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Brian Sacawa is the Founder of He Spoke Style and one of the original men’s style influencers.
More This site contains affiliate links from which we may earn a commission.It’s worth reminding everyone that there is no such thing as a stupid question, especially when it comes to wearing your clothes properly.
And judging from the number of guys I’ve seen doing this wrong, asking how to button a suit jacket should not be considered a silly question under any circumstances.
The truth of the matter is that the simple things are often overlooked and done incorrectly because they seem so, well, simple. Here’s something that will make sure you get it right: a guide on how to button the three most common types of suit jackets.
1. Two-Button Jacket
| WEARING | Vintage Yves Saint Laurent suit, Suitsupply shirt, Drake’s tie, Brooks Brothers pocket square
The simple two-button jacket. You’ve got a 50-50 chance of getting it right if you’re just guessing. The correct way to button a two-button suit jacket (or blazer, for that matter) is just the top one. Never the bottom and never the bottom and the top. Please, please don’t do that.
2. Two and a Half Button Jacket
| WEARING | QG Custom suit, Al Bazar shirt, Drake’s tie, Paul Stuart pocket square, Watch c/o Uniform Wares
The two and a half button jacket is an interesting beast. For all intents and purposes this is a three-button jacket, but when you’ve got one of the button holes rolled softly into the lapel, you call it a two and half button or a three-roll-two lapel. It’s a classy and elegant take on the three-button jacket.
For this style of jacket, fasten the middle button. If it’s cold and you want a little extra coverage, go ahead and button the top button as well. But as a rule, just roll with the middle button buttoned. And, as always, never button the bottom button.
3. Double-Breasted Jacket
| WEARING | Al Bazar blazer and shirt, Yves Saint Laurent pants, Gitman Bros. tie, Drake’s pocket square
There are many types of double-breasted jackets, though the most popular is the 6×2 button configuration – six buttons in two rows. Of those outer buttons, two can be fastened. Again, button the middle button and leave the bottom one alone.
One feature of the double-breasted jacket that many may not pay attention to, is the presence of an inner button that isn’t seen. Should you button this one? Absolutely. This helps to keep the jacket laying on the body as it was meant to.
Thanks for reading.
Stylishly Yours,
Brian Sacawa
He Spoke Style
Photography by Rob McIver Photo
Brian Sacawa
Brian Sacawa is the Founder of He Spoke Style and one of the original men’s style influencers. Since 2013, his goal has remained the same: to provide men the advice and inspiration they need to dress well, develop their personal style, and gain more confidence. Brian’s interest and passion for men’s style and luxury watches has led to his writing for The Robb Report, The Rake, and Sotheby’s and he has been quoted on menswear in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Today.com, Brides Magazine, and the Huffington Post. He lives in the woods north of Baltimore with his wife, Robin, kitties Nick and Nora, and German Shepherd/Collie mix Charlie.
