Up your collar game

It does not matter whether you are a man or a woman, there are endless types of collars available for you to choose from. 

Collars have been around for centuries and are a part of everyday style and couture. 

The collar is a key design element of any dress. Collars contribute to the style and ultimate look of any apparel.

Despite having many variations, there are, in fact, three basic collar types known as the stand collar, flat collar, and roll collar. 

Within these three types of collars, there are endless interpretations that bring style and individuality to clothing. 

The neckline edge's form decides the collar stand. The straighter the neck edges, the wider the collar stand and on the other hand, the broader the neck edge's curve, the thinner the collar stand.

Most collar types tend to have overlapping characteristics, making it difficult to tell apart. 

In this article, we tried to simplify things for you with pictures and some information about the different collars that  come with men's and women's clothes. 

If you are feeling adventurous, do try out some of these collars with your outfits. You can show these pictures to your tailor even!

Women's collar style and their origin

Numerous kinds of collars can be seen on women's dresses but the element common to them is their ability to lend structure, support, and style to any outfit. 

Each type suits a particular apparel and the collar types and styles enhance the overall look of an attire, making the upper body of the dress more fashionable. 

Bertha collar
The Bertha collar came during England's Victorian period. This collar was first incarnated as a part of Victorian evening wear. 

Seen mostly with a large round and flat shape around the low v-neck cut, bertha collars are one of the most popular Victorian era collars. 

They look super sophisticated on gowns and can uplift your everyday casual-formal look with panache. This is a large, round collar that lies flat. It is often made of lace or netting fabric. 

Bow tie collar 

A bow collar has long pieces to tie together as a bow. Large bows are sometimes called 'Pussy-cat bows'. The bow tie collar can look cute with a shirt or top, and add a different touch to an otherwise simple look. 

Cascade collar 

The cascade collar is cut from a circular piece of fabric and attached so it drapes from the center front of the neckline.  It looks best in materials like chiffon or silk and the waves give an elegant look. 

Rounded Flat collar

Instead of the usual pointed edges, this collar has broad wings with round edges. These are mostly seen on children's clothing, but you could try it on one of your clothes.

Chelsea collar

The Chelsea is a medium to wide cut collar with ends that are squared off at the tips and it has a v-neckline.

Men's shirt collar styles

What is there to differentiate in shirts? You wouldn't not say this if you paid attention to collars. 

A collar is the part of a shirt, coat, or jacket that fastens around or frames the neck. It is a man's most revealing gesture of personal style. 

Collars can have square or pointed corners or adjusted edges. Collars either come in one piece, two piece, or as a portion of the variety of pieces of garments. 

It comes in different shapes and styles ranging from simple collars such as the stand collar to more complex collars such as the shirt collar, but the majority of collars have the same basic construction.

Classic Straight collar
It is a basic men's shirt collar suitable for a casual dinner or with a tie at the office. It is also known as the point collar.

Club collar
This collar is also known as the "Eton" collar.  It has short rounded points and can be worn with or without a tie.

Tuxedo Wing Tip collar
Probably the most formal collar.  The wing tip is a stand-up collar and the tips of the collar stand up at the side. Best suited to formal wear with a tuxedo or wearing a bow tie.

Long Point collar

The long point collar can be worn with an unlined tie to create an easy, flowing look. This makes the tie slightly curve outward.

Mandarin collar

This style of collar is adapted from the Chinese mandarin traditional collar.  There is a slit in the front of the collar with curved edges.