Collar (clothing) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Clothing

Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...

, a collar is the part of a shirt

Shirt

A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body. Originally an undergarment worn exclusively by men, it has become, in American English, a catch-all term for almost any garment other than outerwear such as sweaters, coats, jackets, or undergarments such as bras, vests or base layers...

, dress

Dress

A dress is a garment consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice or with a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment.Dress may also refer to:*Clothing in general*Costume, fancy dress...

, coat

Coat (clothing)

A coat is a long garment worn by both men and women, for warmth or fashion. Coats typically have long sleeves and are open down the front, closing by means of buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, toggles, a belt, or a combination of some of these...

or blouse

Blouse

A blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment that was formerly worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women and children. It is typically gathered at the waist so that it hangs loosely over the wearer's body. Today, the word most commonly refers to a woman's shirt but can also refer to a man's shirt if...

that fastens around or frames the neck

Neck

The neck is the part of the body, on many terrestrial or secondarily aquatic vertebrates, that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk. The adjective signifying "of the neck" is cervical .-Boner anatomy: The cervical spine:The cervical portion of the human spine comprises seven boney...

. Among clothing construction professionals, a collar is differentiated from other neckline

Neckline

The neckline is the top edge of a garment that surrounds the neck, especially from the front view. Neckline also refers to the overall line between all the layers of clothing and the neck and shoulders of a person, ignoring the unseen undergarments....

s such as revers

Revers

A revers or rever is a garment or part of a garment that is reversed to display the lining or facing outside. The word is a corruption of reverse. This is most commonly the lapels or cuffs, and the term is mostly used when they are made in a contrasting material...

and lapels, by being made from a separate piece of fabric, rather than a folded or cut part of the same piece of fabric used for the main body of the garment.

A collar may also be a separate or detachable accessory worn around the neck.

Origins

The Oxford English Dictionary

Oxford English Dictionary

The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...

traces collar in its modern meaning to c. 1300. Today's shirt collars descend from the ruffle

Ruffle

In sewing and dressmaking, a ruffle, frill, or furbelow is a strip of fabric, lace or ribbon tightly gathered or pleated on one edge and applied to a garment, bedding, or other textile as a form of trimming...

created by the drawstring at the neck

Neck

of the medieval chemise

Chemise

The term chemise or shift can refer to the classic smock, or else can refer to certain modern types of women's undergarments and dresses...

, through the Elizabethan

Elizabethan era

The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...

ruff

Ruff (clothing)

A ruff is an item of clothing worn in Western Europe from the mid-sixteenth century to the mid-seventeenth century.The ruff, which was worn by men, women and children, evolved from the small fabric ruffle at the drawstring neck of the shirt or chemise...

and its successors, the whisk collar and falling band

Bands (neckwear)

Bands are a form of formal neckwear, worn by some clergy and lawyers, and with some forms of academic dress. They take the form of two oblong pieces of cloth, usually though not invariably white, which are tied to the neck. Bands is usually plural because they require two similar parts and did not...

. Separate collars exist alongside attached collars since the mid-16th century, usually to allow starch

Starch

Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by all green plants as an energy store...

ing and other fine finishing.

During the Edwardian period

Edwardian period

The Edwardian era or Edwardian period in the United Kingdom is the period covering the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910.The death of Queen Victoria in January 1901 and the succession of her son Edward marked the end of the Victorian era...

and sporadically thereafter, ornamental collar

Collar (jewelry)

In jewelry, a collar is an ornament for the neck.Collar is an older word for necklace, and is usually reserved today for a necklace that lies flat to the body rather than hanging freely.Specifically, collar may refer to:...

s were worn as a form of jewelry.

Terminology

Band - a strip of fabric that fastens around the neck, perpendicular
Perpendicular
In geometry, two lines or planes are considered perpendicular to each other if they form congruent adjacent angles . The term may be used as a noun or adjective...

to the body of the garment, to which a collar proper may be attached.
Collar stiffeners, bones or stays - strips of baleen
Baleen
Baleen or whalebone is a filter-feeder system inside the mouths of baleen whales. The baleen system works when a whale opens its mouth underwater and then water pours into the whale's mouth. The whale then pushes the water out, and animals such as krill are filtered by the baleen and remain as food...

, metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...

, horn
Horn (anatomy)
A horn is a pointed projection of the skin on the head of various animals, consisting of a covering of horn surrounding a core of living bone. True horns are found mainly among the ruminant artiodactyls, in the families Antilocapridae and Bovidae...

, mother of pearl, or plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...

, rounded at one end and pointed at the other, inserted into a man's shirt collar to stiffen it and prevent the points from curling up; usually inserted into the underside of the collar through small slits but sometimes permanently sewn in place.
Points - the corners of a collar; in a buttoned-down collar, the points are fitted with buttonhole
Buttonhole
Buttonholes are holes in fabric which allow buttons to pass through, securing one piece of the fabric to another. The raw edges of a buttonhole are usually finished with stitching. This may be done either by hand or by a sewing machine. Some forms of button, such as a Mandarin button, use a loop...

s that attach to small buttons on the body of the shirt to hold the collar neatly in place.
Spread - the distance between the points of a shirt collar.
Stand - the band on a coat or shirt collar that supports the collar itself.

Types of collars

Collars can be categorized as:

Standing or stand-up, fitting up around the neck and not lying on the shoulders.
Turnover, standing around the neck and then folded or rolled over.
Flat or falling, lying flat on the shoulders.

Collars may also be stiffened, traditionally with starch

Starch

Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by all green plants as an energy store...

; modern wash-and-wear shirt collars may be stiffened with interfacing

Interfacing

Interfacing is a textile used on the unseen or "wrong" side of fabrics to make an area of a garment more rigid.Interfacings can be used to:*stiffen or add body to fabric, such as the interfacing used in shirt collars...

or may include metal, brass or plastic collar stays

Collar stays

Collar stays are shirt accessories.Collar stays are smooth, rigid strips of metal , horn, baleen, mother of pearl, or plastic, rounded at one end and pointed at the other, inserted into specially made pockets on the underside of a man's...

. Shirt collars which are not starched are described as soft collars. The shape of collars is also controlled by the shape of the neckline

Neckline

to which they are attached. Most collars are fitted to a jewel neck, a neckline sitting at the base of the neck all around; if the garment opens down the front, the top edges may be folded back to form lapels and a V-shaped opening, and the cut

Cut (clothing)

Cut in clothing, sewing and tailoring, is the style or shape of a garment as opposed to its fabric or trimmings.The cut of a coat refers to the way the garment hangs on the body based on the shape of the fabric pieces used to construct it, the position of the fabric's grain line, and so on....

of the collar will be adjusted accordingly.

Collar styles

Names for specific styles of collars vary with the vagaries of fashion

Fashion

Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...

. In the 1930s and 1940s, especially, historical styles were adapted by fashion designers; thus the Victorian

Victorian fashion

Victorian fashion comprises the various fashions and trends in British culture that emerged and grew in province throughout the Victorian era and the reign of Queen Victoria, a period which would last from June 1837 to January 1901. Covering nearly two thirds of the 19th century, the 63 year reign...

bertha collar, a cape-like collar fitted to a low scooping neckline, was adapted in the 1940s but generally attached to a V-neckline.

Some specific styles of collars include:

Type	Other names	Information
Ascot collar	stock collar	a very tall standing collar with the points turned up over the chin, to be worn with an Ascot tie Ascot tie An ascot tie, or ascot, is a narrow neckband with wide pointed wings, traditionally made of pale grey patterned silk. This wide, formal tie is usually patterned, folded over, and fastened with a stickpin or tie tack. It is usually reserved for wear with morning dress for formal daytime weddings and... .
Albany collar		a standard turndown cutaway collar, worn predominantly in early 20th century.
Band Band collar A Band Collar is a standing band-shaped collar that encircles the neck without a full turndown or a collar "cape". It can be any height or "stand", but is usually under 2" at the front, so as not to push up into the chin. Variations of the Band Collar are: Clerical Collar, Mandarin Collar and...	Grandad collar	a collar with a small standing band, usually buttoned, in the style worn with detachable collars.
Barrymore collar		a turnover shirt collar with long points, as worn by the actor John Barrymore John Barrymore John Sidney Blyth , better known as John Barrymore, was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III... . The style reappeared in the 1970s; particularly during that time it was often known as a "tapered collar", and could accompany fashionable wide ties on dress shirts.
Bertha collar		a wide, flat, round collar, often of lace or sheer fabric, worn with a low neckline in the Victorian era and resurrected in the 1940s.
Buster Brown collar		a wide, flat, round collar, sometimes with a ruffle, usually worn with a floppy bow tie, characteristic of boys' shirts from c. 1880-1920.
Butterfly collar		same as wing collar, but with rounded tips. Popularised by fictional detective Hercule Poirot Hercule Poirot Hercule Poirot is a fictional Belgian detective created by Agatha Christie. Along with Miss Marple, Poirot is one of Christie's most famous and long-lived characters, appearing in 33 novels and 51 short stories published between 1920 and 1975 and set in the same era.Poirot has been portrayed on... .
Button-down collar		a collar with buttonholes on the points to fasten them to the body of the shirt.
Camp collar	convertible collar, notched collar	a one-piece collar that lies flat, part of the shirt also lies flat to create a notch.
Cape collar		a collar fashioned like a cape Cape Cape can be used to describe any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long garment that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening around the neck. They were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon, and have had periodic... and hanging over the shoulders.
Chelsea collar		a woman's collar for a low V-neckline, with a stand and long points, popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
Clerical collar Clerical collar A clerical collar is an item of Christian clerical clothing. It is a detachable collar that buttons onto a clergy shirt or rabbat , being fastened by two metal studs, one attached at the front and one at the back to hold the collar to the shirt. The collar closes at the back of the neck, presenting...		band collar worn as part of clerical clothing Clerical clothing Clerical clothing is non-liturgical clothing worn exclusively by clergy. It is distinct from vestments in that it is not reserved specifically for services. Practices vary: clerical clothing is sometimes worn under vestments, and sometimes as the everyday clothing or street wear of a priest,...
Convertible collar		a collar designed to be worn with the neck button either fastened or unfastened.
Cossack collar		a high standing collar opening to one side and frequently trimmed with embroidery Embroidery Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins.... ; popular under the influence of the 1965 film Doctor Zhivago Doctor Zhivago (1965 film) Doctor Zhivago is a 1965 epic drama-romance-war film directed by David Lean and loosely based on the famous novel of the same name by Boris Pasternak... .
Detachable collar	false-collar	a collar made as a separate accessory to be worn with a band-collared shirt (currently worn styles are turndown, tab, and dog collars; as well as historical styles such as Imperial or Gladstone)
Double Round Collar		a turn down collar with rounded tips.
Eton collar		a wide stiff buttoned collar forming part of the uniform of Eton College Eton College Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor".... starting in the late 19th century.
Falling band		a collar with rectangular points falling over the chest, worn in the 17th century and remaining part of Anglican clerical clothing Clerical clothing Clerical clothing is non-liturgical clothing worn exclusively by clergy. It is distinct from vestments in that it is not reserved specifically for services. Practices vary: clerical clothing is sometimes worn under vestments, and sometimes as the everyday clothing or street wear of a priest,... into the 19th century.
Fichu collar		a collar styled like an 18th century fichu Fichu A fichu is a large, square kerchief worn by women in the 18th century to fill in the low neckline of a bodice. The fichu was generally of linen fabric and was folded diagonally into a triangle and tied, pinned, or tucked into the bodice in front.-See also:... , a large neckerchief Neckerchief A neckerchief, necker or less commonly scarf is a type of neckwear associated with Scouts, cowboys and sailors. It consists of a triangular piece of cloth or a rectangular piece folded into a triangle. The long edge is rolled towards the point, leaving a portion unrolled... folded into a triangular shape and worn with the point in the back and the front corners tied over the breast.
Gladstone collar		a standing collar with the points pressed to stick out horizontally Horizontal plane In geometry, physics, astronomy, geography, and related sciences, a plane is said to be horizontal at a given point if it is perpendicular to the gradient of the gravity field at that point— in other words, if apparent gravity makes a plumb bob hang perpendicular to the plane at that point.In... at the side-fronts, worn with a scarf Scarf A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck, or near the head or around the waist for warmth, cleanliness, fashion or for religious reasons. They can come in a variety of different colours.-History:... or ascot; popularized by the British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone William Ewart Gladstone William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time... .
