It seems to be pretty certain that the good old buttondown collar shirt originated in the UK.
In the late 19th century John Brooks of the now famous clothiers Brooks Brothers was visiting England and attended a polo match. At that time players wore everyday sorts of shirts the collars of which had the annoying habit of flapping in the breeze and distracting the riders. With great british inventiveness they decided to secure the collars to the shirt by sewing buttons on the points and to the shirt.
John noticed this and thought it was a novel idea that he could use in shirt design. When he returned home to the US he set about producing the now legendary Brooks Brothers buttondown collar polo shirt.
So this backbone of Ivy League style was not dreamed up on Madison Avenue but possibly in the grounds of Hylands House Chelmsford. So our city may be not only be the home of radio but also the home of STYLE!
