How To Button A Suit

Now, this may seem really simple, but let me ask you, have you ever seen a two-and-a-half jacket? Do you know what a two-and-a-half jacket is? Basically, it’s a jacket that’s a three-button jacket, but it’s designed to be worn like a two-button jacket.




This is a two-and-a-half and is not designed to be buttoned at the top, considering the way the lapels roll over.

So buttoning men’s suits jackets aren’t as easy as you may think because when it comes down to it, sometimes there are buttons and buttonholes and they’re actually not meant to be used. A lot of this goes back to history. King Edward VII supposedly is the guy that gave us the rule because he was so large, he could not button the bottom button.

History of Jacket Buttoning Rules
I mentioned King Edward VII earlier, so supposedly, there is a rule that you never button the bottom button. When it comes down to it, we’re talking single-breasted jackets. I’ll get into the rules for each of them, but one of them is that you never button the bottom button.

Now, the reason that rule still applies today, most jackets designed are designed not to be buttoned. Therefore, the cut and the way it drapes, the way that it’s made to fit on your body is actually so that bottom button is not buttoned.

So when you button it, what happens is you get a more constricted look down there, not on all jackets, but on a lot of them. That’s why I recommend you still follow this rule. This is for three-button jackets. 

On a one-button jacket, always button — it only comes with one button. One-button jackets are mostly for men that are short in stature. It’s a great style for them. In addition, at black tie events, that’s where we see the one-button suit. Anytime you stand, button it. Anytime you’re seated, then you may unbutton.

Two-button jackets some of the most common in the world for most men suits. For two-button jackets, the rule is, whenever you stand, always button the top button; the bottom button, never. 

Three-button jackets, the rule is; sometimes, always, and never. I’ve also heard maybe, always, and never. The gentleman who wrote that basically says the word “man”, so that one’s probably pretty easy. That is, the top button - sometimes, the middle button - always and the last button - never.

Now, when it comes to four-button, five-button, some of those more eccentric ones out there, just apply the general three-button rule. So, the “always” becomes the ones in the middle and the top button becomes “sometimes” or “maybe”, and the bottom one, “never”.

Now, this doesn’t necessarily apply to vests. To vests, the only one that maybe applies is the bottom. Although with vests, there’s a lot more leeway. 

What about double-breasted? Rarely seen nowadays, but with double-breasted jackets, anytime you’re standing, you want them all fully buttoned, except you cannot button that bottom one, so pretty much the same rules with double-breasted.

Culled from Real Men Real Style and edited. Images: RMRS and Google