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Affordable Men's Style

Would you wear it? The Shoulder Button Sweater

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Gant Breton Stripe Crewneck Sweater – $49.00 via gilt

Remember when epaulets started showing up on everything?  Maybe these buttons are the next evolution of unnecessary shoulder embellishment.

They’ve been seen on men’s nautical sweaters in the past, and I suppose if you’ve got a busted rotator cuff from fighting a marlin or something, then yeah, having a wider area to put your head through might be of some service.  But like a few other things, shoulder sweater buttons seem to have more or less permanently migrated to the women’s side of the style aisle.
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Left:  Old Navy – $25.00 | Right: ASOS – $44.54

But would you wear one?  Are these no different than the accent button(s) seen on some shawl collars?  Or are you not a fan of those either, and these are even more of a deal breaker?  Leave your take in the comments below…

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Comments

  3. Figured I’d share this here: J.crew has 30% off on almost everything (except for 3rd party products) with no minimum AND free shipping for today, Dec 16th, only. Regular and sale items. It also works in their retail stores. I’ll say they must be real desperate to pull this unheard promo (for J.crew). If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they were copying it from BR… 

  9. Nah, this doesn’t add anything. at least epaulets are military-inspired and men’s fashion owes a lot to military duds. but this is just useless AND ugly.

  10. I’m usually a yes on the would you wear it questions. Not this time. Looks like a women’s sweater IMO.

  11. I’ll admit the look isn’t for everyone, but the sweater is called a ‘Breton sweater’ and originates from Brittany, France in the mid-1800s.  Originally used by fishermen, and later, the French navy, the buttons up the left shoulder are a hallmark of the sweater.  From what I remember, the sweaters were originally wool, with crew necks cut close to keep out the elements.  The buttons allowed the wearer to put on the garment.  So, while just for looks now, the buttons harken back to a pure purpose in their past, just as vents on a jacket are a nod to their equestrian origin.

  13. As my wife owns several sweaters of the same style, I probably won’t be adding this to my wardrobe any times soon

  15. The Old Navy one looks OK – how’s the fit?  The contrast buttons ruin the Gilt one and the colors kill the ASOS one.

  16. Thank you for the background.  While I don’t like the sweater at hand, I bet one would look better in a heavy wool cable knit with the high and tight crew neck.

  17. I am a sucker for tradition/history in clothing and recently got interested in all things nautical after taking sailing lessons. When I was in NYC a couple weeks ago I had to pick up one of these from St James, pretty much the most authentic version of this sweater available. It was pricey at around $250 but its nice and thick and I think worth it. Plus a real frenchman helped me with my fit and purchase. I enjoy it and get tons of compliments on it.

  18. I actually like this type of sweaters with buttons on the shoulder. The buttons make it easier to wear the sweater. Last year, Jcrew has similar st james nautical sweaters on 50% off sale. Got one in navy color, and really really like it. It is for men and the cutting is great slim fit.

  21. Yeah, I sort of like them. It’s unusual enough to keep things interesting, but not so crazy it won’t match anything you own. If Old Navy clothes ever fit me I’d get a couple of those.

  25. Pretty weird.  The buttons are almost unnoticeable in the pictures but I bet they are in person.  Any of my buddies showed up wearing one of these and the group would descend like vultures.  Kinda looks like a girls sweater gone wrong.

  28. Yup.  And Lands’ End is doing 40% off plus free shipping with DONNER and pin 1585.  Good through Monday and so far, it works on Canvas items.  Man… these retailers must be spooked by bad numbers or something…  Thanks for the heads up on J. Crew, and credit Anthony with the Lands’ End Style tip.  Expect something on the site come Monday since it doesn’t expire until that night at 11:59pm

  30. Yeah, it seems more of a feminine trend nowadays, and nice job working Hemingway into this post; I always enjoy the literary, old school Nintendo, and general pop culture references here.

  32. Absolutely not. Looks a little on the feminine side, like those boat neck sweaters you sometimes see. 

  39. I hate anything even remotely flashy or noticeable. I like simple, conservative, and well executed.

  41. I can dig it… and I’d wear it, but not the old navy, either the st. james sweaters or the gant ones.

  42. Ofcourse. This go’s with your not overthinking it article. Nobodys going to freak out because you have buttons on your shoulder.

  43. Go a bit further back and further north. The sweater comes from the Faroe Islands and is traditional wear for mean. The buttons are often gold bell buttons, but contemporary versions use a zipper. The flap lets you release a little heat.
    The reason it was popular in France at the time, was due to the quality of knit wear from the Faroe Islands in that period. A major export from the islands to fishermen were knitted socks, but the french liked the sweaters as well.
    As for me, I would knit my own sweater and use pilot whale teeth on silk straps instead.