The young gents who attended there were looking for a way to distinguish themselves from other schools and hit upon rounding off the collar points, which is the defining feature of the club collar. This collar originated at Eton College, which had previously been the incubator of Beau Brummell’s stylistic innovations. The Club CollarĪnother collar with a narrow spread and a vintage appearance is the club worn by Sven Raphael Schneider toward the top of the article. A tab collar shirt from Proper Cloth showing the way the tabs fasten. Because of the tabs, this collar can only really be worn with a necktie, not open at the neck. This pulls the collar tips closer together while also lifting the knot of your tie for an even more distinguished appearance. Speaking of vintage, within the same spread range as the point collar but with a distinctly classic look is the tab collar, which features an underlying tab beneath each collar leaf that fastens on the top button. Keep in mind that collar style should conform to face shape, and in terms of size, you want to choose one similar to the size of your head and face.Ī vintage-style spear point collar from Revival Vintage in Great Britain 2. Wearing a tiny collar in such cases will only make your face look disproportionately larger.
If you have a large head or round face, a bigger collar is more suitable to balance out your appearance. For pleasure, the choice may be purely determined by your face shape. So, again, something of moderate size is ideal for business. Collars at either extreme are more rakish and non-conformist.
Some collars, like the cutaway, which we will discuss below, are small and minimalist. Stanley Tucci in Transformers wearing a high-collar shirt with a double top button 3. If you’re interested in trying a shirt with a tall collar, consider some offerings from brands like Proper Cloth and Eton. Taller collars can also require some getting used to in terms of the way they feel on your neck. A high collar is more typical of Italian style and can even require two collar buttons to support the added height. When choosing a shirt for the workplace, be aware of the impression that collar height makes. Taller collars are more formal as well as more aggressive they communicate that you’re a boss. Collar HeightĬollar height is the measure of how high a collar sits on your neck, measured from the fold down to the point. When going made-to-measure or bespoke with shirts, you can usually select your collar stiffness. Something in between the two–a medium hardness–may be the most versatile choice. On the other hand, if you are wearing a formal business suit, a firmer collar is the better option for a crisp and sharp appearance. Soft collars are more casual as well, so they are perfect for warm weather and relaxed looks anytime. So, if you prefer sport coats that have natural unpadded shoulders, a soft shirt collar can also be chosen to continue the Neapolitan style. Influenced by Italian style and the Duke of Windsor, soft collars are more popular these days, particularly with soft tailoring.