# What Is Tackier - Button-Down Collars Buttoned or Spread? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106 "2009-05-02T19:14:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/1 "2009-05-02T19:14:35Z")
I’ve got a few dress shirts with collars of the button-down variety. At the time I bought them ,I wasn’t really cognizant of the difference between spread collars and button-down collars. I think I’ve decided I prefer spread collars, which puts me in an interesting position regarding my button-down collars? Do I a) replaced them with spread collars, b) wear them normally, or c) wear them with the collars unbuttoned? Would c) be an unbelievable faus-pax (obviously I’m not the most fashion-conscious person ever)? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/2 "2009-05-02T19:32:31Z")
Wear them however you like. If someone objects, glare at them and ask who made them the King of Fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/3 "2009-05-02T19:34:01Z")
Button-down collars left unbuttoned look sloppy to other people, regardless of who died and made me King of Fashion. (Incidentally, it was Freddie Blassie.) ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/4 "2009-05-02T19:40:42Z")
I don’t think either is “tacky.” Both go through periods of being “in fashion” but it’s not like you’d be wearing a 3-inch-wide tie when skinny ties are in. Wearing a button-down collar UNbuttoned would be tacky, however. Maybe not tacky, but strange, anyway. If you really don’t like the button-downs, though, then don’t wear them and donate them to charity. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/5 "2009-05-02T22:26:49Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > If you really don’t like the button-downs, though, then don’t wear them and donate them to charity. If they are in excellent condition, may I suggest [CareerGear](http://www.careergear.org/) a charity that supplies men looking for work with career-appropriate dress clothes. For women, there is a similar organization called “Dress for Success.” ---
**Author:** ![Varrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e9a140/32.png) [@Varrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Varrius)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/6 "2009-05-02T22:47:33Z")
> [@hobscrk777](#): > > I’ve got a few dress shirts with collars of the button-down variety. At the time I bought them ,I wasn’t really cognizant of the difference between spread collars and button-down collars. I think I’ve decided I prefer spread collars, which puts me in an interesting position regarding my button-down collars? Do I a) replaced them with spread collars, b) wear them normally, or c) wear them with the collars unbuttoned? > > Would c) be an unbelievable faus-pax (obviously I’m not the most fashion-conscious person ever)? As one who wears a shirt and tie to work every day (including Fridays) my opinion is that a) and b) are the only options. I have both types of collars and always button the button-down. IANKingofFashion, however my opinion is that c) looks sloppy and unkempt. Same goes for not buttoning the small sleeve button (just up from the cuff.) It just looks unfinished to me. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/7 "2009-05-02T23:16:55Z")
If it helps, you can go through life and almost totally avoid button-down collars. I just don’t really ever buy them or deal with them, but I also don’t have a job requiring that I wear such clothes, but I have dress shirts I wear outside of work. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/8 "2009-05-03T06:54:44Z")
I normally believe that fashion rules are made to be broken . . . but wearing an unbuttoned button-down is just wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/9 "2009-05-03T15:11:40Z")
Count me with the majority: when I see a button-down collar NOT buttoned down, I think it looks like the dude just didn’t bother getting fully dressed. Of course, I still wear stripes with plaids and love my avocado appliances, so take my opinions with a grain of salt…TRM ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/10 "2009-05-03T15:46:16Z")
I prefer button down, the other collars, the little plastic things get bent everytime I get them back from the dry cleaners. I hate those little plastic things and it seems to me that on some shirts the collars really don’t lay right. Now the button ones are a pain in that you have to button them, but then I have to button the sleeves too when I get them back from the cleaner. That is why I pay my daughter 25 cents to button each shirt! Those little buttons (especially the one by the sleeve) are a pain to button. But I think unbuttoned they look sloppy. ---
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/11 "2009-05-03T16:31:39Z")
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I had a hunch that wearing the collars unbuttoned would just look sloppier, and many of you have confirmed that notion. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/12 "2009-05-03T20:23:03Z")
> [@](#): > > I prefer button down, the other collars, the little plastic things get bent everytime I get them back from the dry cleaners. I hate those little plastic things and it seems to me that on some shirts the collars really don’t lay right. They’re called collar stays, and you’re supposed to remove them before laundering or sending them out to be cleaned. Then you’re supposed to put them back in when you put on the shirt. Me, I’d probably take them out and never put them back in, but then I don’t wear such shirts. I wear muumuus/lounge dresses/patio dresses, for the most part. ---
