Ruff Collar

Ruff Collar refers to a stiff white collar of different widths often edged in or composed of lace that projected from the neckline like a wheel around the neck. It was worn by men and women in Europe as well as in Spanish America from 1560's to 1640's. The ruff collar was one of the most characteristic features of costume of that that time period symbolizing the wealth and status. The flat and oval variation of the ruff collar is also known as Millstone Collar due to its resemblance to a millstone for grinding the grains.

Horseshoe Collar

The term horseshoe is used for U-shape. The horseshoe collar is a scooped low flat collar with the ends not quite meeting in the center front.

Poet's Collar

Poet's collar is the shirt collar with long points in front and is frequently worn with a string tie. It is named after English poet Lord Byron and hence also called as Lord Byron collar.

Jabot Collar

Jabot refers to decorative, pleated frill of fabric or lace attached at the center front of the clothing (to a neckband or collar) which hangs from the throat and was worn especially by men in the eighteenth century. Jabot Collar refers to a standing band collar with falling ruffle attached to the collar front.

Johnny Collar

Johnny Collar is a very small shirt collar that was popular in the early 20th century, named after its inventor, Johnny Collins. It is characterized by a small, pointed collar on a shirt or any clothing with a close-fitting neckline.

Chelsea Collar

Chelsea Collar is a flat woman's collar with pointed ends that form a low V-neckline in front. This collar became popular in late 1960's from an area in Southwest London where it originated.

Convertible Open Collar

Convertible collar refers to the collar that changes shape when it is worn open or closed. If worn open, forms small lapels (looks attractive with a contrast fabric). When worn fastened with a concealed button and loop it fits close to the neck with no lapels.

Cossack Collar

The Cossack collar is a high standing collar that closes on the side. This collar is characterized by its round shape and large size that resembles the traditional collar of Cossack (Slavic-speaking, semi militarized people originating in eastern Ukraine and southern Russia). The collar is frequently banded with embroidery, and it is also called by the names such as Zhivago Collar and Russian Collar.

Napolian High Coat

Napolian High Coat or Napoleonic Collar is a turnover collar, that rolls up high on neck in back and then turns over. This collar extends about three-quarters of the way around neck and with wide lapels and open front with double-breasted closing. This collar is associated with Napolean Bonaparte (1769-1821) as depicted by his court painter, J. L. David.

Bib Collar

Flat, rounded or square collar with a broad front section fitting over the top of an apparel and around the neck like a child's bib (a cover worn hanging from neck to chest to protect the clothing from spilling's). Also called plastron, this style became popular in 1980's with embroidery, lace or frill or with pleating around the edge.

Carcaille Collar

Carcaille Colar ia a high standing collar with fur edge extending upward towards the ears. It was mainly used on Houppelande (a long outer garment with flared sleeves worn by both men and women during Middle Ages in Europe) and Pour Point (knight wear with padded and quilted doublet worn under the armour).

Bishop Collar

Bishop Collar is a large, rounded collar extending almost to shoulder seam with squared front edges that extend downwards.

Medici Collar

The Medici collar is a large, high standing, fan shaped collar generally composed of lace, net, embroidered satin or any light material which is wired to stand up in the back and sloping to join a decolletage (usually a low square neckline) in the front. The Medici collar provided a large frame at the back and around the sides of women's head. It was worn by Marie De Medici, second wife of Henry IV of France and was much popular among the wealthy in the 16th century. The collar was revived and given this name in the 19th century.

Mandarin Collar

Mandarin collar is a small, stand-up collar that extends up on neck (about 3-4 cm) and not quite meeting at the center front. It is also called Chinese Collar or Nehru Collar. The collar can be done close-fitting or away from the neck. It can be blunted, curved, pointed or extended that can be turned down to form lapels.

Bow Tie Collar

A bow tie collar consists of flat, stand-up band with elongated ends that is sewn to the neckline. The ends tie in a bow (a knot, that usually consists of two loops and two ends) in front. This collar became popular in the 1920s and continued as fashion ever since.

Bertha Collar

The bertha collar resembles a cape or cloak falling over shoulders and bodice of the dress. This collar is usually round and flat encircling the décolleté. The bertha collar is made of thin fabrics (not appropriate for heavy fabrics as the collar is bulky). The collar became fashion in 1930's and became increasingly popular during 1980's.                      

Pierrot Collar

The pierrot collar is a small round collar made of ruffs (cloth frills) or double ruffle. This collar is derived from the costume of the comedy character in French theaters called pierrot (little peter).

Sailor's Collar

The sailor's collar is a flap collar which is recognized by its wide lapels forming a V shape in front and with square panel at the back. Traditionally it is used on sailor's uniform. A typical one has two bands of soutache braid sewn around the edges and having two stars at the back corners. It is also called Middy collar and became a popular style for middy dresses and children's dress

Puritan Collar

The Puritan collar consists of square-cut, wide and flat flaps in the front and back that extends to the shoulder seam. This collar is derived from English protestants of late sixteenth and seventeenth century. The early Englishmen carried the collar to America where it was identified with the Puritans and early Americans. This style is often seen in dresses and blouses.

Shawl Collar

A Shawl collar is a type of collar that follows the front opening of the clothing. It does not have separate lapels and is made in one piece forming shawl over the shoulder or with seam in center back. The length of the collar varies and sometimes can be extended to waistline with V-neck in front. It is the most popular and widely used collar found on coats, sweaters, dresses, tuxedos etc.