Collar Stays

[demeis]

I was wondering if the material a collar stay is made out of makes a difference? I'm guessing not but wanted to get some feedback from you guys. I'm looking into buying brass stays cause my plastics ones always seem is bend after about 3-6 months of use. (I might have just answered my own question). Is it a personal thing knowing you have $60.00 silver stays in your shirt?

 

[johnnynorman3]

I imagine that the metal does make a difference in the long run, as a silver one might not be as soft as a brass one (which will eventually be prone to bending like plastic).

There is no doubt in my mind that MOP collar stays, like those in Carlo Franco shirts, are the best type.

Actually, Polo makes some thick plastic stays in some of their more expensive Blue Label shirts (the Made in Italy ones) that are sort of faux MOP. They work as well as anything I'd imagine.

 

[demeis]

Yeh i saw some nice multi colored plastic ones at Turnbull and Asser yesterday. I didn't look at the price cause i knew i couldn't afford them but they were really thick and looked nicer than most brass i've seen.

 

[Kai]

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.

 

[tattersall]

I've got a silver pair from Dunhill, nickel(?) from TM Lewin, brass from Tyrwhitt. Â The Lewin and Dunhill are narrow and fit all my shirts, the Tyrwhitt ones are wide and fit only my two Tyrwhitt shirts.. Ideally, you should look for clear metal stays... Â

 

[Brian SD]

I've got a silver pair from Dunhill, nickel(?) from TM Lewin, brass from Tyrwhitt. The Lewin and Dunhill are narrow and fit all my shirts, the Tyrwhitt ones are wide and fit only my two Tyrwhitt shirts.. Ideally, you should look for clear metal stays...

how on earth could you get a clear metal stay? I've never even heard of a clear metal. Glass comes to mind but that's not really a metal (is it?) and I think its a bit too fragile to use as a collar stay, no?

 

[kabert]

Brian,

Perhaps 9 months ago, one of our friends on this board insisted, in all seriousness, that CLEAR METAL stays were the "best." When several people inquired about, hey pal, how is that possible, he just sort of stone-walled and wouldn't back down. It was ... interesting.

 

[tattersall]

It was Josh over on the modern man forum ... el linko

 

[Alexander Kabbaz]

plastic

 

[gorgekko]

how on earth could you get a clear metal stay? I've never even heard of a clear metal. Glass comes to mind but that's not really a metal (is it?) and I think its a bit too fragile to use as a collar stay, no?

What, you never heard of transparent aluminum? It was all explained in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

 

[demeis]

If alex says plastic then i'm gonna go with plastic. But can i ask you why?

 

[Alexander Kabbaz]

Answered before, but the metal will, usually sooner rather than later, poke through the collar stay pocket because it is too hard and heavy. Once this happens, the only fix is a new collar.

 

[imageWIS]

Well, if they can make translucent concrete they can make transparent metal collar stays.

Jon.

 

[bch]

I've tried both brass and plastic. Although it may be counter-intuitive, plastic is better. It lets the collar assume a natural roll, while the brass makes the collar too stiff and unnatural. Additionally, the plastic tend to "seat" better at the tip and stay put, whereas the brass is pushed out of the tip, allowing it to fold under and look sloppy.

 

[Manton]

Ideally, you should look for clear metal stays... Â

Lord, that takes me back ...