What is the point of unbuttoning the sleeve buttons?

CharlesAlexander · May 1, 2009

To show off?

Nowadays even Banana Republic makes some suits with functional buttons. I never understood why people did this, it just looks silly to me.

gomestar · May 1, 2009

I used to do it to show off a little.

But now, I like the way 3 buttons look compared to 4. My latest suit acquisition has 3 button non-functional cuffs and I love it.

emmanuel · May 1, 2009

It used to be a way to show that your jacket was custom made but now some RTW come with that feature

TheFoo · May 1, 2009

Buttoning all buttons tends to look stuffy and uncomfortable to me. In most contexts, we tend to leave at least one or two buttons unfastened. So, to me, leaving a button undone on your sleeves can nicely echo leaving your bottom jacket button undone.

But I'm in the minority in thinking this.

gdl203 · May 1, 2009

Originally Posted by CharlesAlexander

To show off?
Yes

/thread

porcelain monkey · May 1, 2009

Yeah, I still think of it as showing off, which can look silly now that the RTW market has gotten in on the act. I like working buttons as a style choice, but I leave them buttoned. I also feel like the sleeve hangs a bit better with the surgeons cuffs as there is more give and take due to the button holes, but I may be just imagining this.

Mr. Moo · May 1, 2009

I do it because it's cool.

a-rock · May 1, 2009

Surgeons cuffs are a must for me because the size and thickness of my forearms fluctuate greatly depending on whether I ate spinach or not.

ohm · May 1, 2009

I think when people do it, it's to show off. When companies do it, I think they're trying to imply that the quality of the garment is very high.

Guero · May 1, 2009

Originally Posted by a-rock

Surgeons cuffs are a must for me because the size and thickness of my forearms fluctuate greatly depending on whether I ate spinach or not.

cwh812 · May 1, 2009

Originally Posted by ohm

I think when people do it, it's to show off. When companies do it, I think they're trying to imply that the quality of the garment is very high.

I agree with your first point, but I'm not sure I agree with the second point. Are you saying (a) that the consumer will be fooled into thinking it is a high quality garment or (b) that another person viewing the consumer may be fooled into thinking it is a high quality garment? I don't think that the RTW manufacturers are tricking any purchasers into thinking it is a high quality garment, however, those purchasers might be purchasing with the thought that this will look like a high quality garment when I wear it.

teddieriley · May 1, 2009

Originally Posted by ohm

I think when people do it, it's to show off. When companies do it, I think they're trying to imply that the quality of the garment is very high.

+1. And to be clear, there is nothing wrong with those with custom suits to do leave buttons undone, whatever their reason might be. I like the look.

But nothing is going to change the fact that one is wearing a BR suit, functioning button holes or not.

Spats · May 1, 2009

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Buttoning all buttons tends to look stuffy and uncomfortable to me.
It looks cool, sometimes, and even feels cool. It's just one more variable you can play with. But the i-gent can't fiddle with his buttons until he reads on the internet that it will be OK. He might be "showing off," instead of just looking like a clothes horse.

ysc · May 1, 2009

To roll your jacket sleeves up of course.

Roikins · May 1, 2009

Just cheat, like Prada does:

What is the point of unbuttoning the sleeve buttons?

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