How to button an overcoat?

[univibe88]

I have a single breasted dress coat with 3 buttons. Is there any protocol for buttoning it? Out of force of habit from buttoning my suit jacket, I will usually leave the bottom button undone. Is this proper? Sometimes the wind will cause it to flap open more than I would I like, so I'll button the bottom button anyway.

 

[Tomasso]

Out of force of habit from buttoning my suit jacket, I will usually leave the bottom button undone.

Break the habit.

 

[Luke 42]

Well, I always go by form follows function..a coat is for keeping you warm, so fasten everything you can

 

[Creeping Past]

Either all undone or all buttoned up.

 

[Splitcoil]

Concur. The lowest button unbuttoned norm does not apply to the overcoat. I'll unbutton the lowest when getting behind the wheel of a car, to prevent stressing the button too much, but otherwise you'd typically button them all or leave them all unbuttoned.

 

[avedwards]

An alternative to having them all buttoned up or all unbuttoned is having the bottom two buttoned up and the top one undone. This may sound odd but I picked it up from Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes. It also has the advantage that you can easily reach your inside pockets and/or wallet.

 

[dhermann1]

I think it's possible to get carried away with the "Is it proper?" thing. The main purpose of an overcoat is to keep you warm. I say button it in whatever way is convenient for you.