Three-Button Suit Coats

[J. Cogburn]

When I say formulaic, you give me the impression that you are searching for an optimum, I just think you need to go with what moves you, learn to trust your eye, this will involve some mistakes along the way but you'll get some pleasant surprises also.

Give me optimality or give me death!

Live optimally or die!

Optimality today, optimality tomorrow, optimality forever!

Nothing wrong with optimality. If one has in mind a certain set of criteria for what would prove "optimal," one can then strive for optimality. Those criteria are going to be different for each person, so what is optimal for me is not necessarily optimal for you, etc.

Example: I have concluded that an "optimal" (workplace) tie wardrobe for me would:

... allow for both a spring/summer set of ties and a fall/winter set of ties with a one-month rotation within each season. Some ties can be worn in any season and thus, overlap will exist. Some, however, cannot.

... include a heavy representation of ties with blue grounds, dark red grounds, grey grounds, and black grounds with a smattering of other colors (brown, orange, purple, and bottle green) to provide some diversity.

... incorporate a range of conservative styles - solids, Macclesfields, dots, small patterned motiffs, and repps - in relatively equally proportions.

... include a varied range of silks including shantung, madders, foulards, etc.

Those considerations all inform my decisions about what to buy and what not to buy. It's not that I'm not using my own eye to choose between this and that. It's that I'm keeping in mind my desire for a balanced, versatile tie wardrobe that will meet the needs I have given it and fill in my needs with what looks best to me.

If optimality is Style Forum treason, then let us make the best of it!

 

[treydog999]

I personally have more 3 roll 2.5 suits than i have 2 button. I really enjoy having that lovely rolling lapel and I have the option if buttoning to 3 if i feel like it. As some posters already said people perfer 2 because it is the most common or 'standard' people go to. But with a 3 roll 2 you can look very much like someone wearing a 2 button on moment then decide to button it up properly for a 3 button look. I like the options and it makes the same suit look varied over the course of many wears keeping it fresh.