You can't do it, though I can.

[Senator Jack]

Tie lighter color than shirt.

 

[vonwotan]

I would agree that there are no hard and fast rules to style. Cut, fabric, and the individual dictate what works.

To my taste, Grant's jacket would look better with the bottom button open. As long as the lapels don't continue down below the third button, as so many do today, two or three buttons fastened can look quite good - as illustrated by the Hulton photograph.

There are however, some rules of thumb that can be instructive for those uncertain of how to wear a particluar suit or jacket. When wearing off the rack modern clothing, many of the three button jackets we see look better when only the middle button is fastened.

Again, guided entirely by my personal taste, I would avoid the notch lapel dinner jacket, regardless of who might wear one.

 

[AlanC]

Just because something has been done doesn't always mean it should be.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Eh... to each his own.

They look good... Though the gangster is a little too much gangster. I think there are better examples of men in black shirts and lighter colored suits.

 

[Tomasso]

Buttoning all three buttons on a three button suit.

Later in the scene CG caught his faux pax.

 

[AlanC]

Eh... to each his own.

Well, I did wear a db suit with patch pockets yesterday...

 

[Matt Deckard]

He should really button the top button... The lapel's starting to buckle.

And show us the ics of your DB with Patch pockets.

 

[Senator Jack]

If Cary Grant caught his 'mistake', then I can't understand why he didn't catch it in about twenty other pictures where he buttons all three buttons.

'Gangster', Matt? That's no ordinary gangster, that's Tommy Udo. (Tsk, tsk.)

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[AlanC]

And show us the ics of your DB with Patch pockets.

From my post at 'What Are You Wearing':