Maybe there was a point in my youth where I missed some critical learning opportunity regarding men’s pants, but I have been completely baffled for years by that button just inside the waste band.
It’s especially prevalent in men’s dress pants that use a clip instead of a button as the primary clasp. You can clip your pants, but then there’s also a supplementary button and button hole tab that reside just to the inside left of the clasp that can be used to doubly secure the pants. What purpose does this button hold? Sure, I can keep it buttoned all the time… but does that mean the clip is insufficient as a clasping device? Or maybe I’m only suppose to button it whenever I put the pants through the wash?
Honestly I have no idea.
What I do know, is that that button is really annoying. Especially if you’re on a long car ride and you’ve really gotta use the restroom. You get home, you charge into the bathroom, and then there’s this auxiliary fastener there to slow you down. Am I using this pants feature incorrectly? Anyone know why it’s there? It seems dumb to me.
One reader reports:
“Those extra buttons are so your pants lay nice and flat in the front… single buttons don’t really work great”
So, it’s for a close fit? I can see that.
The inner button is the load bearing button.
Definitely, I have had one or two pairs of pants that only have the clasp and it ends up both not lying as flat, and wearing out more quickly than with the extra button and buttonhole. Pants with the clasp and button are higher quality.
Neat! The best I could come up with was to keep your pants from falling down while tucking in your shirt.
Mike – most of us don’t have that extra button. However, on YOUR size pants, the additional clasp is required to safely contain your enormity.
I think there are a lot reasons for the extra button or clip. First, you could adjust your pants anywhere along the tab. The extra fabric allows you move the clips and buttons yourself in case of unforeseen corpulence.
And second, I agree that it helps the front to lie flat, especially for dress pants. Not only that, but the tab provides a flat and smooth surface on the inside and covers the overlap. This is so that when you tuck your dress shirt in, the shirt’s button line and placket doesn’t bunch, split or get caught since the shirt buttons are in line with the pant button.
Most jeans don’t have this because historically, jeans are work pants.
My friend who works in fashion in NYC said this:
The reason is for the stress your belly places on the waistband. It controls the pull and makes sure the pants have 2 places to be anchored. Cheaper pants or denim with a metal closure does not use this method because it is expensive. In denim the metal is stronger and can withstand the pressure put on the single closure.
I love the dedication of the MikeDiDonato.com readers