantes adiuvit.