# Why do polo shirts have a neck button?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-polo-shirts-have-a-neck-button/317992
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 21, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-polo-shirts-have-a-neck-button/317992 "2005-08-21T16:21:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-polo-shirts-have-a-neck-button/317992/1 "2005-08-21T16:21:57Z")
No one ever buttons the button at the top of the neck on polo or golf shirts, so why do the manufacturers even bother to sew it on? They could save a few more cents per shirt and increase profitiability. I’m positive this must have occurred to them, but they have obviously decided against it. So what is the reason they continue to do it?
[hijacking his own thread]
What is the difference between golf and polo shirts?
[/hijack]
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-polo-shirts-have-a-neck-button/317992/2 "2005-08-21T17:21:19Z")
Style.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-polo-shirts-have-a-neck-button/317992/3 "2005-08-21T17:26:16Z")
Yep. For the same reason there are still buttons on the sleeves of men’s suit coats. That one dates back 200 years or so. Besides, you have to button the top button for that proper “Nerd Goes To Town” look. 😃
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### Author:  [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-polo-shirts-have-a-neck-button/317992/4 "2005-08-21T17:58:16Z")
> [@jebert](#):
>
> No one ever buttons the button at the top of the neck on polo or golf shirts
[Really?](http://www.sportsfan.com/columns/appreciating-a-pga-tour-newcomer-tiger-woods.html)
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### Author:  [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-polo-shirts-have-a-neck-button/317992/5 "2005-08-21T22:47:30Z")
> [@amarone](#):
>
> [Really?](http://www.sportsfan.com/columns/appreciating-a-pga-tour-newcomer-tiger-woods.html)
Whoa! No less than the Tigercat himself buttoned right up to the Adam’s apple!
Just one more reason they should leave it off - so no one will be tempted to use it.
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### Author:  [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-polo-shirts-have-a-neck-button/317992/6 "2005-08-22T01:58:46Z")
No, no, no! Tiger is wearing a _golf_ shirt, and that makes all the difference.
[sub]I’ll bet that if he doesn’t button it, the fabric falls over and covers the Nike swoosh, and that would imperil his endorsement deal.[/sub]
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### Author:  [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-polo-shirts-have-a-neck-button/317992/7 "2005-08-22T01:59:53Z")
_sigh_ Never mind. I reread the OP and see that golf shirts were mentioned. My subtext still applies, though.
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### Author:  [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-polo-shirts-have-a-neck-button/317992/8 "2005-08-22T03:25:49Z")
Golf shirts used to be designed so the collar, even with the top button undone, stayed fairly close around the neck. That’s no longer the case, (the jerks) and more and more non- nerdlike people are fastening the top button because they don’t like the feel or the look of the shirt sliding down their shoulders.