The buttoning of the jacket is mainly determined by the button stance, a measure of how lofty the buttons are in relation to the normal waist. In some style where the buttons are placed high, the tailor would have intended the suit to be buttoned in a different way from the more common lower stance. Nevertheless, some general guidelines are given here.
Double-breasted suit coats are almost forever kept buttoned. When there is more than one to fasten, only the top one want be fastened; in some configurations, the wearer may elect to fasten only the base button, in order to present a longer line.
Single-breasted suit coats may be moreover fastened or unfastened. In two-button suits the base button is left free except with certain unusual cuts of jacket. When fastening a three-button suit, the middle button is fixed firmly, and the top one sometimes, but the bottom is not designed to be. A four-button suit is unusual and so has no habitual guidelines on buttoning, but the central ones at least should be fastened. In addition, the one button suit has regained some popularity. The button should forever be fastened while standing.
Double-breasted suit coats are almost forever kept buttoned. When there is more than one to fasten, only the top one want be fastened; in some configurations, the wearer may elect to fasten only the base button, in order to present a longer line.
Single-breasted suit coats may be moreover fastened or unfastened. In two-button suits the base button is left free except with certain unusual cuts of jacket. When fastening a three-button suit, the middle button is fixed firmly, and the top one sometimes, but the bottom is not designed to be. A four-button suit is unusual and so has no habitual guidelines on buttoning, but the central ones at least should be fastened. In addition, the one button suit has regained some popularity. The button should forever be fastened while standing.