Find your perfect shirt collar!

It calls Mao collar, because of Mao Zedong, a revolutionist and party leader. When he proclaimed the People's Republic of China, he wore a suit with a mao collar. In China the suit is called Zhōngshān zhuāng, in memory of the first president who commissioned the suit at that time. The design then slowly came to Europe and was quickly adapted.

The mao collar has a U-neck without collar thighs. It is slightly different from the band collar, because the mao collar is open and has no button to close it. This collar is more casual, you wear it without tie or bow tie, because it is not suitable without the collar thighs. The mao collar goes best with a pair of jeans or a chic pair of chinos, ideal to look elegant in your free time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Also known as officer collar, the collar's name was established by the Korean military. The collar was particularly popular in the 19th century, but was later replaced by the reverse collar. In the meantime, the officer's collar was considered particularly severe because of its military origin. The old image has changed and the collar now stands for a modern and casual look. Nowadays, the collar is called band collar to leave its military origin in the past.

The band collar, in former times still regarded as a strict collar, offers today however the possibility to dress more individually in working life. The collar has two overlapping collar tips which can be closed by a button. The officer's collar looks particularly casual due to its small stand-up collar. Its reduced size and the fact that it is worn without a tie or bow tie makes it the ideal summer companion.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

The reverse collar was invented in India and has been reinterpreted many times since then. Around the turn of the year 2000, it was taken up by Parisian haute-couture houses in their collections and thus became modern again. Since this moment the collar has enjoyed great popularity among connoisseurs, also because it is not too well known.

This collar is particularly special because it looks elegant and casual or classic and chic, depending on the fabric. With a Lyocell fabric in a jeans optic, the whole shirt has something extremely casual, while the elegant look can be achieved with the classic full twist cotton. The inverted collar is rarely found on the men's outfitter's shirt, the collar is folded in on itself so that the collar thighs are not visible. No accessories are worn with it either.                                                                                                                                                                                     

The French collar has evolved from the Japanese collar and the small collar. French people tend more and more towards a minimalist style. This is one reason why they prefer, among other things, the slim ties, which are particularly effective because of the pointed collar legs. 

The French collar is the classic among shirt collars, it is characterized by its wide shape and the pointed collar legs. It is an all-rounder, so you can wear it with all ties and every tie knot. Even with a men's bow tie you are always right. Discover how to tie a bow tie yourself. If you want it to be a little more casual, this collar can also be worn open with the first button.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

This collar is attributed to the Duke of Windsor, he wanted a collar with a wider opening so that he could wear the wide tie knots (Windsor knots) popular at that time. At Hawes & Curtis, he therefore had his special collar tailored. Because of the 160° wide angle, this collar is also called a shark collar, because it looks like a shark has bitten a piece out of the collar. 

The collar and thighs are classic, but have the special feature that the collar opening is slightly wider than the average collar. Due to the wide opening it is possible to highlight a men's bow tie. Do you want to learn how to tie a bow tie yourself? Have a look at our guide! But even with the first button open and completely without accessories, the shark collar shirt can be worn perfectly.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The cutaway collar has more distant collar tips than the shark collar, often also called Extreme Cutaway, because the collar tips are almost horizontal to the face. Did you know that the collar is called "Italian collar" in French? It is because the cutaway came from England to Italy and celebrated its great success over there!

If you are looking for a collar with an even wider opening than the shark collar, you might like the cutaway collar! This collar emphasizes the men's bow tie. The tie can also be combined with this collar, then you should choose a wider tie knot. The best thing about this collar is that it does not move due to the large angle of the collar legs and therefore does not stick out over the jacket.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

The button-down collar was designed for polo players in the 19th century. In those days, polo players had to wear a shirt, the tips of the collar constantly hit the players' faces, so they thought about attaching them to the shirt by buttons. The tailor John Brooks took the button-down collar to the U.S.A. at the end of the 19th century and started production there.

The button-down collar has the special feature that the collar tips are held by a button on each side of the shirt. This less formal collar variant is subject to absolutely no rules: It can be worn with or without a tie, with jeans or with chic trousers. The collar also looks casually chic under a sweater. A men's bow tie is less suited to the casual style and should be avoided. This collar is an extremely popular casual collar because of its simple rules.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

The first time a shirt with a pin collar was worn was at the beginning of the 20th century. The collars at that time were stiffened to give an elegant look. Only with shirts made of silk was it not possible to stiffen the collar. To be able to wear these shirts anyway, the collar tips were held together with a needle. First popular in the U.S.A., it came to Europe in the 50s.

If you are looking for something special, the pin collar might interest you. It is barely known in Europe, but very popular in the United States. The pin collar works similarly to the tab collar, except that instead of a fabric bridge a needle holds the two collar tips together. The needle raises the tie, giving the look a particularly chic touch. Always combine this collar with a tie.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

According to legend, the Prince of Wales triggered the tab collar trend during a trip to the United States in the late 1920s. He was there with his younger brother George to strengthen the economic ties between the United Kingdom and the United States. The look was considered outdated and stuffy in Britain, but the Americans did not know this, they loved the "new look".

For a distinguished appearance you can try the tab collar, the collar of this shirt has a small bridge between the collar thighs, which is closed by a button and connects the two collar thighs. Because of this bridge the tie cannot slip and always fits perfectly. Excellent for this collar are slim ties, because the knot is emphasized by the collar. This collar should only be worn with a tie.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Eaton College was and still is known for its excellent reputation, students who had the honor to go to this college wanted to stand out from others. However, since many young men dressed fashionably at the end of the 19th century, Etonians had to think of something special. They decided to round off the shirt collars; so they designed a stylish new collar.

Who says you can't stay elegant while adding a touch of retro? Very fashionable in the golden 20's, the round neck is now celebrating its big comeback! This slightly casual collar with rounded collar ends, can be worn by simply opening the first button, with a narrow tie, but it also fits perfectly with a bow tie. Its rounded shape makes the face lines softer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Did you know that the germans call this collar also the father murderer? Designed at the beginning of the 19th century, he was particularly popular between 1815 and 1850. The origin of the term father murderer is unclear, but there is a legend that a son stabbed his father in the eye with the tip of the collar and the father died as a result.

For special occasions, such as a wedding, gala or other chic celebrations, you can wear the flap collar. It is a must, because the collar is perfect for men's bow ties due to its special shape. It stands while the collar tips are turned down to the front. This collar must be worn with a men's bow tie to achieve the perfectly elegant look. Find out here how to tie the bow tie yourself for even more elegance in your look.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

The shirt with the Tunisian collar is inspired by the light fabric tunics worn in warm countries. The garments there are called Jebba, a kind of coat that covers almost the entire body (except for the forearms and calves). In Tunisia, the Jebba is a traditional garment and therefore particularly important for men's wardrobe.

This shirt collar is perfect for the summer. The collar has a T-shape due to the button facing which only goes to the middle of the chest. It is an excellent casual shirt and is not worn with a tie or a men's bow tie. This look has a timeless charm and can be worn again every summer.