How to Make Shirt Collar Stand Up

One of my biggest pet peeves is shirt collars that are out of whack. Unless you have time to iron your shirts to perfection, this is an ever-increasing problem. Well, what if I were to tell you how to make a shirt collar stand up and stay up? You’d probably wonder just how in the world that’s even possible. 

I’m here to tell you it is and that you’ve come to the right place to find out how. So join me as I detail the steps needed to get your shirt collars looking attractive again. We also have a separate guide on how to fold your dress shirts for travel to prevent wrinkles. Soon, you’ll look professional, well-groomed, and attentive to your appearance once you apply these effective tips.

 

Shirt Collars Need to Keep Their Shape

This is why they are reinforced with more layers of fabric and often fill the collar itself with additional, stronger fabric. However, they often collapse completely under the weight of the jacket, sometimes folding on one side and standing on the other. The collars of polo shirts or golf shirts are worse because their materials are softer. 

New collared shirts usually have a stiff collar, which is brittle and hard; however, after washing and wearing many times, the material that keeps the collar stiff begins to soften, causing the shirt collar to deform. 

This can cause the shirt collar to curl and fold. The shirt placket is also partly responsible for preventing the shirt collar from sagging and folding because the placket is also reinforced to maintain its rigidity. However, no matter how good the quality of the fabric is, the shirt placket will lose its structural integrity over time.

Plastic inserts sewn on the placket can be used to reinforce the shirt placket; however, these plastic inserts often deform and deform after one or several washer-dryer cycles. The warped plastic inserts are now stuck in the shirt placket, making the shirt look worse than before. 

The additional cost and hassle of having to cut the placket and re-stitch it also makes it an unattractive and expensive option. So how to solve the problem of shirt collar folding? What are some simple shirt techniques to have a perfect shirt collar? Let’s explore.

Buy Shirts with Built-in Collar Stays

A standard feature of custom shirts is the opening at the back of the collar to secure the collar. This feature allows inserting plastic or metal strips to maintain the shape of the collar and make it fit snugly against the fabric on the front of the shirt. The collar stay adds weight to the lightweight stretch fabric around the collar and holds it in place.

The necklines of some shirts have already been sewn, and these cannot be removed. A common belief of high-quality shirt manufacturers is that the production of high-quality shirts can choose a detachable neckline. 

Make sure your shirt has a collar pocket sewn on the back of the collar. The only exception is when the shirt has a soft button collar that does not require a collar. Although some shirt manufacturers intentionally add elements to strengthen the collar and placket, other companies are providing innovative solutions to improve the tieless appearance of shirts. 

Snap button closures under the collar, magnetic shirt stays and Snap buttons under the collar, magnetic shirt struts, and hidden adhesive strips are other ways to prevent the placket from collapsing.

Use Spray Starch

Starch increases the hardness of the shirt fabric and helps it maintain a refreshing appearance throughout the day. Spraying starch when ironing shirts is a simple way to increase the stiffness of the placket and collar. Starting with the second button, the collar goes backward from the top button to about one-third. 

When the top button is unfastened, the collar and placket will remain rigid and will not collapse, making you look more appealing. However, before you rush to pick up starch to make the collar brittle, please note that the starch decomposes during the day and accelerates the deterioration of the fabric, thus shortening the service life of the clothes. 

Another problem is that for those with sensitive skin, starch can irritate your skin and make you feel itchy. How about collar stays, magnetic stays, double-sided tape, and buttons on the collar? All these solutions can straighten the flaps of the collar but will not affect the placket.

Choose the Right Collar Style

The crisp collar adds a clean and exquisite appearance to your outfit, while an improper collar will make an excellent outfit look dull. An open-necked shirt requires a strong collar. If you prefer a shirt without a tie, make sure your collar does not collapse. 

One of the factors that affect the position of the shirt on the collarbone is the size and weight of the neckline. The neckline refers to the distance between the collar points. It is also important to remember the length of the collar tip.

Consider either a pointed collar or a narrow pointed collar. These types of collars are the heaviest. When the plackets become weak due to their size, they tend to fall on themselves. They are also the tallest collars, adding weight.

And then there are expanded and slit collar types. The expanded collar is lighter and shorter in size. They do best by staying up all night without wearing a tie.

And lastly, there are collars with buttons. Buttoned collars tend to pull the weight of the collar to the sides, resulting in excessive softness.

Remember, the role of the collar is to modify the shape of the face. There are different types of collars to suit different face shapes. If you encounter crumpled collars and plackets on all shirts, it’s time to change the collar style. 

Another aspect to pay attention to on the collar is the height of the tie. A larger collar will force the skirt to be straighter. The collar height is the height of the folded collar behind the neck. People would expect a smaller collar to solve the problem of the collar lowering the placket. 

However, even with ordinary collar shirts, you will notice similar problems. The default collar height is approximately 3.5 to 4 cm. Increase the height of the collar by one centimeter and add extra buttons to keep the collar firm and straight.

Choose the Right Placket

Reinforcing the dress shirt placket can strengthen the shape of the front of the shirt and help keep the collar up. French placket means that there is no common front placket. The plain front has a clean appearance, which is neither casual nor formal. 

However, if you unbutton the top button, the front of the shirt may collapse because the front of the shirt cannot bear the weight of the collar. The standard placket has a vertically visible seam beside the button. It’s folded up with an inch or two of fabric and sewn on the front as a separate piece, with stitches on both sides. The gap between the folded fabrics is sometimes fused for extra strength.

Wrap Up

Limp, disheveled collars are nothing new. But that doesn’t mean you have to conform to their unsightly appearance. Be sure to apply the tips above, and you can look forward to straight shirt collars from here on out.

 

FAQs

1. How do I keep my shirt collar from flattening?

Ascertain that your shirt has pockets for collar stays stitched into the rear of the collar. Only when a shirt has a soft button-down collar that does not require collar stays is an exemption made. Other methods of preventing the placket from collapsing include snap closures behind the collar, magnetic shirt stays, and concealed adhesive strips.

2. How do you keep a popped collar up?

Arrange the collar horizontally on your ironing board. Spray and press the top of the yoke and collar with spray starch. Reverse so that the outside of the shirt is facing up. The critical element is to keep it flat until it cools fully.

3. Are popped collars in style?

Consider donning the popped collar style when out and about in town. While this style may be used to protect oneself from the elements, the majority of women just want to seem cooler. It is the ideal adornment; indeed, I would say that it is the equivalence of excellent sunglasses. Jackets with cropped sleeves and popped collars also look fantastic.

4. Should you pop the collar on an overcoat?

Popping your collar is a personal choice. There are several critics of the collar flip—even with outerwear—and for good reason: it is unneeded unless the weather warrants it, and depending on the collar style, it may serve little use even when flipped.

5. Should shirt collar be in or out of Blazer?

 There should be no gap between the shirt collar and the jacket, and the jacket should cover most, but not all, of the shirt collar. When the fit is right, the following uncomfortable and style-damaging concerns can and will always be avoided.