Front Buttons
1, 2 or 3

A two-button suit generally offers a more open fit. The V-shape formed by the lapels is longer and a bit wider. It’s often seen as a more liberated, American fit (less buttons = less ‘buttoned up’ maybe?), but anybody can wear one and look sharp. Never button the bottom button – it’s a traditional touch that’s there for visual balance. Which is why a one-button suit has nearly the same cut, with a slightly more open V-shape from below the button to where it hits at the hip.

Three-button blazers used to be associated with stuffy elegance, but today they’re as universally cool as the two-button cut. They offer a couple of winter benefits – their V-shape is smaller and a bit more narrow. Button them and then turn up your collar on a cold night. When sporting one, don’t forget the S-A-N rule: button the top button sometimes, the middle button always, and the bottom button… never.