Have you noticed this trend in designer shirts? It's an extremely wide spread collar, now often called a "Shark" Collar (for its resemblance to shark fins).
<click photo to see detail>
A wide
spread collar is often asked for when the client wants to wear a
tie with a prominent knot with his dress shirt...but these
days, as you can see above, designers are adding "shark" collars to casual
shirts as well as more formal styles.
But if you go to an experienced Shirt-maker who has been in the trade for more than a minute...and ask for a shark-collar, you are likely to get a quizzical glance
complete with raised eyebrows. Why? Because to Shirt-makers, this is
just a wide-spread collar. We'll make a collar for a client with any
degree of spread they want. Sure, most of have a 'look book' with a variety of collar styles
that have different names..but collar style names often differ
between Shirt-makers from different countries. So many of us use actual sewn examples and/or pictures with names or numbers.
Here's a very quickly sketched example of what a "shark" collar pattern draft might look like. Might? Yes...keep in mind that the new spread (shown in green) can be even more extreme. [Please note that only 1/2 of the collar is shown.] If you change a collar from a typical one to a "Shark" style, the collar's short ends will lean towards the Center Back at an angle from the original draft as shown. You will also see that I made the new (green) "shark"collar wider as it approached the point...that's because it would be my personal preference (design choice) on this collar that was already very narrow...nothing more than that.
So...what do you think? Yay or Nay to the Shark Collar? Do you like it? Would you or your partner wear a shirt with this collar style?
Thanks so much Pam for keeping us up-to-date with new terms and styles. I have the spread collar in one of my patterns but had never heard the term Shark Collar, makes sense.
ReplyDeleteJanet
meh
ReplyDeleteThere was an article in the Wall Street Journal a couple of months ago about the widening spread. Personally I don't care for it. It reminds me of the really big, ugly ties of the 1970s. But to each his own, I guess. I prefer a medium spread on my guy.
ReplyDeleteMy comments are YUK! It just looks like someone made a bad draft and didn't change it.
ReplyDeleteYour shirts are so beautiful and look so high end. These look cheap, no matter the cost.
JMO...
YUK!~
ReplyDeleteJust my opinion, but your shirts always look beautiful and high end custom.
These just look like someone made a bad draft and didn't correct them. More a Wal-Mart or K-Mart shirt than a custom.
Not wild about it; but maybe it will grow on me.............
ReplyDeleteI've always liked this kind of shirt collar, though I've never made one myself. I associate it with dress shirts.
ReplyDeleteI made a linen shirt with this style collar "by accident". I was messing with the collar and out this style came. Who knew I was being so fashionable???
ReplyDeleteIt takes a bit of "getting used to" when wearing it, but I think I've decided it's just fine...
LindaSewing...these pics came from a very high-end retailer, and retail for between $200 to $400 !
ReplyDeleteI know, right? Shocking! That's why I made the disclaimer that they were not mine ;)
I like it because sometimes we just need something a little different. I do think it looks best when it's kept small and narrow.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Georgia, "meh". Can't say I care for the shark collar.
ReplyDeleteNice to know how to do it, but not my cuppa.
ReplyDeleteWonder why guys don't match their collars to face shape the way women tend to?
ReplyDeleteThe guy I sew for has a jaw like Dick Tracy and would look ridiculous in a collar like this, but for myself, I think it's kind of cool as a one-off. Sort of 1920s-ish. I definitely couldn't see a whole wardrobe of them though!
I can see exactly why you put the disclaimer in the first sentence! Luckily this 'trend' hasn't taken off Down Under, from what I have seen. Actually off suit-shopping with my son today so will scrutinise the shirt collars as I go ... J
ReplyDeleteThey look odd to me. That said, I'll try to be open-minded, if for no other reason than ANY sort of variety that gives more options to the limits in mens wear can't be all bad....
ReplyDeleteI do not care for that type of collar, and like most everyone else has said, your shirts are classy :)
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't look good on a more heavy set man. Just makes your face/chest look wider.JMHO
ReplyDeleteIMHO, they don't look very good on a heavy set/fluffy man. Just makes you look wider. Also more of a tie challenge.
ReplyDeletenope. not a fan.
ReplyDeleteI like it in a casual shirt because It's a rare man who can tie a wide knot tie.
ReplyDeleteI had some dress shirts made in Thailand and - against my instructions - they were delivered with this type of collar. I don't like it when wearing a tie because the collar does not always cover the part of the tie circling the neck. You have to have a really thick, wide tie and tie a very loose knot to span the space. Unfortunately, I picked up the shirts on my last day in country and didn't notice the collars until I returned home. On the brighter side, I am now retired and no longer wear ties on a daily basis, so it no longer matters. On a casual shirt, it makes no difference except aesthetics.
ReplyDeleteEd
It's great to find a new collar design, I have just found the 'Eldridge knot' for ties and the shark collar will be perfect. I am going to try your interfacing as it seems to be like the professional product I have been looking for...Regards, Will
ReplyDeleteGlad to see this explanation. Personally, I'm not a fan. For me, the good news is now I can open the end of my collar (so the corner is not so tight and pointy) with a clear conscious. Those tight corners were hard to pull out nicely, even with your super tute using thread loops.
ReplyDelete- T
Love it
ReplyDeleteI like the wide spread collar and love seeing the new wide ties. There is a world of difference between what is being shown in mens wear this fall and what was in style during the 70's. This year it rich color and fabrics, so polished!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard the term before, but I definitely do NOT like the look of the wide spread collar, whether it is on a "dress" shirt or a casual shirt. Like someone else who commented, I think it makes the shirt look cheap, regardless of the quality of the fabric and the construction.
ReplyDeleteNo; not a fan here. I prefer more traditional collars.
ReplyDeleteThank you for explaining what type of shirt this is. I absolutely DISLIKE the shark collars. A weatherman on the local news channel sometimes wears that type of shirt and it is NOT flattering at all. Maybe if he wore a more prominent knot with his tie, it wouldn't look as bad, but he uses the standard knot.
ReplyDelete