Shirt Button Colors

When you have a shirt custom made, everything from the collar type to the placket is yours to choose. But one customization that often goes overlooked is the choice of button color. It seems minor, until you realize that a different colored button can completely alter the look of a shirt and its perception as a more casual or formal garment.

White shirt buttons are the most classic. They’re also the least likely to be noticed—which is precisely the point. Like a white shirt worn with a suit and tie, white buttons are a “neutral space” meant to harmonize rather than stand-out. This makes them an easy default for casual and formal shirts, though they’re particularly effective at making dress shirts appear formal.

Tortoise shirt buttons are like the more casual, fun-loving cousins of the white shirt button. They not only dress shirts down, but also have a slightly “rustic” look that adds extra character. They make a classic pairing with button-down shirts made from winter-weight fabrics like brushed cotton and flannel.  

Black shirt buttons will attract the most attention. For that reason they’re not often seen on dress or casual shirts, with the exception of black shirts—the once instance in which when they’ll blend in.