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Contrasting collars: Yes or No?

jmatt

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With the revival of the Gordon Gekko thread, I'm wondering about contrasting collars and cuffs (this is not about the whole Gekko look - just about contrasting collars and cuffs).

I recently had Jantzen make me a blue with vertical white pinstripes shirt with contrasting collar and cuffs, and a pink with vertical white pinstripes shirt with contrasting collar and cuffs. I personally love the look, but wonder if I am truly in a vast minority today.

What say the forum?

The two I just had made were from the following:
stripenavytwillwithwhite0811.jpg

stripepinkhairlinewithwhitecandystripe2310.jpg
 

chobochobo

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I don't/haven't worn them - though I do have four shirts with contrast collars that I haven't worn yet - one of these is a Borrelli, one a RLPL. I'm waiting for the weather to cool down enough for suits.

My decision to try contrast collar shirts started largely from seeing a very good example whilst waiting in Janzten. I was just browsing the samples when a young lady came in to try her shirt - white collar and cuffs and sky/medium blue thick stripes with thin white stripes. It fit her very well
smile.gif
 

designprofessor

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I hate those ambiguous replies: "it depends on the person", but in this case, that's mine.

I can't get it to work for me. but I personally think it is a classic look. I also think your profession has some consideration. In academia, it is too formal, too sharp, but it's situational.

But when someone wears them well, they really work.
 

Joffrey

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I tend think people with a higher stature should wear them. I read on another message board (Vault.com) years ago that in Investment Banking they shouldnt be worn unless one had reached VP or MD status and true or not it stuck with me.
 

MilanoStyle

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Contrasting collar shirt always remind of a shirt that had an original collar replaced.
 

wvuguy

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I admit to being completely unaware of the origin and/or history of the contrasting collar.

But, my personal recollection is that it really got "popularized" here in the US.....as a more-or-less "acceptable" component of business dress.....back when Lee Iacocca took over as honcho at Chrysler. Speaking only for myself, I'm not 100% sure I'd ever seen such a shirt on a businessman until Iacocca's first TV commercial. I believe he wore them pretty frequently, and it became something of a "signature look" for him.

Does anyone else share this specific recollection ???
 

Quirk

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Yeah, they're good.l I only have one, which I hardly wear, but that's because I hardly ever get very dressed up anymore. I like them with french cuffs, but I don't care for barrel cuffs.
 

Tomasso

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Originally Posted by MilanoStyle
Contrasting collar shirt always remind of a shirt that had an original collar replaced.

laugh.gif
That's how I acquired all of mine. T&A often runs out of their proprietary shirting leaving white as the only option.

Shoes503.jpg

Shoes507.jpg
 

odoreater

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I wouldn't wear them for business because of the whole Gordon Gekko image that they have. I think when a guy wears them for business he looks like he's trying to hard to project the power image. However, I do wear them sometimes for social occassions. I like to wear a striped shirt with a white collar and white french cuffs with a paisley tie to more formal occassions at night, such as a dinner at a nice fancy restaurant.
 

yachtie

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I've worn them and actually like the look, notwithstanding Mr. Gekko.
laugh.gif
But they are not what I usually use with a suit as I see it as a "special" like having a contrasting piping on the collar edge. I agree though, not for casual wear (at least what's shown, although I can imagine...
 

aportnoy

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Not my bag, baby.
 

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