# Men's office casual: what shirts beside polo & button down?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 31, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232 "2015-10-31T04:01:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/1 "2015-10-31T04:01:01Z")
Are there any other collared men’s shirts besides those 2 kinds?
(Inspired partly because: damn, there are a lot more variations for HR to have to monitor and create policies about!)
I really am looking for real life examples of a shirt with a collar, in the men’s dept, that is neither polo nor button down.
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### Author:  [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2015, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/2 "2015-10-31T04:10:51Z")
There are some men’s collared sweaters. I have a few. Turtle necks too.
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/3 "2015-10-31T13:33:07Z")
[Guyabera](https://www.google.com/search?q=Guayabera&num=30&safe=off&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAmoVChMIocLBg-nsyAIVxcUUCh2tUw5N&biw=1366&bih=563)-style?
[Windsor collar](https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1366&bih=563&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=windsor+collar&oq=windsor+collar&gs_l=img.3..0l3j0i8i30l3.75012.79331.0.79975.14.14.0.0.0.0.544.2552.2-5j2j0j1.8.0....0...1c.1.64.img..6.8.2548.emEWO2gD_Ls)?
[Mandarin](https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1366&bih=563&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=mandarin+collar+shirt&oq=mandarin+collar+shirt&gs_l=img.3..0l10.8249.9381.0.9629.6.3.0.3.3.0.246.246.2-1.1.0....0...1c.1.64.img..2.4.266._iKv73rwEJI)?
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### Author:  [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/4 "2015-10-31T14:23:08Z")
Bowling shirts?
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### Author:  [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/5 "2015-10-31T15:17:17Z")
> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> [Guyabera](https://www.google.com/search?q=Guayabera&num=30&safe=off&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAmoVChMIocLBg-nsyAIVxcUUCh2tUw5N&biw=1366&bih=563)-style?
>
> [Windsor collar](https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1366&bih=563&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=windsor+collar&oq=windsor+collar&gs_l=img.3..0l3j0i8i30l3.75012.79331.0.79975.14.14.0.0.0.0.544.2552.2-5j2j0j1.8.0....0...1c.1.64.img..6.8.2548.emEWO2gD_Ls)?
>
> [Mandarin](https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1366&bih=563&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=mandarin+collar+shirt&oq=mandarin+collar+shirt&gs_l=img.3..0l10.8249.9381.0.9629.6.3.0.3.3.0.246.246.2-1.1.0....0...1c.1.64.img..2.4.266._iKv73rwEJI)?
I’d classify those as “button-down”. I’d also classify anything with 2-3 buttons (or room for them) at the top and no other buttons as “polo”. At least, in the context of telling someone what type of shirts to wear.
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### Author:  [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/6 "2015-10-31T15:35:27Z")
Side benefit of this thread already! 🙂 I learned a new word. Fightin’ ignorance!
So in the OP when I wrote “button-down” what I apparently meant was a Windsor collar. I guess this thread really is “name styles of collared men’s shirts besides polo and Windsor.”
Keep 'em coming, these are great!
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/7 "2015-10-31T21:11:17Z")
[Band collar](https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1600&bih=765&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=band+collar+shirts+for+men&oq=band+collar+shirts&gs_l=img.1.2.0l4j0i8i7i30l3j0i30j0i5i30j0i24.9650.10543.0.15955.4.4.0.0.0.0.102.370.3j1.4.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.4.368.oO_5akHIPKw)
[Henley](https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1600&bih=765&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=long+sleeve+henley+shirts+for+men&oq=henl+shirts+for+men&gs_l=img.1.1.0i7i30j0i7i5i30.52623.55499.0.59749.6.6.0.0.0.0.104.496.5j1.6.0....0...1c.1.64.img..1.5.433.1R23EoNRK0c)
[Mock turtleneck](https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1600&bih=765&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=mock+turtleneck+shirts+for+men&oq=mock+turtleneck+shirts+for+men&gs_l=img.3..0i24.69689.75590.0.76223.15.15.0.0.0.0.101.1193.14j1.15.0....0...1c.1.64.img..12.3.266.96E12fZ77_8) (The collar comes up , but doesn’t fold over like a true turtleneck.)
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/8 "2015-10-31T21:50:37Z")
Are you really specifying that it must have a collar? Because there are [v-neck](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1307&bih=739&q=men%27s+cowl+neck&oq=men%27s+cowl+neck&gs_l=img.3..0j0i10l9.620.12125.0.12947.23.20.1.2.2.0.142.1769.15j5.20.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..0.23.1775.S6cviXAMIVg#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=men%27s+v-neck) pullovers too, but they have no collars. There’s also [boat-neck](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1307&bih=739&q=men%27s+cowl+neck&oq=men%27s+cowl+neck&gs_l=img.3..0j0i10l9.620.12125.0.12947.23.20.1.2.2.0.142.1769.15j5.20.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..0.23.1775.S6cviXAMIVg#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=men%27s+boat+neck) and [cowl](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1307&bih=739&q=men%27s+cowl+neck&oq=men%27s+cowl+neck&gs_l=img.3..0j0i10l9.620.12125.0.12947.23.20.1.2.2.0.142.1769.15j5.20.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..0.23.1775.S6cviXAMIVg).