**Author:** ![Varrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e9a140/32.png) [@Varrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Varrius)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/13 "2009-05-04T01:14:07Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > They’re called collar stays, and you’re supposed to remove them before laundering or sending them out to be cleaned. Then you’re supposed to put them back in when you put on the shirt. Me, I’d probably take them out and never put them back in, but then I don’t wear such shirts. I wear muumuus/lounge dresses/patio dresses, for the most part. I was thinking the same thing when I first read the post **Lynn** , but some dress shirts come with stays sewn in, so maybe that’s what **Hakuna** meant. Anyway, I have many sets of stays; sometimes they break. I’ve seen brass stays, but never felt like I needed to spend the money on them. The cheap plastic ones work just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Beery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beery/32/18349_2.png) [@Beery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beery)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/14 "2014-06-13T14:24:08Z")
Collars need buttons like fish need bicycles. Seriously, what idiot figured that it was a good idea to make putting on a tie even harder than it already is? Button-down collars are the real life equivalent of the emperor’s new clothes - they’re fashionable because no one has the presence of mind to criticize them. Also, the idea that they came about because polo players kept getting hit in the eyes by their collars? What? I mean, how big and how floppy were these collars? My floppiest and widest collars, on a windy day, might occasionally hit my lower cheek. I mean, the whole thing is bogus. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/15 "2014-06-13T15:07:22Z")
> [@Varrius](#): > > I was thinking the same thing when I first read the post **Lynn** , but some dress shirts come with stays sewn in, so maybe that’s what **Hakuna** meant. > > Anyway, I have many sets of stays; sometimes they break. I’ve seen brass stays, but never felt like I needed to spend the money on them. The cheap plastic ones work just fine. I like the metal ones. Perhaps they’re brass. The weight seems to help keep the collar down. They didn’t cost much, a box of about 10 or 12 for $10 or so. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/16 "2014-06-13T16:15:32Z")
How do all you disapprovers notice? Almost all my shirts have buttons, and I never use them. No one notices, even me. I forgot all my shirts had buttons until this thread popped up. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/17 "2014-06-13T19:15:33Z")
No one notices, or no one says anything? 'Cause lemme tell you, I notice button collars left unbuttoned and lots of other little details like that, but won’t say anything because I don’t want to feel like a jerk by potentially making someone feel self-conscious. Also because it isn’t a DEFCON 1 wardrobe malfunction like an unzipped fly or boob-button unbuttoned. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/18 "2014-06-13T19:29:16Z")
1. Button down collars are generally considered a more casual collared shirt. You can wear them with a tie, certainly, but I’d avoid wearing them with a suit. It’s probably better to wear them with just a jacket/blazer and no tie. 2. Always- always- button the collar. Trust me, everyone else notices, and it just looks like you forgot to check yourself in the mirror before you walked out of the house. I have a co-worker that routinely leaves them unbuttoned. After about a year I asked him why he did it that way; growing up it was considered “cool” in his school to leave them unbuttoned, so he got into the habit and that’s how he still does it (he’s in his 60’s). 3. A spread collar is meant to be worn with a tie, but if the spread isn’t too severe they can certainly be worn without a tie. There are different types of non-buttoned collars with varying degrees of spread. Each one has one or more styles of tie knot that is supposed to work the best with it. Any such collar should have stays. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/19 "2014-06-13T19:43:54Z")
zombie or no tacking down your collars is of course tackier, how could it be anything other? cut the buttons off and then you’re OK. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106/20 "2014-06-13T19:47:54Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > 1. Button down collars are generally considered a more casual collared shirt. You can wear them with a tie, certainly, but I’d avoid wearing them with a suit. It’s probably better to wear them with just a jacket/blazer and no tie. I have never heard that they are less formal. I wear button-down collared shirts with suits all the time, including to Supreme Court arguments (State, not SCOTUS). I’m not saying you’re incorrect, as I admit I have no good grasp of these things. However, my wife has never criticized this particular practice, and she is not shy about pointing out my fashion mistakes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-tackier-button-down-collars-buttoned-or-spread/495106.md?page=2)