Shirts with Changable Collars

[CactusJax]

While in College in San Antonio I bought a few shirts that came with 2 collars. I think I got them at Frost Brothers. Whoever it was they only had them one season. If you bought a shirt with patterned fabric you got a matching collar and a white one. If you bought white you got different white collars, ie one spread collar one schoolboy... You could wear them with either collar or casual as a band collar. About a year ago I was going to a hospital fundraiser with a Western theme. While shopping for Western attire (again) I found a shirt with a detachable collar. They attach in back with a button and a stud in front. I was excited! I really liked the ones I had in the 70's... Unfortunately the collar shrunk at first laundering...


I've visited historic towns that have the stores recreated... and in a number of them, in a general store type place (not a tailor shop) they would have a display of collars for sale. Like you could go in to buy groceries and pick up a fresh collar... I liked those shirts years ago. I think it's a great concept....



Does anyone know of anyone who makes and sells a line like this. Last time I was in Kowloon I meant to ask the Tailor about it but I forgot...

 

[Mark from Plano]

This was the way shirts were originally sold 100 years ago. However, with the invention of the soft attached collar they fell out of favor. Now they're virtually unheard of outside of the British Legal System where barristers are required to wear traditional court dress and companies that specialize in period clothing.

I have a couple of banded collar shirts with stiff detatchable collars that I got from Oliver Browne in London. I believe Ede & Ravenscroft also sells them. You can find other suppliers in England for the legal community. The Vintage Shirt Company also sells them online from the USA as I recall. (Google any of these for the links). I'm sure there are other sources if you look. However, I believe that there is only one company in England that makes the collars and pretty much everyone sources the collars from them.

There is also an issue getting them properly laundered (ask your local Catholic or Episcopalian priest where he has his collars laundered).

Brooks Brothers sells a formal shirt with a detachable collar. It fits all the requirements for white-tie formality, but is quite expensive. I have one that I wear with my tuxedo that I picked up at a 25% off sale.
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCat..._Id=1180443&Parent_Id=216&default_color=White

Hope this helps.

EDIT: On reflection it occurs to me that my post only addresses shirts (in various colors) with detachable white collars. I'm not aware of any sources for shirts with stiff or soft collars of the same pattern as the shirt (unless it's white). Sorry.

 

[Feraud]

There are a few retailers that carry detachable collars. I cannot find the links..
Keep an eye out at vintage shops. Some places carry 'em.

 

[Anthony Jordan]

The best selection of coloured shirts for detachable collars on the web that I am aware of is offered by Stanley Ley, the legal outfitters, with an interesting array of seasonal patterns on offer. They also offer two matching soft detachable collars per shirt. Of other retailers, Harvie and Hudson, Ede and Ravenscroft, New and Lingwood and Pakeman, Catto and Carter also have a limited selection available online, as does, I think, the Vintage Shirt Company. I'm not sure if any of these offer matching soft collars, at least online. T.M. Lewin does (1 collar per shirt), but does not sell online, although there are ways of getting around this. New and Lingwood are I think unique in selling a soft detachable collar in white cotton poplin on its own.

 

[cookie]

While in College in San Antonio I bought a few shirts that came with 2 collars. I think I got them at Frost Brothers. Whoever it was they only had them one season. If you bought a shirt with patterned fabric you got a matching collar and a white one. If you bought white you got different white collars, ie one spread collar one schoolboy... You could wear them with either collar or casual as a band collar. About a year ago I was going to a hospital fundraiser with a Western theme. While shopping for Western attire (again) I found a shirt with a detachable collar. They attach in back with a button and a stud in front. I was excited! I really liked the ones I had in the 70's... Unfortunately the collar shrunk at first laundering...


I've visited historic towns that have the stores recreated... and in a number of them, in a general store type place (not a tailor shop) they would have a display of collars for sale. Like you could go in to buy groceries and pick up a fresh collar... I liked those shirts years ago. I think it's a great concept....



Does anyone know of anyone who makes and sells a line like this. Last time I was in Kowloon I meant to ask the Tailor about it but I forgot...

The vintage ones are huge on eBay.co.uk including fancy leather receptacles for you to store 'em!

 

[Son_of_Atropos]

http://www.classicwardrobe.co.uk/Pr...ery=Categories/Product-Type/Categories/Shirts

 

[3PieceSuitGuy]

Other Links

http://www.clermontdirect.com/index.php?cPath=46&osCsid=4c46ec1435141c09509f8d147150ed41

http://www.stanley-ley.co.uk/

http://www.dennys.co.uk/KeywordSear...ar&sort_dir=0&sort_column=3&childof=&Start=25

Will see if I can find more for you.

Stanley Ley is probably the best.

Regards,

Peter

 

[Bugsy]

I believe New and Lingwood and The Vintage Shirt Store in England still carry tunic with a variety of collars.

 

[Anthony Jordan]

Ede & Ravenscroft (click onto "legal", then "buy" and "shirts and accessories") are currently offering a royal blue two-fold cotton end-on-end tunic shirt with two soft detachable collars for £19.50 plus £0.75 postage. Mine is still in the wrapping, but looks good.

 

[Mark from Plano]

Ede & Ravenscroft (click onto "legal", then "buy" and "shirts and accessories") are currently offering a royal blue two-fold cotton end-on-end tunic shirt with two soft detachable collars for £19.50 plus £0.75 postage. Mine is still in the wrapping, but looks good.

I actually bought a couple of the Grafton collars from here for my formal evening shirt (tux shirt in American parlance) and while I love them, the £0.75postage is only for the UK customers. For the US customers it was nearly the price of the collar and the combination of it with the weak dollar made my two collars quite expensive.

Grafton: