Shirt collar

The generic woven collar on dress shirts—comprising collar stand, points, and interlining—encompassing spread, point, button-down, and wing variants.

How to recognize it

Shirt collar shows woven stand with pointed or spread leaves on a dress shirt.

polo collar is knit rib. Spread is one spread subtype.

Origin and history

Collar (clothing)) surveys shirt collar anatomy including stand, points, and interlining.[1] Commons collar diagrams label collar stand and point on cotton shirting.[2] Britannica shirt articles trace collar history from detachable starch to fused interlinings.[3]

Industrial fused interlinings replaced daily detachable starch for most shirts.[3] Shirt collar differs from sailor square flap.[1] Plain interlining stabilizes cotton leaves.[2]

Today shirt collar appears on dress shirts, blouses, and uniforms in cotton, linen, and blends.[1][2] Choose spread or button-down subtype for occasion.[3] When a woven stand-and-point collar—shirt collar applies.[2]

Where it is used

Office shirts, uniforms, formal dress shirts, and everyday woven blouses.[1]

What is worn now

Editorial styling suggestions from MsDressly—not strict rules.

Shirt collar choice—spread for ties, button-down for Ivy casual.[2] Crisp cotton shirt collar reads professional.[1]

How it differs

Spread wings open. Button-down anchors points. polo collar is knit.[1]

Expression and impression

Shirt collar reads professional, woven, and everyday. Crisp white shirt collar reads office standard.

Common questions

Shirt collar vs spread collar? Spread is one shirt collar subtype.[1]

Shirt collar vs polo collar? Shirt is woven; polo is knit rib.[1]

Shirt collar parts? Stand, points, and interlining.[2]

Sources

  1. Collar (clothing) . Wikipedia Shirt-collar taxonomy, stands, points, and collar families.
  2. File:Collar.agr.jpg . Wikimedia Commons Diagram of dress-shirt anatomy including sleeve and collar construction.
  3. Shirt . Encyclopaedia Britannica Shirt sleeve history from detachable starch to two-piece tailoring.

September 19, 2026