Button-Up vs. Button-Down Shirt: What's the Difference?

If you’re confused between the difference of a button-up vs. button-down shirt, you’re not alone! These two types of dress shirt terms can be baffling.

A button-up shirt can have a variety of collar styles, from a spread or point collar to a button-down collar. A button-down shirt is a specific type of button-up shirt. The button-down has a fastened collar with small buttonholes at each collar point that attach to buttons on the shirt.

Essentially, the primary difference between a button-up vs. button-down shirt is the collar, style, and formality. If you’re wondering when you should wear which one, this guide will clarify the difference for you. Then you’ll know when to wear each for a confident, polished look.

What Is a Button-Up Shirt?

Any shirt that has a placket with buttonholes on one side of the shirt front and buttons on the other side of the front is a button-up shirt. This can include dress and formal shirts, oxford shirts, and casual shirts such as flannels, linens, or chambrays.

And yes, a button-up shirt can include a button-down style. The collar style of button-up shirts can vary considerably — from spread, point, cutaway, and — button-down.

When to Wear a Button-Up Shirt

A button-up dress shirt is a wardrobe staple and the refined choice for professional and formal settings. The classic dress shirt is a perfect pairing with suits, structured blazers, and ties.

Wear a button-up dress shirt for business occasions and for formal events like black tie, galas, and weddings. Button-up dress shirts are available in a range of subtle weaves and patterns, usually in white and lighter color palettes.

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Button-up shirts can also include casual long or short sleeve shirts in relaxed fabrics like flannel and denim. These laid back-style shirts are appropriate for leisure wear but not for formal or business occasions.

What Is a Button-Down Shirt?

Simply put, a button-down shirt is a button-up shirt with a button-down collar. It would be easier to understand if a button-down shirt were called a button-down collar shirt!

Small buttons on the shirt, under the collar, attach to buttonholes on the collar points. The purpose of the button-down is to keep the collar in place. Originally, the button-down collar was designed for polo players in order to prevent their shirt collar from flapping while galloping down the polo field.

The button-down has evolved into a popular shirt style. Typically, the button-down is considered more casual than button-up dress shirts with spread or point collars.

When to Wear a Button-Down Shirt

Button-down collar shirts work well in more relaxed settings such as for business casual and smart-casual occasions. You can choose to wear a button-down shirt with or without a tie.

This style of shirt is ideal for layering with a blazer or wearing untucked for a laid-back, relaxed look. Wear a button-down shirt to an informal wedding, on weekend outings, and in more casual office settings.

Key Differences Between Button-Up and Button-Down Shirts

Collar Style

The collar is the defining difference between a button-up and button-down shirt. Button-up shirts may have a free-standing collar or a button-down collar. Button-down shirts are button-up shirts with fastened collar points.

Formality Level

Button-up shirts come in a variety of styles, fabrics, and levels of formality. The most formal is the button-up tuxedo shirt. Button-up dress shirts are worn for formal and professional occasions. Denim, flannel, and seersucker button-ups are great for casual and weekend garb.

Button-up dress shirts with a spread or point collar are typically more formal while button-down collar button-ups tend toward the more casual. For formal dress codes, wear a button-up dress shirt with a spread or point collar. Button-down collar shirts are suitable for casual office or weekend wear.

Styling Flexibility

Button-up dress shirts pair best with ties, bow ties, and structured outfits. Button-down shirts can be worn with or without a tie and work best for relaxed outfits.

How to Style Button-Up and Button-Down Shirts

Styling a Button-Up Shirt

You’ll achieve a professional, polished look by pairing a button-up dress shirt with a suit or a structured blazer with dress pants. Complete your styling with a classic tie or a slim tie.

Styling a Button-Down Shirt

For a versatile look, you can wear a button-down shirt with or without a tie. Button-downs offer a distinctive look and are great with chinos, blazers, and even denim for more casual styling.

Button-Up or Button-Down Shirt?

Button-up is all about a shirt that closes with buttons top to bottom. Button-down is all about the collar. Which one you choose will be based on the occasion and your personal preference.

If you stock your closet with both button-up and button-down shirts, you’ll be prepared for any occasion. You’ll have a varied selection of button-up dress shirts for professional and formal events plus you’ll have some button-downs to wear for more laid-back and casual occasions.

Explore The Tie Bar’s collection of high-quality button-up shirts. In addition to our range of beautiful button-up dress shirts with a variety of collar styles, we also feature a handsome selection of button-down collars.

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