Dark gray buttons on a lavender dress shirt?

[lsanbourne]

Hi folks! I've been reading the forum for a while but decided to post when I ordered a made-to-measure light lavender dress shirt with DARK gray iridescent (subtle lavender shine depending on light) buttons. Is this a weird combo? I want to wear the shirt for both formal (with dark gray suit) and shirt + sweater occasions to make a great impression on people I'm meeting for the first time. I wonder if the buttons will just distract and if I should try to change the order to classic white buttons. Your quick thoughts would be a great help to me!

 

[Andy57]

Hi folks! I've been reading the forum for a while but decided to post when I ordered a made-to-measure light lavender button down shirt with DARK gray iridescent (subtle lavender shine depending on light) buttons. Is this a weird combo? I want to wear the shirt for both formal (with dark gray suit) and shirt + sweater occasions to make a great impression on people I'm meeting for the first time. I wonder if the buttons will just distract and if I should try to change the order to classic white buttons. Your quick thoughts would be a great help to me!

Stick with white if your shirt is actually pale. Dark buttons on a shirt turn it into a casual item, in my opinion. And if the shirt isn't pale lavender, get a white one. Actually, get a white one anyway.

 

[starro]

To me, the button-down already makes the shirt informal. Not much damage done by the buttons.

 

[LA Guy]

Hi folks! I've been reading the forum for a while but decided to post when I ordered a made-to-measure light lavender button down shirt with DARK gray iridescent (subtle lavender shine depending on light) buttons. Is this a weird combo? I want to wear the shirt for both formal (with dark gray suit) and shirt + sweater occasions to make a great impression on people I'm meeting for the first time. I wonder if the buttons will just distract and if I should try to change the order to classic white buttons. Your quick thoughts would be a great help to me!

I'm moving this to the "Menswear Advice" forum: http://www.styleforum.net/f/20929/menswear-advice

For this particular shirt, I would definitely go for classic white buttons. That it is light lavender is already eyecatching. Dark buttons on top of that would put the shirt into the realm of the overdesigned, imo, or at very least, into the realm of shirts that I saw a lot of in the late 90s, early 2000s (same era when three buttoned high collars became a thing for a while, though not a long while).

 

[lsanbourne]

Starro, perhaps I don't know the right term? It is a buttoned dress shirt. What kind of shirt without buttons are you referring to?

Thanks all for the great replies! Sounds like I should call and try to change the order. Hope it's still possible.

L

 

[starro]

Starro, perhaps I don't know the right term? It is a buttoned dress shirt. What kind of shirt without buttons are you referring to?

Thanks all for the great replies! Sounds like I should call and try to change the order. Hope it's still possible.

L

I'm referring to the button-down collar shirts. These are meant to be informal , and not worn with neckties.



I use the term "dress shirt" to refer to your standard shirt to-be-worn-with-a-suit. Hope this helps!

 

[lsanbourne]

Thanks Starro! I changed my original posting. White it is.

 

[starro]

Thanks Starro! I changed my original posting. White it is.

Another option to think about is covered placket. This is where there's an extra placket flap that covers all the buttons. This way you can indulge in your button preferences in secret.

Of course, only if your MTM shirtmaker allows this.

 

[starro]

Another option to think about is covered placket. This is where there's an extra placket flap that covers all the buttons. This way you can indulge in your button preferences in secret.

Of course, only if your MTM shirtmaker allows this.

A picture is worth 1000 words. I'm talking about this...



...rather than the standard placket, like this: