It is indeed an essential topic for many gentlemen when it has come to picking their shirt collar for different occasions. Some decisions are easy, some are more difficult – when is the best time to pull off a button-down shirt or what should the groom wear to his wedding? Many of the questions can be answered by tracing back to the historical origins of each individual piece, or influenced by one’s personal preference. Below, we have brought together for you a collection of short and simple recaps on shirt collars that we think is worth knowing for you, including how to ace it!
Number 1 : The Spread Collar
This is one of our favourite collars. It is very versatile, and could be worn with almost everything. Whether it is a navy pinstripe suit to wear to a business lunch, or a tuck-in with a pair of good jeans for a casual Sunday brunch, the Spread collar has got your back. Tie or no tie, both will give you the ultimate good looks and confidence for any occasion. Kamakura Shirt’s wide spread collar shirts in the Traveller collection is our go-to; the shirt fabric is easy to iron and hardly wrinkles throughout the day. This would be the perfect choice for frequent flyers, which is where the collection got its name
Number 2 : The Button-down Collar
‘Casual elegance’ is definitely the best way to describe the button-down collar. It was originally created for polo players to be able to gallop for the game without having their collar swinging out of place. Additionally, it was also a collar choice for many respected style icons; from President John F. Kennedy, to the stylish French actor Alain Delon, to a young sartorial enthusiast Will Stäng. While the button-down is recognised to be the go-to casual shirt, it also can give a charming formal look as well. It is also a daily-wear favourite amongst our team here at The Decorum! Easy, neat, and sophisticated are three words we’d choose to describe the button-down collar.
Number 3 : The Wing Collar
Perfect choice when formal evening is in your itinerary for the day. Whether you are the host, the groom, or the honorable guest for the night, the wing collar probably is the best choice for you. The wing collar offers a more formal, traditional, and dressier look compared to any other alternative collars. As seen in the picture above, the band collar points outwards, hence the name wing collar was given. The wing collar is the proper and suitable choice for black tie evenings. However, it is an absolute requirement for a white-tie dress code, where the event requires more formality.
Number 4 : The Cutaway Collar
The cutaway collar presents a wider and more extreme version of the spread collar, giving us a little more of a relaxed vibe. It illustrates a playful, careful, and contemporary look for us gentlemen. The cutaway collar was known to be worn by many sartorial enthusiasts casually – worn without a tie, displaying the stylish collar underneath the blazer lapel. Or, you could also wear it with a tie, which will give some room for great exposure of silk on both sides of the knot. We do love a good denim cutaway collar shirt, which we think you ought to have as it is indeed a wardrobe essential!
Number 5 : The Club Collar
Lastly, the club collar, or the penny collar as known by many, is recognised for its boyish and more relaxed manner compared to the other 4 collars. It could give an old fashion feel and style, which takes us way back to the 1920s. The club collar does particularly well when paired with a blue blazer and striped tie. You’d be surprised at how well they complement each other, giving you a unique, playful, yet stylish look. You might have seen this kind of look worn in the famous movie The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. Why not give it a try yourself?
Words by Rong Ransibrahmanakul, Edited by Nalin Tanthiptham.
