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Collar Stays

JLibourel

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I'll make it another vote for plastic. Aside from the reason cited by the eminent Mr. Kabbaz, sooner or later a collar stay is gonna go to the laundry and get laundered with the shirt. I think the brass can cause discoloration then. In event, collar stays are easily lost, and the cost of replacing plastic is negligible. Somes stores will give you a little package or two of them free at least if you buy a shirt.
 

uriahheep

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I vote for plastic.

My thoughts on MOP? For buttons? Of course. For collar stays? Just hype, and not functionally very good. They're too short for most collars, even some of the shorter collars.

My thoughts on plastic? For buttons? Never. For collar stays? Of course.

You could use polyester collar stays made in the shape of MOP stays, with a not-very-convincing finish to make it look like MOP. But why bother?
In this case the cheapest(plain ol' humble plastic) is the best choice.
 

Horace

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I vote for no stays.

It's much more gentrified and devil-may-care not to bother.
 

alchimiste

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Well, if they can make translucent concrete they can make transparent metal collar stays.
Make the metal porous and it will be translucent too. Or use concrete collar stays.

Mathieu
 

arenn1

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I have both a brass assortment from Nordstrom (courtesy of my wife) and mother of pearl (courtesy of my extensive Carlo Franco selection). I like both. The Nordstrom brass have blunt, not pointed ends, which might be a factor, but my shirts have not been damaged by the metal. Still, I normall stick with the mother of pearl these days. I realize it is an indulgence of the most extreme variety, but I'd love to have a silver set for special occasions.

Oddly enough, but for whatever reason I've never laundered any of my nice collar stays, only plastic ones.
 

alchimiste

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1. Isn't mother of pearl brittle?
2. Brass may react chemically when washed, but MoP should not care (may get broken but would not damge cloth). Or not?

Mathieu
 

JLibourel

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Plastic will be easier on your shirt collars.

I have some by Brooks Brothers that seem to have held up well.  

Brass drives the airport screeners crazy too.  They can't figure out why you need something metal in your collar, and the spare ones in your carry-on luggage look just like 30.06 cartridges to the x-ray guy.
Any "X-ray guy" who can't distinguish between a collar stay and a .30-06 cartridge (or any other cartridge, for that matter) better get a lot more training. A shirt with a collar that would take a stay the length of a .30-06 cartridge would be very weird, decidedly clownish looking.
 

faustian bargain

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concrete collar stays: the tools of the "gentleman mobster".
 

arenn1

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alchem, none of my mother of pearl collar stays have snapped, which I consider the mark of brittality
 

Jill

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You guys are too funny. Â
Isn't mother of pearl brittle?
If you'd like to try them out for yourself, we'd be happy to send you a pair for a trial run. Pay if you like, return if you don't. Â I doubt you'll get a better deal out there. Â Hilditch and Key is offering them now for 18.50L (approx $35.50 USD). Â There may be others, but I doubt you'll beat our $20/pr or $50/3 pr deal. Â In fact, we only have a few pairs left after the event in NY, but should have a new shipment within the week (which probably translates from Italian, "before Summer..") Â Anyway, I thot I'd make you the offer, but don't go telling all your buddies at the gym that we're sending out free samples of MOP collar stays..
Uriahheep - For collar stays? Â Just hype, and not functionally very good. Â They're too short for most collars, even some of the shorter collars.
I'll leave the question of functionality up to the wearer. Â I personally don't wear them much (except when I steal Chuck's shirts on occasion). Â That's a more subjective. Â Hype? Â Somewhat. Â I mean, who really NEEDS $50 panties that noone will ever see? Â Or $90 socks that noone will ever see? Â Or $100 undershirts that noone will ever see? Â (but they sure are sweet to wear, aren't they Alex? - the undershirts I mean.) Â As for size, it it TOTALLY dependent on the size of your collars. Â Our collar stays measure exactly 2 3/8" or 6cm. Â If that works for your particular collar, then lucky you. Â If not, you'd be better off with another collar stay. (FYI, for those who don't know I am the other half of Carlo Franco menswear http://www.carlofranco.com )
 

uriahheep

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I tried MOP collar stays from an Italian shirtmaker, who sold them to me at cost: about $7. He hates them. Maybe Hilditch and Seize sur Vingt charge $35, but yes, apparently they cost about $7 per pair to buy, custom engraved. MOP collar stays are not an indulgence like expensive socks or underwear. For my shirts using MOP collar stays would be detrimental to the appearance.
Because of the insufficient length of the stays, the stays cause "dents" in the collar leaf. And yes, MOP collar stays are rather delicate.
No matter what type of stays you use, always remove the stays before washing your shirts.
 

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