Point vs. Spread Collar

[itsstillmatt]

wow. never has the world seen such unanymity. interestingly, if you look back at pictures from the 20s-50s or at old AA and Esquire drawings the breakdown is much more 50-50.

 

[Faded501s]

I have a somewhat longer, narrower face and go for a medium/modified spread.

Points (standard) look decent on anyone and, IMHO a lot of the more rounder-faced guys here opting for spreads would look better in points. To be perfectly honest, I find irony in the the propensity SFers have towards the spread collar, especially considering the point is so well established stateside. In my mind, choices in collar type and lapel width are restricted by individual physique. The last example on this page was especially revealing to me.

Also FWIW, like gdl, I am not a fan of button downs (avoid them at all costs in fact). The only time I could see myself wearing a cutaway is in a tux/formal coat.

 

[TheFoo]

While I personally wouldn't go narrower than 90 degrees, and prefer something a bit more spread than that, I think that if your collar falls within that range, collar heigh, point length, and collar roll are going to make the biggest difference.

Battistoni, for example, has a collar that is not particularly spread--perhaps even slightly narrower than 90 degrees--that looks great because the collar has a nice roll that lifts it up and away before the points touch back down. Combined with a slightly dramatic height, and long enough points, you get a non-spread collar with a lot of visual depth that can accomodate a relatively big knot (if you choose).

The worst is a collar that appears flat and lifeless, spread or not.

 

[Cantabrigian]

I just find point collars boring. I also like a high collar band and though I've seen that done well with a point collar I think a spread works better in that regard.

I have no problem wearing a decently wide spread collar without a tiethough a cutaway collar may end up over your shoulders which isn't a good thing.

 

[Joel_Cairo]

Originally Posted by dapperdude

Do any of you wear spread collars without a jacket/tie? It seems to me that spread collar shirts aren't meant to be worn open-collar.

go to the mirror and try it out. i think you'll see that an open-collar Spread, sans tie, looks worlds better than a point collar worn that way.

 

[LabelKing]

I don't like spread collars; you can't wear a safety pin with them.

 

[retronotmetro]

Originally Posted by Manton

I saw an interview with Scorcese on TV a few weeks ago, and he had on a dramatic point collar that looked stupendous on him. Tiny little tie knot, too.

Goodfellas dramatic?

 

[Artisan Fan]

Originally Posted by gdl203

They're quite dramatic with a tie. Oscar Udeshi makes a really nice one - although the one I have from him does not look as extreme as the pic

I like this look.

 

[jml90]

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

I like this look.

As do I.

 

[Joel_Cairo]

Originally Posted by jml90

As do I.

but wha's going on with that lapel? is it shawl?

 

[LabelKing]

Spread collars are for the contrived Windsor knot--that fist-knotted bag of old tricks for people who otherwise couldn't dress properly without some form of a Thomas Pink Ultra-Spread and "bold pin-striped" suit, perhaps accented by gaudy toggle-backed cufflinks, flashy Italian shoes and a current-model German sportscar in the garage.

 

[Aries]

Originally Posted by visionology

Spread collars don't look flattering on my face. Neither do extreme points, so I often struggle to find an in between area.

I've got a similar situation, I love the look of spread collars but have a relatively wide face that isn't ideal for this style, so I settle for medium spread collars.

 

[yoyo]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

Spread collars are for the contrived Windsor knot--that fist-knotted bag of old tricks for people who otherwise couldn't dress properly without some form of a Thomas Pink Ultra-Spread and "bold pin-striped" suit, perhaps accented by gaudy toggle-backed cufflinks, flashy Italian shoes and a current-model German sportscar in the garage.

 

[yoyo]

I really like rounded/pinned collars though. I need to get some.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I don't like spread collars; you can't wear a safety pin with them.

Good