Question about 3 button blazers

[somaticmarker1]

After reading a post from effortless gent a couple years ago. I bought a plain weave suit from LL Bean signature.


http://www.effortlessgent.com/the-endorsement-l-l-bean-signature-plain-weave-suiting/


I bought the new traditional twill suit last year and liked it, but liked the plain weave suit far more. However, when I went to buy it a couple of days ago, I noticed that the blazer changed from two to three buttons.


http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/65146?feat=505931-GN3


I have never owned a 3 button blazer and have always associated them as more formal. Is three buttons to formal for a casual summer suit? Also, I have thought 3 buttons blazers as more for older man, not someone in their late 20's and early 30's. Am I misguided in thinking this way?

[Albert]

Three buttons is not more formal, that's a pretty casual looking blazer. Just as long as you don't button the top or bottom buttons, it won't look weird.


PS. I think you're thinking too much about this. As long as the fit is on point, you won't look like an old man. Roll with it!

[jason_carreira]

They're just different styles like side vents or center vent.

[nicholascrawford]

I think a 3 button jacket breaks up a tall guy's height in a good way, like a double breasted suit gives a skinny guy some breadth.

[nicholascrawford]

To clarify - not that you need to be tall to wear a 3 button jacket, but just to be aware of how it will make the V formed by the lapels much smaller. If you're looking for clothes to elongate your torso, a deeper V will do a better job of that and will make you look thinner.


If you're not a skinny guy, you can wear a DB suit, by all means, but a tighter button pattern lower down would be best "suited" haha to a shorter or bigger guy because it will form a deeper V - more like a 2 button suit.

[LesserBlackDog]

3-button is not more formal... arguably it's the opposite, as the most formal jackets tend to have just one button (most traditional tuxedo jackets, for example).


The benefit to a two-button jacket is that it helps to visually break up your torso in an aesthetically appealing way - it delineates your waist from the rest of your torso which has an overall slimming and elongating effect. Plus the deeper V broadens your chest and creates the illusion of a more V-shaped torso. Three-button jackets, on the other hand, tend to blend your waist and ribcage into one large, square midsection. For most people, this will not be flattering.


Personally, I try to stay away from 3-button jackets unless they are a three-roll-two - i.e., the lapel rolls naturally down to the second button. The top and bottom buttons are left unbuttoned. Most three-roll-two jackets tend to be unstructured and therefore fairly casual. The L.L.B.S. jacket you've linked to seems like it should be able to work as a three-roll-two. Even if it has a crease in it, you should be able to get your dry-cleaner to steam it so that it folds to the second button, rather than the top.

[Zack Malibu]

I actually picked up my first 3 button blazer a few weeks ago during one of the Macy's sales. It's a casual blazer from the Sons of Intrigue house brand. Gray with subtle blue and pink windowpane pattern. I was iffy on the 3 buttons, but I liked it because it's different enough without being overwhelming. All I really need to do to it is have the sides taken in and it'll be a perfect fit. Great price on it too.