Guide to Shirt Collars: 19 Types of Shirt Collars

A shirt collar is an extra flap of fabric, usually with buttons and a front opening, located around the neckline of a shirt. Originally, the shirt collar’s purpose was to fold down over neckwear such as neckties or bowties, but different shirt collar styles serve a number of fashion purposes today. Some parts of the collar include:

• Band: The stiffer part of the shirt collar that helps it stand up straight.
• Collar points: The pointed bottoms of the collar when it’s folded over.
• Collar spread: The space between the collar points.
• Roll line: The roll of a collar is the arch the fabric makes when it’s folded over.

The collar type can completely change the look of an otherwise standard collared shirt. Collar style is especially important when it comes to men’s dress shirts, as the type of collar will dictate available neckwear options.

1. 1. Band collar: Sometimes referred to as a Mandarin collar, a band collar is a thinner version of a standard collar not designed to be folded or rolled down. It is a more casual look, and usually has a button to help fasten the collar closed.
2. 2. Bermuda collar: This collar is flat and fitted to the neckline with rounded edges and a sharp, square notch in the center.
3. 3. Button-down collar: Originally worn by English polo players, this type of collar features buttons on the collar points that help hold the collar in place. Button-down collars can be dressed up with a suit blazer, or worn casually on their own.
4. 4. Camp collar: Also known as the Cuban collar, this type of collar is extremely loose and meant for the type of short-sleeved casual shirts typically worn in hot climates. Because the camp collar is so loose, it won’t work with a tie.
5. 5. Club collar: The club collar is a collar with rounded collar points that give shirts (and their wearers) a more preppy look. Club collars can be the same color as the shirt, but sometimes a colored shirt will be paired with a white club collar.
6. 6. Cutaway collar: The collar spread (the area in between the collar points) of a cutaway collar is a standard spread collar, allowing for more of your neckwear to be visible, or providing more room for different tie knots, such as the Windsor knot. The turned-down version of this collar is referred to as the Albany collar.
7. 7. Detachable collar: Also referred to as removable collars, detachable collars can be easily attached to and removed from compatible shirts. The original purpose of detachable collars was to allow for separate washing and treatment of the collar and the shirt.
8. 8. Dog-ear collar: This type of collar has long, rounded “ears” pointed downward with a wide spread and a button in the center, similar to the look of dog ears.
9. 9. Funnel collar: This wide, rounded collar leaves a bit of space between the fabric and the neck for a looser fit.
10. 10. Hidden button collar: These collars are essentially the same as button-down collars, except the buttons that fasten the points of the collars to the shirt are hidden beneath the fabric.
11. 11. Peter Pan collar: Also referred to as a Claudine collar, this is a flat collar with rounded edges shaped to fit the neckline. Peter pan collars can be found on dresses as well as shirts.
12. 12. Pilgrim collar: This collar is similar to both the Bermuda and Peter Pan collar, except the collar itself is much wider.
13. 13. Ruffle collar: Inspired by the clothing of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European aristocrats, ruffle collars are pleated collars that may be detachable.
14. 14. Shawl collar: Mostly seen on women’s garments, a shawl collar is folded down and features a wide lapel. Cardigans and coats with shawl collars are especially popular for layering. A similar style can be found on tuxedo jackets.
15. 15. Spread collar: Spread collars are similar to cutaway collars in that they feature a larger distance between collar tips, the main difference being that cutaway collars feature a much more severe angle. Spread collars come in different styles, including semi-spread and wide spread.
16. 16. Straight collar: Also known as a point collar, this is the standard collar seen on most mens’ shirts. These traditional collars feature a short distance between the collar points, and work well for both casual and formal events.
17. 17. Tab collar: Tab collars come with a horizontal button tab that fastens the collar closed, which is hidden behind your tie or other neckwear. The tab collar is a classic look sometimes referred to as the James Bond look (repopularized by the 2012 film Skyfall).
18. 18. Turtle collar: This is a high, tubular collar that is folded down, similar to a turtleneck.
19. 19. Wingtip collar: Sometimes called the wing collar, this formal collar is heavily starched, with the top corners folded so that they point out at a horizontal angle. Wingtip collars are often reserved for tuxedos and black-tie events. They are usually paired with bow ties, rather than neckties.

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