So my husband and I have an ongoing debate over the definition of shirts. Specifically, the button-down shirt.

As an American, button-down shirts apply to anything that, well, has buttons down the front. Simple as that.

In Britain, that’s just called a “shirt” (In America, I think we think more broadly and anything that covers one’s torso falls under the “shirt” umbrella – even a shirt that resembles an umbrella). To him, a button-down shirt is a shirt that has a button-down collar.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think most Americans think this much about button-down collars. Are they popular? Does the average American give them much thought? Are they readily available? Do Americans ask for them by name?

Inquiring minds want to know – I want to know!