High neck collar		a collar that covers all or most of the neck, popular among women in Edwardian times.
HRH collar	Stand-up turned-down collar	a shirt collar created by Charvet for Edward VII, which became very popular at the end of the 19th century.
Imperial/Poke collar		a stiff standing collar for men's formal wear, differentiated from other tall styles by the lack of tabs at the front
Jabot collar		a standing collar with a pleat Pleat A pleat is a type of fold formed by doubling fabric back upon itself and securing it in place. It is commonly used in clothing and upholstery to gather a wide piece of fabric to a narrower circumference.... ed, ruffled, or lace Lace Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was... -trimmed frill Frill Frill may refer to:* Frill , a form of trimming* Neck frill, the relatively extensive margin seen on the back of the heads of some reptiles* Oriental Frill, a breed of Fancy pigeon... down the front.
Johnny collar		a women's style with an open, short V-neck and a flat, often knit collar.
Lacoste collar		the un-starched, flat, protruding collar of a tennis shirt Tennis shirt A polo shirt, also known as a golf shirt and tennis shirt, is a T-shaped shirt with a collar, typically a two- or three-button placket, and an optional pocket... , invented by René Lacoste René Lacoste Jean René Lacoste was a French tennis player and businessman. He was nicknamed "the Crocodile" by fans because of his tenacity on the court; he is also known worldwide as the namesake of the Lacoste tennis shirt, which he introduced in 1929.Lacoste was one of The Four Musketeers, French tennis... .
Mandarin Mandarin collar A mandarin collar is a short unfolded stand-up collar style on a shirt or jacket. Mandarin collars start at the neckline and typically rise vertically two to five centimeters. The style originated from Western interpretation of dresses worn by Mandarins in Imperial China.The length along a...	Cadet collar, Chinese collar	a small standing collar, open at the front, based on traditional Manchu or Mongol-influenced Asia Asia Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population... n garments.
Man-tailored collar		a woman's shirt collar made like a man's shirt collar with a stand and stiffened or buttoned-down points.
Mao collar		a short, almost straight standing collar folded over, with the points extending only to the base of the band, characteristic of the Mao suit Mao suit The modern Chinese tunic suit is a style of male attire known in China as the Zhongshan suit , and known in the West as the Mao suit... .
Medici collar		a flared, fan-shaped collar with a V-opening at the front popular in the 1540s and 1550s, after similar styles seen in portraits of Catherine de' Medici Catherine de' Medici Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France.... .
Middy collar		a sailor collar (from midshipman Midshipman A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya... ), popular for women's and children's clothing in the early 20th century
Mock	mockneck	a knitted collar similar to a turtleneck but without a turnover
Nehru collar		a small standing collar, meeting at the front, based on traditional India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... n garments, popular in the 1960s with the Nehru jacket Nehru jacket The Nehru jacket is a hip-length tailored coat for men or women, created in India in the 1940s. The jacket essentially blends the collar of the achkan, historically the royal court dress of Indian nobles, with the Western suit jacket... .
Notched collar		a wing-shaped collar with a triangular notch in it. Often seen in blazers and blouses with business suits. Also, rounded notched collars appear in many forms of pajamas.
Peter Pan collar		a small, flat, round-cornered collar without a stand, popular for women's and children's clothing in the early- and mid-20th century. Peter Pan collars are a popular collar style for younger children. The rounded Peter Pan collars are generally but not always worn without ties or bows.
Picadilly collar		a wing collar made of plastic or celloid.
Pierrot collar		a round, flat, limp collar based on the costume worn by the Commedia dell'Arte Commedia dell'arte Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened... character Pierrot Pierrot Pierrot is a stock character of pantomime and Commedia dell'Arte whose origins are in the late 17th-century Italian troupe of players performing in Paris and known as the Comédie-Italienne; the name is a hypocorism of Pierre , via the suffix -ot. His character in postmodern popular culture—in... .
Poet collar		a soft shirt collar, often with long points, worn by Romantic Romantic poetry Romanticism, a philosophical, literary, artistic and cultural era which began in the mid/late-1700s as a reaction against the prevailing Enlightenment ideals of the day , also influenced poetry... poets such as Lord Byron, or a 1970s style reminiscent of this.
Revere collar		flat V-shaped collar often found on blouses.
Rolled collar		any collar that is softly rolled where it folds down from the stand (as opposed to a collar with a pressed crease at the fold).
Round collar		any collar with rounded points.
Ruff collar Ruff (clothing) A ruff is an item of clothing worn in Western Europe from the mid-sixteenth century to the mid-seventeenth century.The ruff, which was worn by men, women and children, evolved from the small fabric ruffle at the drawstring neck of the shirt or chemise...		a high standing pleated collar popular in the renaissance period made of starched linen or lace, or a similar fashion popular late seventeenth century and again in the early nineteenth century. They were also known as "millstone collars" (after their shape).
Sailor collar		a collar with a deep V-neck in front, no stand, and a square back, based on traditional sailor Sailor A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses... 's uniform Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... s
Shawl collar		a round collar for a V-neckline that is extended to form lapels, often used on cardigan sweaters Cardigan (sweater) A cardigan is a type of machine- or hand-knitted sweater that ties, buttons or zips down the front; by contrast, a pullover does not open in front but must be "pulled over" the head to be worn. The cardigan was named after James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British military commander,... , dinner jackets and women's blouses.
