The Button-down collar

In 19th century England, horse polo players were obliged to wear collared shirts when playing. To avoid having their collars fluttering in their faces while riding, they were fastened down with buttons.

In 1896, the great shirtmaker John Brooks (of Brooks Brothers) took the idea across the Atlantic and the company started producing shirts with button-down collars. The collar became very popular and is still the ultimate casual collar.

You can wear the button-down collar with both casual shirts and in the office, but avoid it in more dressy situations. Traditionally, it is used in combination with a soft oxford fabric. A subtle tie fits underneath and also gives the collar a fuller look.

We also want to highlight our modern version of the button-down collar. It has a slightly wider spread, much like a cut-away collar and is also slightly lower. It looks great with plaid or patterned fabrics.

Our button-down shirts