When is it appropriate to unbutton a jacket?

[Patek]

Originally Posted by Mark Anthony

Following what the "majority" of guys do is the exact opposite of what this forum is all about is it not? It appears the majority of men stretch casual Friday to casual daily, wear sneakers to the office and consider dressing up to be a polo shirt and dockers instead of a t-shirt & jeans.

Exactly! Why would anyone say "I see guys doing it all the time so it must be right". If anything, if you see it around a lot, it is probably wrong.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Sometimes I even unbutton my jacket during coitus. Not if it is a DB, of course.

 

[Geezer]

I'm assuming you are American. The British/Irish rules below may not apply, but they are clear. Your jacket is buttoned according to activity, to wit:

- dancing like mad person: jacket buttoned (so as not to have it hit other dancers);
- chatting up bride's younger prettier sister: jacket buttoned (to look cool);
- chatting up bride's mother: jacket buttoned (to cover inevitable red wine stains on shirt by that point in the evening);
- snogging random woman: jacket unbuttoned (freedom of movement);
- vomiting in flowerbed: jacket buttoned (reduces chance of vomiting on jacket);
- fistfight with bride's male relatives: jacket unbuttoned (freedom of movement);
- ambulance: jacket unbuttoned (easy access for paramedics).

Hope this helps.

 

[NewYorkBuck]

To be honest, Id be tickled if just more guys would wear jackets, however buttoned......

 

[patrickBOOTH]

 

[Patek]

Originally Posted by Geezer

I'm assuming you are American. The British/Irish rules below may not apply, but they are clear. Your jacket is buttoned according to activity, to wit:

- dancing like mad person: jacket buttoned (so as not to have it hit other dancers);
- chatting up bride's younger prettier sister: jacket buttoned (to look cool);
- chatting up bride's mother: jacket buttoned (to cover inevitable red wine stains on shirt by that point in the evening);
- snogging random woman: jacket unbuttoned (freedom of movement);
- vomiting in flowerbed: jacket buttoned (reduces chance of vomiting on jacket);
- fistfight with bride's male relatives: jacket unbuttoned (freedom of movement);
- ambulance: jacket unbuttoned (easy access for paramedics).

Hope this helps.

Good points. I am going to write this on a index card and put it in my wallet as a quick reference manual.

 

[Mark Anthony]

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

Sometimes I even unbutton my jacket during coitus. Not if it is a DB, of course.

But of course you keep it buttoned should you be standing during the "event" do you not?

 

[GoldenTribe]

Originally Posted by Geezer

I'm assuming you are American. The British/Irish rules below may not apply, but they are clear. Your jacket is buttoned according to activity, to wit:

- dancing like mad person: jacket buttoned (so as not to have it hit other dancers);
- chatting up bride's younger prettier sister: jacket buttoned (to look cool);
- chatting up bride's mother: jacket buttoned (to cover inevitable red wine stains on shirt by that point in the evening);
- snogging random woman: jacket unbuttoned (freedom of movement);
- vomiting in flowerbed: jacket buttoned (reduces chance of vomiting on jacket);
- fistfight with bride's male relatives: jacket unbuttoned (freedom of movement);
- ambulance: jacket unbuttoned (easy access for paramedics).

Good form. You even put the British three first, the Irish three last, and the overlapper smack dab in the middle.

 

[oldog/oldtrix]

Originally Posted by GBR

Always remember that a buttoned coat suggests reserve and distancing yourself from those to whom you speak.

 

[bluesman528]

Originally Posted by Accountancy

The traditional guidance has been posted, but in practice these days I see the large majority of guys strolling around with their jackets unbuttoned. It's fine.
When to wear the jacket buttoned is not a rule written in a book from the old times which we have to obey. A jacket is designed to look best when buttoned, sitting positions aside. The whole shoulder and chest construction supports that. Therefore it's reasonable to close the buttons whenever it looks worse unbuttoned. I think that's not rocket science, anyone can work this out. If you're not interested in looking good with a jacket, why bother to wear one in the first place?

Furthermore, most guys walking with unbuttoned jackets (where I see them) wear jackets which are too small in the waist area to be buttoned or they wear fused ones. They are more uncomfortable for the wearer and they remain quite rigid in the chest area without the button support. A canvassed jacket (except jackets made from heavy cloths) will feel more wobbly when unbuttoned, thus the wearer will IMHO tend to button up unconsciously.

 

[Jermyn]

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

Sometimes I even unbutton my jacket during coitus. Not if it is a DB, of course.

 

[DocHolliday]

I hardly ever button my coat these days.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

I hardly ever button my coat these days.

I mostly do.

 

[RSS]

I rarely button a SB jacket ... uhhh, coat.

Sorry 'bout that, Mr. Harvey.

 

[alliswell]

Originally Posted by GoldenTribe

Good form. You even put the British three first, the Irish three last, and the overlapper smack dab in the middle.

Does anyone identify themselves as British? My experience is that the English claim that they're English, and the Scots/Welsh/NornIrish claim that they're not.