Velvet Collars on Suits

[TimothyLeighton]

About to go and get a suit done up and have worked out just about everything I'm after (thanks everyone who posts regularly here, especially all the guys who are good enough to put up pics of what they're wearing - really good stuff). I however have one question:

I am really keen on getting a suit with a velvet collar. Now I know that heavy tweed suits with velvet collars are perfectly passable (stuff like Keepers Tweed etc...) but what is 1. The general view on velvet collars on regular suits; and 2. What do people think about a velvet collar on a suit?

It's a 3 piece but apart from that fairly unremarkable as a suit done in black mohair.

Any thoughts/opinions would be brilliant. I mentioned it to my tailor and he shook his head (he's always doing that whenever I ask him to take stuff up too much - I like v.v.short trousers/sleeves).

 

[chorse123]

Originally Posted by TimothyLeighton

I mentioned it to my tailor and he shook his head.

I'm with your tailor. It seems like a novelty that will start out odd and not age well.

 

[Manton]

On a Chesterfield coat, classic. On a suit coat, gimmicky.

I think there are stills from The Avengers which show this, and while it looks cool on Steed, that is after all a costume.

 

[Despos]

Velvet with mohair seems like mixing oil and water.

I f you do talk your tailor into the velvet collar, have him save the mohair cloth for the top collar for when you change your mind later.

 

[TimothyLeighton]

Originally Posted by Manton

On a Chesterfield coat, classic. On a suit coat, gimmicky.

I think there are stills from The Avengers which show this, and while it looks cool on Steed, that is after all a costume.

Hmmm... yeah Steed is definately partially to blame for all this...

 

[DocHolliday]

I had a velvet collar added to a sportcoat:

I like it, and would do it again. A velvet collar isn't the type of thing I'd want on my only suit, but for a guy with a large wardrobe who doesn't need Conservative Business Dress, I see no harm. I think most folks find it less noticeable/objectionable than the extremely short and tight suits we see so often these days. Saving the material for a replacement collar is a good idea, I think, just in case the novelty gets old. For me it hasn't -- I might have another one done -- but YMMV.

 

[DandySF]

This might possibly work if you're an aficionado of vintage looks and are keenly conscious of what you're proposing. Otherwise, it's an extreme touch that would not play well in everyday settings. I suspect this affectation resides somewhere in the ground between pompous and ridiculous, if I may be so blunt.

 

[Sebastian]

Well, I wouldn't wear it for business, but I own a grey 3 piece suit with a contrasting velvet collar in claret-red.

I am not expecting much love for that one around here, but i like it. Maybe I will post pics anytime.

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by Sebastian

Well, I wouldn't wear it for business, but I own a grey 3 piece suit with a contrasting velvet collar in claret-red.

I am not expecting much love for that one around here, but i like it. Maybe I will post pics anytime.

Please do, as I'd like to see it. Maybe we can get some momentum going -- velvet collars could be the next knit ties.

 

[Despos]

In the 70's it was popular to make Tartan dinner jackets with velvet shawl collars.

The next trend?

 

[TimothyLeighton]

Originally Posted by Sebastian

Well, I wouldn't wear it for business, but I own a grey 3 piece suit with a contrasting velvet collar in claret-red.

I am not expecting much love for that one around here, but i like it. Maybe I will post pics anytime.

Do post I'd love to see it. I work in Soho and there's a couple of tailors there who do quite heavily stylised stuff that's a bit leftfield. As a result I very occassionally walk past someone wearing a suit with a velvet collar.

I was thinking of a black velvet collar, although red/grey sounds rather lovely.

 

[Sebastian]

I will try to post as soon as possible. But I fear it can take me about two weeks, cause unfortunately the mentioned suit is at my second home right now.

Also I have to blame Steed and the Avengers for wanting a suit styled like that. So I first tried a velvet collar in a sleight darker grey than the suits color. But I didn't like the low contrast, so the claret red came up. I thinks it works out quite well.

 

[Boulevard06]

A splendid notion! Obviously, not for business, but so what? I am thinking of doing the same myself. Big thumbs up.
Please send pictures.

 

[LeonM]

I have velvet collars on my covert coat, and on a dinner jacket. I wouldn't put one on a lounge suit or odd tweed jacket...

Leon

 

[thepataphysician]

I had my doubts about it, but i think it looks pretty nice on Doc's coat. For some reason though, I still can't decide if it makes it more formal or casual. There is a sort of cool eccentric millionaire or european royalty quality to it.

Doc- you said that you had it added, did they replace that section or just add it over top of the fabric? is it an easily reversible alteration?