Two More Stupid Suit Questions

  1. When you sit down in a suit (such as, in an interview) do you usually keep it buttoned? Or are you supposed to completely unbutton it?

  2. When standing, you're just supposed to keep the top button, and only the top button, buttoned, right?

P.S. Sorry these questions are kinda stupid, but I'm wearing my first suit to an interview this week. I'm a little rough around the edges still, and don't want to roll up and do something retarded.

21 Comments
 

never button the bottom button. and yes, unbutton it when sitting down

"I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies but not the madness of people"
 

Sometimes, always, never. That order, top to botto . Unbutton sitting down, when arms hang by your site about a quarter inch of sleeve should show. Suit should look like an hour glass on you, assuming you're slim.

100% wool, navy, grey, etc. Socks match the slacks, dont mix stripes. I prefer English spread collars and windsor knots, but that is personal taste.

 

Sometimes, always, never. That order, top to botto . Unbutton sitting down, when arms hang by your site about a quarter inch of sleeve should show. Suit should look like an hour glass on you, assuming you're slim.

100% wool, navy, grey, etc. Socks match the slacks, dont mix stripes. I prefer English spread collars and windsor knots, but that is personal taste.

 
ANTSocks match the slacks, dont mix stripes.
  1. Socks match the slacks: Are black socks ok with a dark navy suit + dark cordovan or black shoes?
  2. Don't mix stripes: What does that mean?
 
  1. Unbutton

  2. Never the bottom

Wall Street leaders now understand that they made a mistake, one born of their innocent and trusting nature. They trusted ordinary Americans to behave more responsibly than they themselves ever would, and these ordinary Americans betrayed their trust.
 

Why never the bottom? I always button the bottom because I think it looks neater.

"One should recognize reality even when one doesn't like it, indeed, especially when one doesn't like it." - Charlie Munger
 
cplpayneWhy never the bottom? I always button the bottom because I think it looks neater.
While it looks neater it's not practical should the recruiter be an MD and desire your button as a plaything for their child. So if the button is unbuttoned it is easier to tear it off and hand it to the MD as opposed to unbuttoning then handing it to said individual.
 

Ok, it actually doesn't look terrible, can somebody give a logical reason or is it just some more stupid fashion advice?

"One should recognize reality even when one doesn't like it, indeed, especially when one doesn't like it." - Charlie Munger
 
cplpayneOk, it actually doesn't look terrible, can somebody give a logical reason or is it just some more stupid fashion advice?

Yes it actually does look terrible, and no that is not my opinion it is a fact. Buttoning the bottom button is like talking on your cell phone durring the national anthem - its just not right. That analogy may be a stretch haha but like many things we currently do there was no logical reason for their creation. The unbuttoned bottom button custom is said to have started because King Henry VIII was too round to button his bottom button. Thus the style was born and I kid you not haha.

http://www.henryherbert.com/tag/bottom-button/

As silly as that may be the proper way to wear a suit really does not involve using the bottom button. The bottom suit button is like your gf's opinions - sure she has um but we dont really use them.

http://www.gq.com/style/style-guy/suiting/200212/sports-jacket-buttons http://www.askmen.com/fashion/fashiontip_200/211_fashion_advice.html

These links are by no means the definitive answers. However, they are a good starting point.

 

The custom of leaving the bottom button undone actually comes from as far back at King Edward VII because he was to fat to button it.

"One should recognize reality even when one doesn't like it, indeed, especially when one doesn't like it." - Charlie Munger
 

"The tradition of leaving the bottom button of a coat undone started as a fashion choice. Coats are designed to flare away at the bottom, since the hips are (generally) broader than the waist, where a coat should be fastened. Modern suits are all cut with this in mind, and thus the bottom button should never be used, as it throws off the tailoring of the suit, turning a man's silhouette into a cylinder."

 
Best Response
econ1. When you sit down in a suit (such as, in an interview) do you usually keep it buttoned? Or are you supposed to completely unbutton it?
  1. When standing, you're just supposed to keep the top button, and only the top button, buttoned, right?

P.S. Sorry these questions are kinda stupid, but I'm wearing my first suit to an interview this week. I'm a little rough around the edges still, and don't want to roll up and do something retarded.

1)Unbuttoned, always, or else it will slump and look really cheap.

2) Top and/or middle if you're wearing a single-breasted suit. However, once you start working you wont even pay attention to that and will take your jacket off once you get to work.

Greed is Good.
 

So, match socks with slacks, as opposed to shoes, huh? The lady at Macy's told me otherwise. Does she just not know what the f*ck she is talking about? Or is it a matter of opinion? I have a dark, charcoal grey suit, and I bought black socks to match my shoes. Should I go out and buy some grey socks before my interview?

 

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