Guide
Genius upcycling idea: you’re just one button away from a new blouse
by Stephanie Vinzens
Why the top buttonhole is horizontal and the rest aren’t
15/5/2025
Translation: Elicia Payne
You’ve probably buttoned and unbuttoned shirts and blouses dozens of times. But did you know that their buttonholes are purposely positioned to improve comfort?
It seems a bit random. Or perhaps it completes the look? On shirts and blouses, each button on the front can usually be pushed through a vertical slit. Except for the top one. Its counterpart is horizontal. However, there’s a real reason for this, and it’s not visual. Both buttonhole orientations fulfil a very specific purpose.
Vertical holes along the button placket are there to give the button as little room to the left and right as possible. This ensures that the fabric on both sides of the shirt always lies neatly on top of each other and doesn’t result in unwanted gaping.
A horizontal hole, on the other hand, gives the button and therefore the collar that bit extra room to move. It’s a nice feature which also ensures that heavily used buttonholes, for example on coats or trousers, don’t wear out so quickly.
Header image: Laura Scholz
Laura Scholz
Senior Editor
Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.chAlways in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.
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