Spread collar	cut away collar	a shirt collar with a wide spread between the points, which can accommodate a bulky necktie Necktie A necktie is a long piece of cloth worn for decorative purposes around the neck or shoulders, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat. Variants include the ascot tie, bow tie, bolo tie, and the clip-on tie. The modern necktie, ascot, and bow tie are descended from the cravat. Neck... knot Knot A knot is a method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope by tying or interweaving. It may consist of a length of one or several segments of rope, string, webbing, twine, strap, or even chain interwoven such that the line can bind to itself or to some other object—the "load"... .
Tab collar		a shirt collar with a small tab that fastens the points together underneath the knot of the necktie.
Tunic collar		a shirt collar with only a short (1 cm) standing band around the neck, with holes to fasten a detachable collar using shirt stud Shirt stud A shirt stud is a decorative fastener that fits onto a buttonhole on the front of a pleated shirt, or onto the starched bib of a stiff-front shirt. Such shirts have special buttonholes solely for shirt studs.... s.
Turned-down Collar		a folded collar pointing down, as opposed to a turned-up collar, such as a Wing collar; created by Charvet
Upturned collar Upturned collar An upturned collar is an otherwise flat, protruding collar of either a shirt, jacket, or coat that has been turned upward.-Origins:Before the early 20th century, most shirt collars were turned up in some manner. Men and women alike wore tall, stiff collars , not unlike a taller version of a...		an otherwise flat, protruding collar of either a shirt (especially a tennis shirt Tennis shirt A polo shirt, also known as a golf shirt and tennis shirt, is a T-shaped shirt with a collar, typically a two- or three-button placket, and an optional pocket... ), jacket, or coat that has been turned upward, either for sport use, warmth, or as either a "fashion signal" or a perceived status symbol Status symbol A status symbol is a perceived visible, external denotation of one's social position and perceived indicator of economic or social status. Many luxury goods are often considered status symbols... .
Van Dyke	vandyke collar	a large collar with deep points standing high on the neck and falling onto the shoulders, usually trimmed with lace or reticella Reticella Reticella is a needle lace dating from the 15th century and remaining popular into the first quarter of the 17th century.... , worn in the second quarter of the 17th century, as seen in portraits by Anthony Van Dyck Anthony van Dyck Sir Anthony van Dyck was a Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England. He is most famous for his portraits of Charles I of England and his family and court, painted with a relaxed elegance that was to be the dominant influence on English portrait-painting for the next... .
Windsor collar		for a cutaway collar: a dress-shirt collar that is slightly stiff, with a wide spread (space between the points) to accommodate a Windsor knot tie, popularized in the 1930s; for a wing collar, a standard wing collar.
Wing collar	wingtip collar	a small standing collar with the points pressed to stick out horizontally Horizontal plane In geometry, physics, astronomy, geography, and related sciences, a plane is said to be horizontal at a given point if it is perpendicular to the gradient of the gravity field at that point— in other words, if apparent gravity makes a plumb bob hang perpendicular to the plane at that point.In... , resembling "wings", worn with men's evening dress Evening dress Evening dress may refer to:* White tie, the most formal civilian dress code in Western fashion* Black tie, a semi-formal dress code for evening events and social functions in Western fashion... (white tie White tie White tie is the most formal evening dress code in Western fashion. It is worn to ceremonial occasions such as state dinners in some countries, as well as to very formal balls and evening weddings... or black tie Black tie Black tie is a dress code for evening events and social functions. For a man, the main component is a usually black jacket, known as a dinner jacket or tuxedo... ); a descendant of Gladstone collar. Used by barristers in the UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... and Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... .
Wing	whisk	a stiffened half-circle collar with a tall stand, worn in the early 17th century.
Y-collar		similar to a Johnny collar, only with one or two buttons at the bottom of the v-neck line, creating a y-shape.

Buttoning

Conventions on fastening the buttons on a collar differ globally. In the United States and the United Kingdom, the top button is virtually always left unbuttoned, unless one is wearing a necktie

Necktie

A necktie is a long piece of cloth worn for decorative purposes around the neck or shoulders, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat. Variants include the ascot tie, bow tie, bolo tie, and the clip-on tie. The modern necktie, ascot, and bow tie are descended from the cravat. Neck...

, but unbuttoning two or more buttons is seen as overly casual. By contrast, in Slavic countries, including at least Poland

Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

, and Ukraine

Ukraine

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...

, the top button is buttoned even in the absence of a tie.

Extended meanings

From the contrast between the starched white shirt collars worn by businessmen in the early 20th century and the blue chambray workshirts worn by laborers comes the use of collar colors in job designation, the "workforce colorwheel". Examples are blue-collar, pink-collar and white-collar
White-collar worker
The term white-collar worker refers to a person who performs professional, managerial, or administrative work, in contrast with a blue-collar worker, whose job requires manual labor...

.

External links

Stylopedia -- an online dictionary of fashion details
ApparelSeach glossary of textile and apparel terms
Textile Glossary -- an online textile glossary
Collars on Boys Shirts and Blouses: From the Historical Boys' Clothing website

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.