Question about button down collars

[fastrunningmom]

I just gave my 21 year old son a "custom" shirt from Lands' End in a beautiful rasberry stripe/color with a button down collar. He loves it, and I told him under NO circumstances was he to EVER wear it with the button down collar un-buttoned. He laughed and agreed, but I'm wondering . . .

Am I simply showing my age, and don't realize that he and his 19 year old brother are right - that you can wear button down collars unbuttoned at times? I don't mean with a tie and blazer, but they tend to unbutton them when they wear one alone, or even more likely with jeans and a sweater with the tail hanging out the bottom and the collar OUTSIDE the sweater (unbuttoned). That latter look in particular reminds me of a bad '70's look.

Could some of you (especially the younger members) weigh in on this?

Thanks!

 

[Thomas]

I never fasten the collars. Then again, I haven't worn a tie with a button-down collar in ten years.

 

[Edward Appleby]

I don't like the look of buttondown points floating around, personally.

 

[Man In Space]

Button-down collars must always be buttoned. I will allow no disagreement on this issue.

 

[odoreater]

FWIW, I have only one buttondown collar shirt, and I wear it with the buttons unbuttoned.

 

[mack11211]

Nonstandard but perfectly acceptable.

 

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by fastrunningmom

Am I simply showing my age
It's not about age, Giovanni Agnelli wore the look to his grave. And, he wore it with a suit and tie (occasionally, he would button just one collar point). Today, in Italy, you'll see many men sporting this look.


[/quote]

 

[Bandwagonesque]

I'm young, and I say button it up. If he's the type of guy who wears his shirts untucked, loose fitting ripped jeans/cargos, messy hair, beard, etc... then he can get away with it since the unbuttoned collar is the least of his style problems

 

[gorgekko]

I tend to be more rule conscious than some but I have occasionally worn button-down shirts with unbuttoned collars.

 

[pkincy]

I suppose I wouldn't, but the kids today...............

I believe they do many things (kinda like my generation did) simply for its shock value. So at 19 why not.

Perry

 

[fastrunningmom]

Thanks, everyone!

The consensus seems to be that it's okay to some and absolutely NOT to others. It drives me crazy, but that's me. I'll get off their cases unless it's an occasion when you wouldn't want anyone thinking less of you - he's got a "shadow day" for a job he's hoping to get and we were thinking the new rasberry shirt , no tie and his blazer. That way he can save his navy suit for the "open house" in February (he also wore it for the initial interview).

Neither he, nor his brother, is "messy looking." Their jeans fit well and they like fitted shirts and sweaters, but they like the shirt tail out look, which I don't mind for the right outfit. Nice jeans, a fitted shirt under a well fitting argyl sweater is a nice casual look for a guy that age, I think.

Thanks for all your opinions. I appreciate it.

 

[pfr0g]

My old CEO used to charge people $25 for wearing collars unbuttoned in the office. Then again he was a bit crazy. One time he took off the door and dry walled up one of the VP's office.

 

[Jovan]

This is how to do a button down collar unfastened with tie... loosened a bit and without making a fuss of it.

 

[marc237]

Originally Posted by pfr0g

My old CEO used to charge people $25 for wearing collars unbuttoned in the office. Then again he was a bit crazy. One time he took off the door and dry walled up one of the VP's office.

Could be real annoying in the VP was still inside.

 

[fastrunningmom]

Jovan, you see, that's my problem. I think that looks terrible, but I think men should always look kempt in order to look attractive. To be fair, I don't care for a messy female look either.

I appreciate the pictures, though. Thank you!