4 Button Jacket

When you see a man in Ireland wearing a 4 button jacket, a structured, single-breasted coat with four buttons down the front, often made from wool or water-resistant fabric. Also known as a four-button suit jacket, it’s not just formal wear—it’s practical armor against Dublin drizzle, Galway winds, and the occasional wedding reception. Unlike the flashy double-breasted styles you see in movies, the 4 button jacket is quiet, reliable, and built to last. It’s the jacket your dad wore to work, your uncle wore to funerals, and your brother wears to job interviews. And it’s still everywhere.

Why four buttons? Because three is too casual, five is too much, and two doesn’t hold up in the wind. The top button stays fastened, the middle two do the work, and the bottom one? Always left open. That’s not fashion—it’s physics. In Ireland, where rain turns a light coat into a wet sponge, you need structure. A 4 button jacket has the shape to shed water, the weight to block wind, and the cut to layer over a sweater without looking bulky. It’s not just a jacket; it’s a system designed for Irish weather and Irish life.

It’s not just about the buttons. The real difference is in the wool blend, a mix of natural fibers like merino or lambswool with synthetic threads for stretch and water resistance. Irish tailors know this. Brands like Shanahan’s and local makers in Cork and Limerick don’t use cheap polyester. They use fabric that breathes when you’re inside a pub and holds its shape when you’re walking home in a downpour. The lining? Often cotton or viscose—not satin. It doesn’t cling when you sweat. The shoulders? Structured but not stiff. That’s how you move through a crowded train station or carry groceries without looking like you’re in a costume.

And it’s not just for suits. A well-made 4 button jacket pairs just as easily with dark jeans and boots as it does with trousers and a tie. That’s why it’s the go-to for Irish men who want to look put together without trying too hard. You’ll see it at the airport, at the pub, at the doctor’s office, and even at the local farmers’ market. It’s the uniform of men who care about looking decent without being formal.

What you won’t find? Cheap imports from overseas that fall apart after one winter. Irish men know better. They look for hand-stitched lapels, real horn buttons, and a cut that matches their frame—not the other way around. If you’re buying one, check the seams. If they’re uneven or the buttons wiggle, walk away. A good 4 button jacket should last ten years. If it doesn’t, you didn’t buy an Irish one.

You’ll find plenty of posts below about what makes a jacket last in Ireland’s weather, how to fit one if you’re bigger or taller, and where local shops still make them by hand. No fluff. No trends. Just real advice from men who’ve worn these jackets through every season, in every town, and still wouldn’t trade them for anything.