If you really just want collar styles, [these](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/26/75/f8/2675f8671b4ed7f345cb609696c89671.jpg)[should](http://profimpressions.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Corporate-Image-20.png)[help.](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3b/4f/e6/3b4fe670eb67f2574ff2ee94542a76ae.jpg)
Also, you forgot to ask about [cuffs.](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1307&bih=739&q=men%27s+cowl+neck&oq=men%27s+cowl+neck&gs_l=img.3..0j0i10l9.620.12125.0.12947.23.20.1.2.2.0.142.1769.15j5.20.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..0.23.1775.S6cviXAMIVg#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=men%27s+cuff+styles&imgrc=ZuwHzwfgra7KbM%3A)
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### Author:  [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2015, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/9 "2015-10-31T21:55:02Z")
How about a [Rugby](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IQ2OY8I/)? Or [Nehru](http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Peter-Laurance-Collarless-Grandad-Nehru-Mandarin-Style-Mens-Shirt-/330630617318) (banded, but with no visible buttons)?
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/10 "2015-10-31T23:41:43Z")
> [@TruCelt](#):
>
> Also, you forgot to ask about [cuffs.](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1307&bih=739&q=men%27s+cowl+neck&oq=men%27s+cowl+neck&gs_l=img.3..0j0i10l9.620.12125.0.12947.23.20.1.2.2.0.142.1769.15j5.20.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..0.23.1775.S6cviXAMIVg#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=men%27s+cuff+styles&imgrc=ZuwHzwfgra7KbM%3A)
Do the cuffs need to match the collar?
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### Author:  [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2015, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/11 "2015-11-01T08:28:36Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> Side benefit of this thread already! 🙂 I learned a new word. Fightin’ ignorance!
>
> So in the OP when I wrote “button-down” what I apparently meant was a Windsor collar. I guess this thread really is “name styles of collared men’s shirts besides polo and Windsor.”
>
> Keep 'em coming, these are great!
Yes, I was thinking that identifying “button down” collars was being unusually specific.
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### Author:  [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2015, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/12 "2015-11-01T08:33:01Z")
“Aloha” shirts? “[Clerical](http://www.autom.com/apparel/clergy-shirts/short-sleeve-clergy-shirt-51001?gclid=CjwKEAjw8NaxBRDhiafR-uvkpywSJAAxcl6fQy0JHF3NL79kVac2Qtv4yfRPbk7WNN5slWRxY_wKbhoCcnbw_wcB)” shirts?
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### Author:  [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/13 "2015-11-01T13:07:25Z")
Interesting fact: all men’s shirts used to be part-buttoned. Shirts that button all the way down are a relatively new development that didn’t really catch on until the 40s.
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### Author:  [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/14 "2015-11-02T01:42:52Z")
> [@Mudshark](#):
>
> There are some men’s collared sweaters. I have a few. Turtle necks too.
Sweaters typically are acceptable as business casual when paired with slacks, aren’t they? Without a collar, I mean. If you _have to_ have a collar, you can wear it over a button down shirt.
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### Author:  [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/15 "2015-11-02T19:29:00Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#):
>
> Do the cuffs need to match the collar?
No, but the drapes should match the carpet.
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### Author:  [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/16 "2015-11-02T19:59:59Z")
> [@elfkin477](#):
>
> Sweaters typically are acceptable as business casual when paired with slacks, aren’t they? Without a collar, I mean. If you _have to_ have a collar, you can wear it over a button down shirt.
Yes, absolutely.
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/17 "2015-11-02T20:09:26Z")
> [@elfkin477](#):
>
> Sweaters typically are acceptable as business casual when paired with slacks, aren’t they? Without a collar, I mean. If you _have to_ have a collar, you can wear it over a button down shirt.
> [@GrumpyBunny](#):
>
> Yes, absolutely.
I would caution against a v-neck or boat-neck without some sort of collared shirt underneath. Mock-neck or turtle-neck preferably.
[Don’t be this guy.](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b6/17/9e/b6179e63e944baae706da213f93b1cfd.jpg)
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### Author:  [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/18 "2015-11-02T20:34:16Z")
[Clown Suit](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61UPC9OHC3L._UL1500_.jpg)
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### Author:  [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-office-casual-what-shirts-beside-polo-button-down/736232/19 "2015-11-04T11:46:33Z")
Chimera = thread winner 🙂