The wing collar is a short, starched shirt collar worn under tuxedos for formal occasions. It originated in the early 20th century and is still popular today. It may have been popularized by King Edward VII and was modified in the 1990s with “swept wings.”
The wing collar is a shirt collar that men wear under tuxedos. It’s a short, starched shirt collar for standing up straight without bending over. Two small pressed points usually protrude horizontally on the front of the collar under the chin. They resemble wings and are usually hidden behind the bow tie.
There are several other types of collars that resemble wing collars. The wing collar originated sometime in the early 20th century and was generally worn exclusively for formal occasions. Wing collars are still worn by men today, mostly at black or white tie events.
The wing collar may be a distant relative of the Gladstone collar popularized by British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone. It can also be similar to a Piccadilly collar, although the Piccadilly was commonly made of plastic rather than starched cotton. A butterfly necklace generally resembles a wing necklace, except that its tips are rounded rather than pointed.
The Windsor collar worn during the 1930s also resembled a wing collar, except that the space between the points was wide enough to accommodate a Windsor knot. The notched collar is wing-shaped, although it usually has a triangular notch. Notched collars are common in modern blazers and business suits.
The wing collar shirt is believed to have originated during the Edwardian era in the early 20th century. It may have been popularized by the British monarch, King Edward VII, who was known for his casual “evening” attire. Edward VII might have worn a heavily starched wing-collared shirt with a matching coat and trousers.
After Edward VII’s death in 1910, his son tried to bring formality back into fashion, and tailcoats and wing-collared shirts enjoyed a comeback. However, the formality of the Edwardian era could not last until the First World War. Near the end of the war, tailcoats and wing-collared shirts were reserved for extremely formal occasions, with the more casual casual jacket becoming acceptable evening wear.
By 1928, most men continued to wear starched wing-collar shirts for formal occasions, although some of the younger men began to favor double-breasted jackets with cummerbunds and soft non-starch shirts. During the 1930s, the soft turtleneck shirt became popular for casual wear. This was seen as an obvious shift towards comfort, a trend that is still important today.
Wing collar shirts continue to be worn under tuxedos for formal occasions and remain popular. During the 1990s, the wing collar was slightly modified. Instead of a small part of the collar being stiffened and pressed to stick out, a larger section was folded at a longer angle to form irregular triangles called “swept wings.” The Academy Awards, presented to actors and professionals in the film industry by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is sometimes credited with popularizing the tuxedo in modern times. Celebrities wearing wing-neck shirts can often be seen walking the red carpet the night of the Hollywood, California event.
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