# Why do women only button the top button on a sweater? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 5, 2001, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043 "2001-08-05T22:49:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/1 "2001-08-05T22:49:11Z")
I see women almost every day like this. They are wearing a sweater, usually a light wool one & only have the top button buttoned. This makes the rest of the sweater into an inverted ‘V’ which looks rather odd. So why only the top button? ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_Juliet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cc9497/32.png) [@Lady\_Juliet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_Juliet)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/2 "2001-08-05T22:58:34Z")
Well it’s a whole conspiracy really. If we told you, we’d have to kill you 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/3 "2001-08-05T23:14:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lady Juliet \* > \*\*Well it’s a whole conspiracy really. If we told you, we’d have to kill you 😉 \*\* Watch out – she’s a known stalker. ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/4 "2001-08-05T23:30:49Z")
And on a related note, why do _vatos_ only button the top button on their flannel shirts? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_Juliet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cc9497/32.png) [@Lady\_Juliet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_Juliet)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/5 "2001-08-05T23:36:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muffin \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Lady Juliet \* > > \*\*Well it’s a whole conspiracy really. If we told you, we’d have to kill you 😉 \*\* > > Watch out – she’s a known stalker. \*\* Yes, indeed. I’m also an assassin, as determined by some of my friends, so don’t get on my bad side now! [sub]Aw crap, people aren’t supposed to know that. Police…bad. Ah, screw it ::runs away::[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/6 "2001-08-06T04:06:21Z")
What is it with **handy** and asking all of these questions about women and their accessories? ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/7 "2001-08-06T04:20:53Z")
The top button is the only truly functional button. The rest of them are there for decoration only. \ Abby ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/8 "2001-08-06T05:56:43Z")
What women? I can’t remember the last woman under 70 years old I’ve seen wearing a cardigan, and those were buttoned all the way up because the women were cold… ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/9 "2001-08-06T06:05:04Z")
No, the little sweater sets are designed to trigger a shared memory of Sandra Dee, thus all women who wear them, complete with just the one button, automatically look as though they are a fresh faced 16 year old. At least, that’s the only reason I can think of for women to wear these hideous things. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/10 "2001-08-06T06:28:54Z")
It’s because they are cold enough to want something on their arms, and having that one button fastened keeps it from slipping on their shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/11 "2001-08-06T06:30:45Z")
Though I have absolutely no explanation for the resurgence of sweater sets (as mentioned by **Kallessa**.) ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/12 "2001-08-06T11:51:32Z")
Handy: It’s so they can show off their bellybuttons. Don’t get in the way of my good times, okay? ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/13 "2001-08-06T12:47:18Z")
Speaking as someone who’s actually rather fond of twinsets… **Gravity** is pretty much right. Buttoning the cardigan the whole way is warmer than leaving it mostly open, and it also hides the top or shirt underneath which a woman may want to show. (Large-busted women also often have a problem with unattractive gaps.) However, I’ve never found “sliding down the arms” to be a problem, maybe because I have broad shoulders. I _have_ noticed that the sides of the cardigan, or vest for that matter, stay put a lot better when the top button is fastened. Flapping cardigans are not particularly attractive. I also often wear a pin for a little extra color, and this way I know it’s visible. ---
**Author:** ![Mnementh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mnementh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mnementh)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/14 "2001-08-06T12:53:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chrome Spot \* > \*\*Don’t get in the way of my good times, okay? \*\* I have no idea who you are, but I like you. When I saw the topic, the first thing that came to mind was ‘To show off the bottoms of their breasts, of course.’ As much as I’d like that, Spot’s theory is probably more accurate. Either way, I agree; if I get to see skin, I’m not asking questions. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/15 "2001-08-06T13:00:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by flodnak \* > \*\*Speaking as someone who’s actually rather fond of twinsets… **Gravity** is pretty much right. Buttoning the cardigan the whole way is warmer than leaving it mostly open, and it also hides the top or shirt underneath which a woman may want to show. (Large-busted women also often have a problem with unattractive gaps.) However, I’ve never found “sliding down the arms” to be a problem, maybe because I have broad shoulders. I _have_ noticed that the sides of the cardigan, or vest for that matter, stay put a lot better when the top button is fastened. Flapping cardigans are not particularly attractive. I also often wear a pin for a little extra color, and this way I know it’s visible. \*\* Yeah, what she said. I _hate_ a flapping cardigan, but also hate having them buttoned all the way up. And as far as why cardigans are still being worn…well, there are some really pretty ones out there, and they give you a variety of ways to dress up an outfit short of wearing a more formal jacket. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/16 "2001-08-06T13:55:32Z")
“twinsets”? ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/17 "2001-08-06T14:03:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AHunter3 \* > \*\*“twinsets”? \*\* A “twinset” is basically another word for sweater set: a matching sweater/top and cardigan. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/18 "2001-08-06T14:32:45Z")
“It’s so they can show off their bellybuttons.” If that is all they are wearing on top, yes. But then they would show a lot more than that!.. note:the other day I saw a very young lady wearing glitter on her cleavage. Yep. the things they do to get attention. I can see buttoning the top button would keep the sweater from falling down but so would buttoning any of the other buttons. Of course as someone mentioned before, some guys wear them that way but that seems more of a gang thing. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/19 "2001-08-06T15:10:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Of course as someone mentioned before, some guys wear them that way but that seems more of a gang thing. GAWD! That would be the one to fear - the cardigan wearing gangsta!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043/20 "2001-08-06T15:27:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*“It’s so they can show off their bellybuttons.” > > If that is all they are wearing on top, yes. But then they would show a lot more than that!.. > > note:the other day I saw a very young lady wearing glitter on her cleavage. Yep. the things they do to get attention. > > \*\* You say this like it’s a bad thing. 😃 Keith [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-only-button-the-top-button-on-a-sweater/75043.md?page=2)