Wide collar

A broad open collar leaf at the throat—the wide collar on poet shirts, Romantic dress, and stage blouses, wider than standard dress-shirt points.

How to recognize it

Wide collar shows broad collar leaves spreading open at the throat.

Poet collar is the Romantic shirt family. Bertha covers the shoulders in a wide flat panel.

Origin and history

Poet shirt articles describe wide open collar leaves on Romantic dress.[1] Lord Byron portrait photography documents wide collar at the throat on open-neck silk dress.[2] Collar (clothing)) contrasts wide leaves from standard spread points.[3] Blouse and stage dress use wide collar on dramatic tops.[4]

Romantic era menswear favored wide open collars before starch revival.[1] Wide differs from spread business points.[3] Contrast with bertha shoulder panel.[2]

Today wide collar appears on poet shirts, stage blouses, and boho tops in cotton and silk.[1][4] Wide open collar reads Byron Romantic.[2] When collar leaves spread broadly at the throat—wide collar applies.[3]

Where it is used

Poet shirts, stage dress, Romantic costume, and boho blouses.[1]

What is worn now

Editorial styling suggestions from MsDressly—not strict rules.

Wide collar worn open without tie reads Romantic casual.[1] White cotton wide collar poet shirt reads festival.[4]

How it differs

Poet is Romantic shirt family. Bertha is shoulder panel. Open is styling without tie.[1]

Expression and impression

Wide collar reads Romantic, theatrical, and open-throated. Byron wide collar reads poet-shirt classic.

Common questions

Wide collar vs poet collar? Poet is shirt type; wide describes leaf breadth.[1]

Wide collar vs bertha? Bertha covers shoulders; wide is collar leaf at throat.[2]

Wide collar business? Stage and casual— not office spread.[3]

Sources

  1. Poet shirt . Wikipedia Romantic loose shirt with wide collar associated with Byron-era dress.
  2. File:Lord Byron. (BM 1859,0709.1088).jpg . Wikimedia Commons Lord Byron portrait in Regency-era dress context; public domain.
  3. Collar (clothing) . Wikipedia Shirt-collar taxonomy, stands, points, and collar families.
  4. Blouse . Wikipedia Women's blouse sleeves including poet, lantern, and flutter forms.

September 19, 2026