Are there rules for which buttons to fasten on 3/4 length coats?

January 4, 2011 6:40 AM

Which buttons should a man button on a 5-button car coat (or other 3/4 length coat)? Does it matter?

So, perhaps this isn't the most important question that will be asked here today, but I'm a bit clueless on fashion, and I am trying to look more put together.

As such, I've improved my winter wardrobe with a nicer wool car coat (5 buttons, mid thigh length) and a nicer-still wool overcoat to wear over a sport coat or suit. My question is whether there's etiquette on which buttons one should fasten. I know this is a common question for suits of various button counts (I found this past question for a 4-button suit), but I wasn't sure if there were rules for overcoats.

Thanks, better dressers of MeFi!

posted by JMOZ to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (5 answers total)

Best answer: If it has lapels, as many as you need to, depending on the chill and accessories (ie, with or without scarf). If it doesn't have lapels (I'm guessing the car coat doesn't?), and instead has a top button with similar placement to the collar button on a shirt, you can button them all except for that one. Fill any gap with a scarf. (Well, you COULD button the top one, but it would be a little dorky IMO, like buttoning a polo all the way up.)

AFAIK, there are no rules like "Never the bottom button!" like with a blazer or vest.
posted by supercres at 7:01 AM on January 4, 2011

Best answer: Yeah, there aren't the same sort of buttoning "rules" with outerwear that there are for suit jackets and sport coats. Practicality trumps etiquette. Personally, with a car coat, I would keep at least the bottom couple of buttons buttoned, especially if you're wearing a jacket underneath: having the lower part of your jacket exposed looks weird to me. Beyond that, button as high as you need to keep yourself warm.
posted by neroli at 7:04 AM on January 4, 2011

Best answer: If it's cold enough outside that you need to wear a coat, you should button as many buttons are necessary to stay warm.
posted by Sara C. at 10:01 AM on January 4, 2011

Best answer: The whole "don't button the bottom button on your suit jacket" thing was made up by students at Eton, you know. Although bingo's point in that thread--that four-button suits all have an otiose button--is a good one, there comes a point at which one says "Am I really going to be governed in my decision by the whims of 19th-century English adolescents?"

But that question is irrelevant to overcoats, which have no traditional buttoning etiquette. So button as many buttons as keep you warm, but not so many that you feel stuffy.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:30 PM on January 4, 2011

Response by poster: That was easy, I suppose. Thanks for the helpful answers, all of which are best.
posted by JMOZ at 1:50 PM on January 4, 2011