THCD or Nothing

**Tobus** · 10th September 19, 05:26 AM

Button-down shirts are overly formal.

This seems to have been stated as fact, but I daresay it's just a matter of opinion. Some button-down shirts are dressy, some are extremely casual. I prefer to hike in a button-front shirt rather than any pull-over-the-head shirt because it's more comfortable. It's nice to unbutton the front when I need some ventilation.

A popular choice these days are the short-sleeved "fishing" type shirts with vented plackets, which are made with UV-blocking materials that are supposedly breathable. Or "safari" style shirts in cotton or linen. Both are extremely casual choices to which I would never apply the word "formal". And I do find them far more practical than polo-style shirts or t-shirts.

I suppose my point is that your premise could perhaps use an adjustment with regards to button-front shirts being dressy. They can be, but they don't have to be.

**Father Bill** · 10th September 19, 05:31 AM

Are we confusing "button down" with "button up" in some of these posts?

"Button up" shirts are considered by many to be those buttoned together at the front from collar to belly button. "Button down" shirts usually refer to those whose collar tips are buttoned to the shirt front. Normally, those are also "button up" shirts in cotton or cotton/polyester blends, but I'm sitting here right now with a polo shirt (three buttons from the neck down) that also has the collar tips buttoned to the shirt front.

Who knew that shirt buttons could be so confusing!

**imbrius** · 10th September 19, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

Are we confusing "button down" with "button up" in some of these posts?

"Button up" shirts are considered by many to be those buttoned together at the front from collar to belly button. "Button down" shirts usually refer to those whose collar tips are buttoned to the shirt front. Normally, those are also "button up" shirts in cotton or cotton/polyester blends, but I'm sitting here right now with a polo shirt (three buttons from the neck down) that also has the collar tips buttoned to the shirt front.

Who knew that shirt buttons could be so confusing!

Indeed I did confuse them. I mean "button-up". None of my shirts have collars that button to the shirt. Those are... weird.

**Tobus** · 10th September 19, 05:34 AM

Good question, Father Bill. In the OP, he referenced "button-down shirts" as compared to "polo shirts", and I took that to mean we were talking about the front of the shirt, not just the collar.

**Father Bill** · 10th September 19, 05:35 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

Good question, Father Bill. In the OP, he referenced "button-down shirts" as compared to "polo shirts", and I took that to mean we were talking about the front of the shirt, not just the collar.

Yup. I dunno either! Who knew that XMarkers couldn't tell "up" from "down"!!??

**Tobus** · 10th September 19, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

Yup. I dunno either! Who knew that XMarkers couldn't tell "up" from "down"!!??

To be fair, not everyone uses the same terminology. In my first reply, I was calling them button-front shirts. But folks in my area call them both button-up and button-down when referring to front closure. When people around here are talking specifically about collars, they say button-down collar. So yes, terminology varies!

**Tomo** · 10th September 19, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by imbrius

Those are... weird.

Ahh - my comments were in relation to the weird ones (i.e. button-down collars). I don't wear them - they are indeed weird (in my opinion).

**bodhran4me** · 12th September 19, 05:57 AM

If I may button with a comment, errr, butt in with a comment, err comment on the butt.... ummm.....If I may interject on the 'up' vs 'down' debate , just don't wear a shirt.

Sorted !