Tie with a Button-Down Collar?

[ada8356]

I did a bit of searching and did not come across a definitive answer. If this has been hashed out ad naseum, feel free to point me towards the correct thread.

I have never worn a tie with a button-down collar, but a quick look over at the Brooks Brothers website would lead me to believe it is common practice.

What is your advice?

The occasion would be day-to-day business wear which is slacks and a dress shirts but never a suit.

 

[Austin]

I prefer open collar but have a few button down shirts that I wear with sport coats.

 

[bythbook]

yes, of course.


BB is classic.

 

[southernmail]

Works fine. Tie, then button works best for me.

 

[timj219]

About half of my dress shirts have button down collars and I wear a tie with all of them. Nobody has laughed at me yet. That I know of.

 

[82R100]

I helps keep the tie captive.

- Chris

 

[Cuttingboard]

Button down collars are fine with a tie and sport coat but I wouldn't wear at button down collar with a suit, even though a lot of people do. I prefer a point collar and tie with a suit.

 

[Obsessed]

I prefer a straight or spread collar with a tie but a button-down is perfectly appropriate and very common.

 

[Doc4]

Button down collars are fine with a tie and sport coat but I wouldn't wear at button down collar with a suit, even though a lot of people do. I prefer a point collar and tie with a suit.

+1

The button-down shirt is technically too casual for wearing with a suit. Not that 99% of people notice anymore or care about stuff like that, but it's one of those little rules it's best to know about so you can follow them (and occasionally break them the right way, too!)

 

[timj219]

+1

The button-down shirt is technically too casual for wearing with a suit. Not that 99% of people notice anymore or care about stuff like that, but it's one of those little rules it's best to know about so you can follow them (and occasionally break them the right way, too!)

My father taught me that. The only other things he ever said about clothes were "Don't wear brown shoes with a blue suit" and "Wing tips are the only dress shoes".

 

[ada8356]

Thanks. I figured since BB was showing it then most likely it was fine, but I wanted to take a quick show of hands.

 

[Crouse229]

I personally don't like the button down collar with a tie, it just seems rather informal to me. I like button down collars with sport coats and no tie, and really don't like the tie with button down collar and no jacket look.

 

[Triple Beam]

It is perfectly acceptable, but less formal than spread, tab, forward point, etc. Very American style, BB pretty much defined it.

 

[mark the shoeshine boy]

button down collars are fine with a tie and sport coat but i wouldn't wear at button down collar with a suit, even though a lot of people do. I prefer a point collar and tie with a suit.

+2

 

[theperfectstorm]

If you want the real 1960's "Executive on the Make look", a button-down and a narrow (not thin) tie with a gray or dark suit is the only way to go.

For Master's Level: get vintage narrow square bottom ties. Its not an everyday look, but once and a while it is the right thing. Sometimes you gotta throw on the Jade East, have martinis at lunch, and make your secretary nervous with your swinging business mojo.

 

[Cuttingboard]

Also, if you have a round or oval face, like me, a point collar or semi-spread will have a narrowing or elongating effect on your face. Spread or cuttaway collars look great for men with long faces as they have a widening effect on the face. I wish I could wear a spread or cuttaway, they look really nice with a well tailored suit!!

 

[Cuttingboard]

If you want the real 1960's "Executive on the Make look", a button-down and a narrow (not thin) tie with a gray or dark suit is the only way to go.

For Master's Level: get vintage narrow square bottom ties. Its not an everyday look, but once and a while it is the right thing. Sometimes you gotta throw on the Jade East, have martinis at lunch, and make your secretary nervous with your swinging business mojo.

I bought a couple narrow ties and tie bar and I get tons of complements, thanks to the show Mad Men. Also, narrow ties look the best with narrow lapels but I still wear them with normal lapels. I found a new website for ties and all ties are $15 and great quality for everyday wear. They carry narrow and regular width ties. I found the website, The Tie Bar, when it was featured in Gentlemen's Quarterly last month.

 

[D.Irving79]

i dont own a single shirt with a button down collar.

then again, i dont own a single shirt WITH a collar

 

[theperfectstorm]

I bought a couple narrow ties and tie bar and I get tons of complements, thanks to the show Mad Men. Also, narrow ties look the best with narrow lapels but I still wear them with normal lapels. I found a new website for ties and all ties are $15 and great quality for everyday wear. They carry narrow and regular width ties. I found the website, The Tie Bar, when it was featured in Gentlemen's Quarterly last month.

All good. Mad Men has screwed this up for everyone by giving ebay scum a license to jack the prices up. Real good deals on vintage jacquard ties are really, really hard to find right now. On the flip side it is dropping the prices for good 1940's ties and cravats.

For 2 - 2 1/2 inch jacquard ties search for:

Haband,
Towncraft,
and for English Mod narrow, Hardy Amies


For cuff-links, bars, and sets search for:

Anson,
Swank,
and Hickok.

 

[Cuttingboard]

Thanks Chris.