A collar is an element of clothing that is a strip of fabric. It borders and decorates the neckline . The collar is always in sight and is of great importance, because it plays an important role in creating a harmonious image.
The history of the collar in Russia
In the past, this accessory was an indispensable part of any costume. In Russia in the XVIII century, almost all types of collars were sewn separately from clothing. And at the right time fastened. The standard collar of that time was released from under the clothes with two fingers, so that it borders the back of the head.
Well-off people could afford to adorn this item of clothing with buttons of gold and silver, inscriptions embroidered with gold threads, pearls.
Decoration for the collars of the poor people served as copper buttons.
Appearance in Europe
In European countries, this item of clothing appeared after the Crusades.
The first models were made on wire frames, for example a voluminous stand-up collar. He appeared in the fashion world in the XIV century and became an integral part of men's suits.
Time passed, everything changed, the shape of the collars also changed.
In the XVI century, collars began to be made more comfortable, in addition, they became an irreplaceable attribute of various women's clothing.
The main types of collars
This small piece of clothing can be safely called a fashion informant, because its shape and size directly depends on the latest trends.
However, not only fashion trends dictate the rules for choosing this element. A lot depends on the structure of the figure, the shape of the face, the selected material and the direct purpose of the collar.
Depending on fashion trends, collars can be of various types: small, narrow, rounded, very large, with a stand, flat-lay, openwork, knitted and others. But if we consider from the point of view of cut, then they are divided into set-in, one-piece and removable.
Variety of collars
Set-in is much easier to do than whole-cut. The latter are used when the error in the performance of parts is not of particular importance, as well as in cases where simplified processing is required. One-piece collars are usually made on light blouses, casual dresses.
There are a lot of styles of set-in collars, among them the most famous types: with a straight stand, reclining, tied, flat-layed, a collar slightly behind the neck, a shirt type, stand-up collar.
All these species are conventionally divided into 4 main groups:
- Standing.
- Standing-Turning.
- Flat lay.
- Jacket.
Standing collar
Standing collars give things austerity and conciseness. Often they are found in the decoration of outerwear, which is designed for the cold season, for example jackets, coats. You can also find such a neckline in business-style clothing, for example, various types of shirt collars.
- High stand-up collar - tightly wraps around the neck and resembles a pipe in shape. Varieties also belong to this style: polo-collar, mandarin-collar, funnel-collar and others.
- “Mao” is a stand-up collar that has a vertical cut without rounding.
- "Collar" is a soft collar that lies in the form of soft folds.
- "Stuart" - this model, which in the upper part has a decoration in the form of lace.
Also popular styles are “Italian”, “shark”, “batten down”. The last three details are united by the fact that they give the men's shirt a strict and concise look. The neck, framed by such a collar, catches the eye, drawing all attention to itself from the rest of the clothing.
Still standing collars usually decorate outerwear: jackets, windcheaters, coats. They are intended not only as a style design, but also perfectly protect against wind and cold.
Stand-up collar
The stand-up collar is quite versatile. It is used both in the design of women's and men's clothing, and in the nursery. Use this design to create smart models and for everyday decoration.
They are designed from two parts - take-off and strut. The part that is hidden inside is called the stand, and the part that is outside is called the fly.
The following types of stand-up collars are available:
- shirt type. It can have a variety of departure configurations with both pointed and rounded edges;
- polo trim is a small collar with two to three buttons.
One striking example of a stand-up collar is the shawl collar.
Flat collar
They are also called turn-downs.
The neck of this design is treated with a grinder. Usually the neck is attached to the garment so that the collar is between its edge and the hem. Otherwise, the collar is stitched to the groove, and the gateway is attached to the neck.
Common styles of turn-down collar:
- “Peter Pan”, named after the literary hero of the same name, is a small round collar.
- Berta is a large collar that covers her shoulders. Very often made of lace.
If a woman is considering various types of collars on a dress, then you can’t imagine a better turn-down collar with rounded edges.
A striking example of this type is the white collar that complements the old school uniform - the dark brown dress of Soviet students.
Jacket collar
This type can usually be seen on coats, jackets, raincoats.
Popular styles of this type:
- The English collar is one of the most popular styles for finishing classic-style outerwear, such as jackets or coats.
- Apache - differs in that it has wide lapels and at one time appeared in the world of fashion, denoting a symbol of male freedom. If the clothes have an apache-shaped collar, then a tie in this case is considered superfluous.
Fancy collar
A separate group can distinguish fancy collars, which are difficult to attribute to any existing species. These products have a designer neck finish and may consist of the most unexpected details.
These are the ideal types of collars for a dress, blouse and blouse.
One of the most striking examples is the bow, which came up with the famous Coco Chanel. This exquisite piece of clothing consists of a double scarf tied around the neck. Such an accessory will add originality and romance to the female image.
Also, the following types of collars can be attributed to the popular styles of this interesting group:
- Cocktail - the finish of the neck of dresses and blouses, made in the form of a shuttlecock. Such a collar is cut out obliquely or in a circle and sewn into the neck;
- Jabot is a lace collar made of light fabric, sewn into the neck.
Do it yourself
Each handmade item has a special value. Often needlewomen prefer not to buy the finished product, but to create an original collar that no one will have.
Naturally, all types of collars discussed above can be knitted or crocheted. Just do not forget that it is quite difficult to do this. Before starting work, it is better to study the experience of people who have already dealt with knitting this part of clothing. Decide on a model.
Today you can find a variety of workshops on how to knit collars. Photos with step-by-step and detailed explanations will give a complete picture of which side to get to work. This is a very rewarding experience that should not be ignored. There are also thematic forums where craftswomen share their experiences. Here you can ask questions that arise during knitting. As a rule, collars are knitted separately, and then sewn to the collar of the product. The most common types of knitted collars are a stand-up collar, a turn-down collar with rounded or pointed edges, a collar, a lace collar, a necklace-collar.
Choose a female collar in the shape of the face
The shape of the product affects not only the appearance of the clothes, but also the appearance of its owner. Since the collar is visually a continuation of the face, this part will either help visually smooth out the imperfections of the oval of the face, or, conversely, emphasize them. Therefore, choosing this accessory, it is necessary to take into account the nuances of appearance so that it really becomes an adornment.
There are some guidelines to help you choose your collar.
- For women who have an elongated face, classic and openwork styles with rounded edges are suitable.
- It is better for owners of a round face shape to opt for collars with pointed ends. Soft and smooth lines will emphasize the shape of the face.
- Those who have a long neck should give preference to stand-up collars or stand-up collars, for example, choose the Apache style.
- Those with a short neck should better avoid the voluminous and fancy look of their collars. Such styles are better for owners of a pear-shaped body shape.
- Wide collars, fancy lapels that expand upward will perfectly decorate women's clothes with an A-shaped figure, distinguished by narrow shoulders and wide hips.
Emphasize male virtues
Men, like women, are sometimes scrupulous in their appearance. The question is especially acute for people who work in the business sector and must abide by a strict dress code. It is advisable for such men to be able to distinguish a classic English collar from a stand-up collar.
If you know the simple rules, then you will not have to worry about an incorrectly selected collar.
- A round and wide face is visually able to narrow the turn-down collar with long corners. In this case, it is worth avoiding styles that have rounded ends with widely spaced corners.
- For holders of an elongated face, well-placed models with a large tie knot are well suited.
- A long neck is perfectly masked by a stand-up collar or a high turn-down collar with buttons.