Why doesn't one button the bottom button on a suit or waistcoat?

Answer

The tradition of leaving the bottom button of a coat undone started as a fashion choice. Coats are designed to flare away at the bottom, since the hips are (generally) broader than the waist, where a coat should be fastened. Modern suits are all cut with this in mind, and thus the bottom button should never be used, as it throws off the tailoring of the suit, turning a man's silhouette into a cylinder.

Ideally, three-button suits aren't supposed to have the top button fastened, either; leaving it undone balances the look and permits the lapel to roll closer to the waist, where it should be. In fact, the two-button suit takes care of this nicely by removing the offending button altogether. Those looking for a more formal look, however, can button the top button without violating fashion rules.

Answer

The custom of leaving the bottom button undone comes from the early 20th century, King Edward VII was too rotund to fasten his bottom button and the custom came from his immitators. It is perfectly proper to button the lower button of a suit although I don't know anyone who does -- the custom has kind of taken on a life of its own.

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This question is worded very vaguely.

If you mean the bottom button on a suit or dress shirt that seems to have no purpose, it is meant as a spare button. If one of the regular buttons above it are torn off and lost, you have a spare one to use, to sew back in the old button's place.

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You do not button the bottom button on a suit jacket or sport coat so that you can sit down or reach into your trouser pocket without bunching the jacket material.

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i vaugely remember this from history lessons at school. some british king or other (the name of whom escapes me) had a load of expensive waistcoats made up and then put on so much weight that it became impossible to do up the bottom button. as a result, he walked around with the bottom button unfastened. to stop the king from feeling embarrassed about his expanding girth, all of the men in his courts etc. would ensure that they too unbuttoned the bottom button of their waistcaots when they were in his presence- kind of making out that the king was a wild trendsetter. it stuck from there...

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I've seen this alot. There isn't much to articulate an explanation. It's just something many men do without thinking about it. Reasons include convenience; they unbutton/button frequently at work according to their waste line/comfort... Easier to bend or sit... Negligence; sometimes they DO forget that extra button because some of their suites have fewer buttons... Haste; since they do it so much, they get tired of this super complicated process every few hours or so...

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if you have a three button sports coat or jacket for you suit you NEVER button the bottom button...you only need button the first two, the last button is left un button, if you see a man wearing a three button suit with all three buttons in or the first button undone, he is either wearing a suit for the first time or he has no class...thats the rule, i didnt make it up, i only follow it...

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I concur totally.A man wearing a three button suit or even a two button suit with all the buttons done up obviously knows nothing about the fine tailored look.It is just simple you ABSOLUTELY NEVER button the bottom button on a suit PERIOD.It is a rule of dressing

Answer:

To the user who mentioned the last button being unbuttoned to ease the jacket when sitting down: the jacket is NEVER buttoned when sitting down; only when standing up. It is the proper way to unbutton your jacket when you sit, and button it (one or two buttons) when standing.

Best Answer:

maybe they're too fat and waistcoats look big until you put them on

First answer by Swiftypants94. Last edit by Desluvshomer. Contributor trust: 8 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 97 [recommend question]