# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/21 "2011-03-08T22:32:57Z")
I’ve been meaning to start a thread here asking about the horizontal buttonhole. I’m in the US, and about a year or so ago got my very first shirt with a horizontal lower button hole. I now have three, I think. I don’t like it. I’ve never had a problem with my lower button coming unbuttoned. I do find it more difficult to unbutton when I want to do so. So I’m with **thelabdude** that it’s a change for no benefit, and with a downside, however small that downside may be. I’ve never noticed different colored thread, but haven’t specifically looked. I wouldn’t mind the different colored thread, because that would be a change for no benefit with _no_ particular downside. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/22 "2011-03-09T00:16:16Z")
> [@](#): > > 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 first saw it on the assorted shirts I got for Christmas, both dress and some of the flannels. They were all from J. C. Penny’s, too. ---
**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 9, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/23 "2011-03-09T02:05:33Z")
The shirt I’m wearing at the moment has its lowest buttonhole vertical like the others. But it is in a separate piece of cloth (4x4cm) that’s sewn onto the inside of the shirt, so that you can’t see the button itself even when it’s done up. This can’t be to make it invisible as the stitching that holds that piece of fabric is quite visible. Very odd, I have to say. It’s at about belt level or a little below; perhaps the idea is that if you do it up and tuck it into your pants (I never bother with either) it won’t get caught on the inside of your jeans? ---
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/24 "2011-03-09T02:32:40Z")
I also only started seeing this in the last year or two. For what it’s worth, I don’t buy the “it helps it not come undone” theory… ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/25 "2011-03-09T03:08:26Z")
My wife works part time at Penney’s. She gets a nice employee discount plus knows when all the best sales are. She is also there to pounce on clearance items. So yes, I am wearing lots of St Johns Bay, but most of my dress shirts are Stafford. They too have had that stupid horizontal button hole the last year or 2. I have some nice heavy flannel shirts with the horizontal button hole and I hadn’t noticed them being harder to button. So who find the slacks with 2 buttons and a hook more bother than they are worth too? I have cut the flap and one button off on some of mine. ---
**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 9, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/26 "2011-03-09T03:36:00Z")
> [@Pasta](#): > > For what it’s worth, I don’t buy the “it helps it not come undone” theory… From [here:](http://www.darrenbarefoot.com/archives/2007/04/why-is-my-last-button-hole-horizontal.html) > [@](#): > > Why are neckline/collar buttonholes on shirts are always horizontal (as are almost all center-front buttonholes on outerwear)? Because horizontal buttonholes take horizontal stress with less deformation of the buttonhole shape and offer much less likelihood of the button pulling out from such stress than do vertical ones. > > But this results in the button being pulled to the end of the hole rather than staying centered. Since a well fitted shirt shouldn’t naturally have any fitting stress across its width above the waist, the custom is to prefer vertical holes with centered buttons above the tuck-in level; they look better, especially on a vertically striped fabric. Below the belt or at the waist, where there might be more stress, you can revert to the stronger position…and demonstrate that you (the maker) are willing to take the time to shift the shirt to change the placement of the hole, further proof that your expensive shirt is worth the money. Search results on other sites indicates this is the general answer. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/27 "2011-03-09T03:41:50Z")
I thought you weren’t even supposed to button the bottom button. ---
**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 9, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/28 "2011-03-09T03:46:23Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > I thought you weren’t even supposed to button the bottom button. That’s the rule for a [three-button suit jacket,](http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_doesn't_one_button_the_bottom_button_on_a_suit_or_waistcoat) not a shirt. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/29 "2011-03-09T04:04:22Z")
Maybe the country of manufacture is the common element? Anybody check that for shirts with and without the horizontal buttonhole? ---
**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 9, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/30 "2011-03-09T04:14:46Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > I thought you weren’t even supposed to button the bottom button. I don’t on a coat but I have never heard that on a shirt. But then again I don’t keep up on fashion that much. On coats if you button it the coat will look funny as I recall, in fact if I am not mistaken the button is offset just slightly from the button hole, so if you button it, it will leave a little rumple. Damn it–now you people are going to go make me put on a suit coat! ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/31 "2011-03-09T04:40:09Z")
Well… dontcha know, I just **HAD** to get up, walk upstairs, and look in the dang closet and **SEE** , how many of my shirts, were of **WHICH** particular style! (Yeah, yeah… I know… I’m easily amused, and **way** , too curious!:D) The census tally is… (drum roll, please :rolleyes:) about half and half! 😕 I will say, that I’m _constantly_ impressed with Master Colibri’s seemingly infinite amount of knowledge, about matters that range from being philosophically, earth shattering… to the mind boggleingly, trivial!:eek: (Although, I _guess_ he _could_ just have some **REALLY** good, “Google” skills!:D) Regardless, I have come to the realization, that if I REALLY want to know, _ **something** _ _ **about ANYTHING** _…\*\* The SDMB, is the only place to go! \*\*🆒 ---
**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 9, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/32 "2011-03-09T04:42:59Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Maybe the country of manufacture is the common element? Anybody check that for shirts with and without the horizontal buttonhole? I mentioned above that it varies even within a single manufacturer. All my St. John’s Bay shirts that I checked were made in Bangadesh. Some have the horizontal button, some don’t; there is no clear correlation with how “dressy” the shirt is (but all are fairly casual). ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/33 "2011-03-09T04:46:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Damn it–now you people are going to go make me put on a suit coat! Don’t forget to check all of your shirts, to see which ones have the bottom button hole going up/down, or side to side! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868/34 "2011-03-09T05:06:48Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > You wouldn’t have to suffer through this if you would simply have more problems. > > 😃 There are people poking there head into the room, wondering… WHY, am I laughing, so hysterically! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-lowermost-button-buttonhole-different-from-the-others-on-some-shirts/573868.md?page=1)