Is it acceptable to wear a shirt and tie with the top button undone?

[Orang Utan]

Well?
I thought doing up the button was NOT the done thing, but I have just been informed otherwise.
It's not very comfortable!

 

[marty21]

I never have the top button done up

that said, I rarely wear ties

 

[Biddlybee]

maybe your shirts are too small?

 

[Dan U]

unless you want to look like a drunk office worker in Tiger Tiger at 3am, do the button up.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

maybe your shirts are too small?

and/or he has a fat neck

 

[Dan U]

maybe your shirts are too small?

this. or polyester or something.

 

[spanglechick]

Tie on? Top button done up.
No tie? Undo two buttons.

 

[Teaboy]

No never, if you have to undo the top button take the tie off. Also not acceptable is wearing a tie with a short sleeve shirt, no matter how many fat sweaty salesman think it is.

 

[silverfish]

Do you have to wear a tie? I'd state that for health and safety reasons you shouldn't wear one

Either that or buy a shirt with the right neck size

 

[killer b]

strictly speaking yeah, but i can't imagine anyone cares, unless you've got a new job as a valet or something.

 

[Orang Utan]

I like wearing a tie. I just don't think it looks good to have the top button done up.
You look like a stiff!

 

[Teaboy]

strictly speaking yeah, but i can't imagine anyone cares, unless you've got a new job as a valet or something.

Or any role that is client facing in numerous industries. it really depends on the industry you are in but a lot of people (me included) can't abide scruffyness in client facing roles.

 

[killer b]

I like wearing a tie. I just don't think it looks good to have the top button done up.
You look like a stiff!

it looks sharp you div. that said, unbuttoned looks fine too.

 

[Orang Utan]

maybe your shirts are too small?

They would be too baggy if I went up to a 17!

 

[dessiato]

Always do the top button when wearing a tie in a formal situation.

In a semi formal, no tie, situation, one button undone.

Informal, the top two buttons may be undone.

NEVER EVER more than two buttons, unless you are an actor playing the role of a 1970's Italian lothario.

 

[Teaboy]

They would be too baggy if I went up to a 17!

Buy a nice fitted shirt instead of a tesco / matalan number?

 

[Orang Utan]

Or any role that is client facing in numerous industries. it really depends on the industry you are in but a lot of people (me included) can't abide scruffyness in client facing roles.

Having one button undone is hardy scruffy.

 

[Orang Utan]

Buy a nice fitted shirt instead of a tesco / matalan number?

How dare you? I have good shirts!

 

[Teaboy]

And avoid at all costs the hated suit but no tie combo unless you still think Tony Blair is a look worth obtaining.

 

[dessiato]

They would be too baggy if I went up to a 17!

If you buy a larger neck size, but in a slim fit style, they shouldn't be too baggy. Are there any places you could get a shirt adjusted? Although, I'm not sure that such things exist in the UK any more.

 

[Ax^]

good shirts

 

[Teaboy]

Having one button undone is hardy scruffy.

It is.

How dare you? I have good shirts!

I wasnt taking piss I used to buy those shirts before I realised they fitted terribly. A fitted shirt should not look baggy just because you've gone up half an inch in coller size.

What industry do you work in? Are you client facing? What sort of clients?

 

[Orang Utan]

Scruffy is having torn or stained clothes, not having one button undone!

 

[Orang Utan]

It is.



I wasnt taking piss I used to buy those shirts before I realised they fitted terribly. A fitted shirt should not look baggy just because you've gone up half an inch in coller size.

What industry do you work in? Are you client facing? What sort of clients?

A school. No clients!

I have never bought clothes from a supermarket and I have never even been in a Matelan

 

[Garek]

I don't give a damn how formal the situation I will never do a top button. Just do your tie up nice to hide it.

 

[Teaboy]

A school. No clients!

Well in that case, ignore everything I say. All bets are off in school, there was one teacher at my school who would mostly wear his dinner in lieu of a tie.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I don't give a damn how formal the situation I will never do a top button. Just do your tie up nice to hide it.

I tend towards this approach.

If I have to wear a tie.

Although in my current part-time job we get given a clip-on tie which is impossible to wear unless you do the top button up, and I physically can't with most shirts I have, so I have invested in a couple of cheap shirts a size or two too big.



Although this time of year, once you've got a scarf on and a coat buttoned up as far as it will go, no bugger can tell whether or not I'm wearing a tie under all that...

I may have to review the position come the summer assuming (a) we get any summer (b) I'm still in the job.

 

[Pickman's model]

Well?
I thought doing up the button was NOT the done thing, but I have just been informed otherwise.
It's not very comfortable!

you've been had and not for the first time.

 

[Pickman's model]

Scruffy is having torn or stained clothes, not having one button undone!

you might want to revist the dictionary definition of scruffy: shabby and untidy or dirty.

 

[spanglechick]

Always do the top button when wearing a tie in a formal situation.

In a semi formal, no tie, situation, one button undone.

Informal, the top two buttons may be undone.

NEVER EVER more than two buttons, unless you are an actor playing the role of a 1970's Italian lothario.

No, sorry. One button undone with no tie makes you look like David Mitchell. It's just... Awkward looking. Also, unless you are very, very short, the proportions are deeply unsatisfying.