Wearing suits? should I close the last button?

[tonylau]

One suits saleman from VIA UMO told me for 3 buttons suit, either i should close only the middle one, or all three buttons, and for two-button suit, close one above and leave the last open or close all. But the saler in Ralph Laurent store from Holt Renfrew, told me should never close the last button suits, if 3 button, only close the first two, and for 2 buttons suits, only the top one.
I got little confused. Both men are selling the high-end suits from the like Cannali, Boss, Armani and the other are for Ralph Laurent, and I suppose they know the formal rule to dress the suits.
Who should I trust?

[3weddings]

I have never heard of the closing them all....never close the bottom button no matter how many.

[Vashin]

Here is what you do.

3 button suit:

Top 2 buttons
OR
Middle Button

Never button last button

2 button:

Top button

Never last button

1 button:
Well you don't have much choice here....

button it

[the_fm]

well, what everyone said. never touch the bottom button

[CSR]

Never button the bottom button. You can blame a fat king for this one:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_doesn't_one_button_the_bottom_button_on_a_suit _or_waistcoat

[canadiancynosure]

Just like you don't wear white sweat socks with black dress pants/shoes, you don't close the last button on a suit.

You can do whatever you want - but in the end, it looks goofy.

[Vashin]

unless you're James Bond

[kevinsyn]

Never... people laugh at you if you do... no really they do... Worked at a suit store (high end one) and we pretty much laughed at every idiot who came in buying a 2000 dollar suit and buttons the last button.

Seriously it's kind of one of those rules you follow with suits, i.e black shoes black socks, belts matching shoe, stripe tie strip suit no good, black suit blue pants dont mix...

[mebiuspower]

Only fat people don't button the last button so their gut can hang.

/yeah. sue me.

[b233314]

are we all that insecure about our looks that we have to ask what we should do or shouldn't do? be an individual...do as you wish....that's what style is about.

[f00kie]

are we all that insecure about our looks that we have to ask what we should do or shouldn't do? be an individual...do as you wish....that's what style is about.

Sure, you can do that when you go to a club.

But when you got to an interview, you want to know what's conservative.

[b233314]

Sure, you can do that when you go to a club.

But when you got to an interview, you want to know what's conservative.

No doubt...but we're talking about buttoning up the bottom button. I highly doubt the interviewer is looking for this. :)

[Vashin]

No doubt...but we're talking about buttoning up the bottom button. I highly doubt the interviewer is looking for this. :)

buttoning up the bottom button is sloppy, do you want to look sloppy to an interview?

[blizzah]

I know you aren't supposed to, but why? For white socks, its understandable because it just looks bad against the suit, but buttoning, no one was explained it to me.

[CSAgent]

ahh too many toungue twisters in this thread.

I wear my suit with a wool trench coat, I button it all up while I'm wearing it. Then when I get to work or my destination, then I unbutton it. Simple as that.

[gerbil]

ahh too many toungue twisters in this thread.

I wear my suit with a wool trench coat, I button it all up while I'm wearing it. Then when I get to work or my destination, then I unbutton it. Simple as that.

I'd probably do the same but I'm more on the road than in my desk so depending on what the weather condition is ..

:cheesygri

[bythehour]

I've worn suits my whole working life. I don't even remember where I learned about the "last button rule". I just know that it is not done up. I don't know why it is. It just is; like not putting your elbows on the dinner table or holding the door open for ladies.

Oh, I guess people don't do always follow those rules of etiquette either.

Do you want to be like them?




btw, a lightweight wool suitcoat can be called a trench coat. "Trenchcoat" is more often reserved for water repellant outwear.

A heavier weight winter suit coat is an overcoat.

[CSR]

I've worn suits my whole working life. I don't even remember where I learned about the "last button rule". I just know that it is not done up. I don't know why it is. It just is; like not putting your elbows on the dinner table or holding the door open for ladies.

Oh, I guess people don't do always follow those rules of etiquette either.

Do you want to be like them?




btw, a lightweight wool suitcoat can be called a trench coat. "Trenchcoat" is more often reserved for water repellant outwear.

A heavier weight winter suit coat is an overcoat.

It came from way back; King Edward or some fat king couldn't button up the bottom button and others started to follow his "style", and it has kept to this day.

[RedFlagRobot]

No doubt...but we're talking about buttoning up the bottom button. I highly doubt the interviewer is looking for this. :)

If I was the interviewer, i wouldn't be able to stop staring at the buttoned button. And that would be... awkward

[Eyies]

Yeah don't button it up.

There's also some practicality in it too. When you sit down, it's a lot more comfortable, and the sides won't seem to wanna tug/rip your bottom button off. And also, when you're standing up, you can reach into your pant pockets a lot easier.

[Bazooka Joe]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned it depends if standing or sitting. Bottom button always undone, but you have to do up the others as your standing and undo as your sitting.

[Accordude]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned it depends if standing or sitting. Bottom button always undone, but you have to do up the others as your standing and undo as your sitting.

I think this is more understandable