Button up dress by Berkertex, blue dress of the day 318

Angela in blue Berketex buttoned dress. Photo by Trevor Sharot. Copyright.

Button Up Dresses - Downmarket?

When I was a child, the only people who wore button up dresses were food shop workers who wore cheap dresses and overalls and had their hair in nets. I associated button up with work uniforms. However, a button up dress is now one of my favourites, when called for breakfast. I used to think a pull on dress was quicker than all those buttons which have to be done up. But now I find the reverse is the case., quick to put on like a jacket, then do up the buttons, one by one, discreetly under the table. 

A button up dress has advantages and disadvantages.

The Advantages of Button up Dresses

Flexible Fit  

You can leave the bottom buttons undone to feel free or look sexy. Handy if you are out, climbing up stairs, on and off buses, up escalators in underground stations.

Fill In Neck

The neck buttons also can be done up to be discreet, and warm. Warm in winter. Warm in air conditioning. 

Buttons Undone

Buttons can be undone to be cooler or sexier. Done up, more formal. loose, more casual. You can even open the waist buttons discreetly under a jacket or coat after you have eaten too much, put on weight, or added thermal underwear.

The other important consideration is getting the dress on or off. When young and fit, you might find having to do up buttons is time wasting. A zip is faster on a fitted garment. If you are getting fatter, buttons offer more flexibility. You can sometimes move the buttons, or add a placket (extra fabric, shaped like a tie, sewn down the edge as a piece for the vertical buttons.

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