# Why is the lowermost button/buttonhole different from the others on some shirts **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 8, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868 "2011-03-08T01:27:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/1 "2011-03-08T01:27:01Z")
On some shirts, any or all of the following may be true of the lowermost button/buttonhole: The buttonhole is oriented horizontally (whereas all the others are oriented vertically) The buttonhole is lined with a different colour of thread from the others The button is sewn on with a different colour of thread from the others I’m not talking about spare buttons sewn onto the bottom corner of the shirt - this is a proper button/buttonhole, it’s just different from all the others - why? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/2 "2011-03-08T01:40:35Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The buttonhole is oriented horizontally (whereas all the others are oriented vertically) I always assumed that this one was to make it less likely that this button would come undone, thus causing the buttons above it to become undone. Vertical buttonholes are easier to button, but also easily come undone. Having the lowermost one horizontal serves as an “anchor.” ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/3 "2011-03-08T01:55:11Z")
It lets you know when to quit buttoning, I suppose. Actually, I HAVE wondered about that, and would be interesting in hearing the real explanation. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/4 "2011-03-08T02:29:33Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I always assumed that this one was to make it less likely that this button would come undone, thus causing the buttons above it to become undone. Vertical buttonholes are easier to button, but also easily come undone. Having the lowermost one horizontal serves as an “anchor.” This was always my assumption as well. And if it is the reason, it works! That button never comes undone on me. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/5 "2011-03-08T03:01:39Z")
I’ve been buttoning shirts for 60+ years and I’ve never had one on which the bottom button was any different from the others. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/6 "2011-03-08T04:39:41Z")
Ah, the next shirt you buy may have it sideways. I notice it mostly on dress shirts. I find it a pain. As Ron said, we did fine for a long time without it. I am quit willing to continue to. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/7 "2011-03-08T04:51:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Vertical buttonholes are easier to button, but\*\* also [more] easily come undone\*\*. Why would that be, are you saying? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/8 "2011-03-08T05:22:09Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Why would that be, are you saying? Because the shirt’s opening is vertical. When you pull apart the two sides, the buttons can more easily slide through vertical buttonholes. With a horizontal button, if you pull the sides apart the button slides to the end of the slot and doesn’t come out. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/9 "2011-03-08T05:27:03Z")
I also assumed it was to keep it from coming undone. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/10 "2011-03-08T14:23:18Z")
The bottom button has more horizontal stress to deal with than the other buttons, due to the fact that the tails are pulled in different directions . . . especially if the person has a belly. The colored thread may be stronger, and may be used for quality-control purposes (indicating that a stronger thread has been used). ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/11 "2011-03-08T14:56:37Z")
The lowermost button hole, described by the OP, is a better design, but less appealing visually. Since it is intended to be tucked into the shirt, and has to be more resilient, it’s positioned horizontally to help prevent the button from coming undone. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/12 "2011-03-08T14:59:10Z")
I seldom remember problems with the lower button coming undone. I get tired of obtrusive solutions to problems I don’t have. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/13 "2011-03-08T15:16:35Z")
> [@thelabdude](#): > > I get tired of obtrusive solutions to problems I don’t have. You wouldn’t have to suffer through this if you would simply have more problems. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/14 "2011-03-08T15:29:20Z")
> [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > I’ve been buttoning shirts for 60+ years and I’ve never had one on which the bottom button was any different from the others. I wonder if it’s a new thing. Or a brand thing. I’ve only noticed it on shirts that I get from Express. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/15 "2011-03-08T15:36:16Z")
> [@thelabdude](#): > > I get tired of obtrusive solutions to problems I don’t have. You feel a horizontal buttonhole is an obtrusive solution? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/16 "2011-03-08T15:46:34Z")
I wonder if this bottom buttonhole style is one of those things almost universal in some countries and unheard of in others. I’ve been wearing men’s dress shirts in the US for almost 40 years now. Both cheap and expensive. I have never seen nor heard of a bottom button different from the others. It \*is \*common bordering on universal for the top buttonhole (the one behind your tie knot) to be oriented horizontally. But I’ve never seen that same design at the botom. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/17 "2011-03-08T18:21:21Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You feel a horizontal buttonhole is an obtrusive solution? Yes, they are harder to button. Who needs it? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/18 "2011-03-08T18:26:47Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > You wouldn’t have to suffer through this if you would simply have more problems. And there are many Dopers willing to give you theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/19 "2011-03-08T19:23:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’ve been wearing men’s dress shirts in the US for almost 40 years now. Both cheap and expensive. I have never seen nor heard of a bottom button different from the others. I just checked my closet. Several of my casual “St. John’s Bay” shirts (from J.C. Penny’s - I know I’m giving up my sartorial secrets here) purchased in the last few years have horizontal lower buttons, while others from the same line do not. > [@thelabdude](#): > > Yes, they are harder to button. Who needs it? You must find daily life very stressful.😉 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/20 "2011-03-08T21:22:08Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I just checked my closet. Several of my casual “St. John’s Bay” shirts (from J.C. Penny’s - I know I’m giving up my sartorial secrets here) purchased in the last few years have horizontal lower buttons, while others from the same line do not. > … Ignorance fought; thanks. Next time I buy new dress shirts I’ll be paying attention. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868.md?page=2)