Being just under your neck, the shirt collar plays a major role in the look and feel of your outfit. The right one can give you a splash of class and sophistication, and the wrong one can make you seem tacky, tasteless and rather lazy. Shirt collars come in a variety of colors, styles and shapes. It can be a daunting task to choose the right one for your collection of outfits. While I can’t help you pick the right collar for you, I can make you a bit more knowledgeable when choosing your next one.
Spread/Cutaway Collar
This type of collar design is continuously growing in popularity. Finding its way to more and more suit setups, the Spread is trending. The traditional Spread, unlike the popular and traditional point collar, has collar points that rest further apart from each other. This allows the wearers to try diverse and often thicker tie knots like the eldredge and trinity. But beware men with round faces, this type of collar is known to further accentuate the face.
Point Collar
While traditional in style, it is a timeless style that remains a safe choice amongst the more eccentric and trending designs. This collar comes in at different styles as well. The button down point collar is no different from the traditional except that it has a button at the tip of the collar point. This allows you to fasten it to the shirt itself. The second style is the narrow point collar. In this design, the collar points are taller and closer together, making it suitable for skinny ties. It is also the right design for men with rounded faces. The narrow point collar gives the illusion that the head is slimmer than it actually looks.
Club Collar
The Club or Eton Collar harks back to a time when suits and derby hats were common place. A product of the early 20th century, the Club has rounded collar points and work well with traditional ties coupled with a collar pin. However, it is more on the snappy side of collars, so it may not work for wearers who are looking for a more discreet yet stylish look. Sorry men with round, curvy faces, this is also not a style for you. Much like the spread, it gives off the same undesirable look.
Wing Collar
Traditionally found on tuxedo shirts, the Wing or Wing Tip collar is finding its way onto more traditional shirts. However, it is still a style meant for a gala or a black tie event. Often worn with a cut-away coat and a bow tie, the collar points are tucked behind the bow. If you are a fan of bow ties and like to make a statement everywhere you go, the Wing Tip should be something right up your alley.
Mandarin Collar
While the Mandarin is on the more eccentric spectrum of collar designs, it is worth mentioning due to its rarity and unique design. Taken from Imperial China, the Mandarin seems like something a bond villain would wear. But, it is also a design worn by tux wearers. For the more attention conscious man, make sure you couple a Mandarin with a matching Mandarin Collar coat to complete the look.
Edited by Zain