Types Of Collars On Dress Shirts

February 17th, 2011

Types of Collars on Dress Shirts

Dress shirt collars vary in formality, and choosing one will depend on your style, whether you'll wear a tie and what type of tie you'll be wearing (ascot or bow tie, for example). Most dress shirt collars will support different types of neck ties or knotting methods, so choose the dress shirt collar that matches the occasion and your taste.

Traditional Collar
A dress shirt with a traditional collar is the most common kind, and it can be found on many department-store shirts. The traditional collar has a smaller spread and is ideal for the four-in hand knot, or traditional knotting method for neckties. This collar will still be comfortable and stylish with no necktie.

Tab Collar
A neck tie must accompany a dress shirt with a tab collar, although this collar is found mostly on high-end and custom dress shirts. The tab size is based on your neck size and the type of tie knot you want, such as a traditional knot or a Windsor knot.

Button-Down Collars
Dress shirts with button-down collars are traditional and can be formal, with a necktie, or business casual, without one. You can choose an inside button-down collar. On this collar, the buttons are hidden on the underside with a corresponding tab to keep them invisible and buttoned up when you choose.

Spread Collars
A quarter-spread collar will give you a European flair. It features a large spread between the collar halves, which best supports a Windsor- or half-Windsor-knotted necktie. The half-spread collar is similar, except its spread is the widest, with a more pronounced point on the dress shirt. Finally, the small-spread collar has almost no spread. Instead, the collar halves point down but are rounded for a less dramatic look. Its small spread will still support a neck tie and will still give you that European flair.

Pin Collars
The straight pin collar is ideal for the businessman. Here, the necktie nestles between two collar halves and is held in place with a tie pin that's inserted into a pair of holes found on the collar. The round pin collar is the same, except the bottom edges of the collar halves are rounded off instead of pointed, for a subtler look.


Source : eHow.com