Rounded (Club) Collars on Men’s Dress Shirts

A fun and unusual take on classic men's style

Though not seen a great deal today, rounded point collars have carved their place in a man's closet. This article introduces men to the rounded collar and gives some pointers to wearing it with style.

Rounded Point Collars: An Academic History
Men's dress shirts featuring rounded point collars are a great example of male emulation for the sake of stylish men's image.

The rounded collar was part of Eton College‘s dress code beginning in the mid-1800s. Because men wanted to be perceived as belonging to this exclusive club, the rounded, or “club” collar was copied by the masses.

Today it is rarely seen even on the most stylish of men, but it remains a classic of men's style and can be worn by a man who knows a little about it, like David Beckham here to the right.

Face Types and Proportion for a Rounded Dress Shirt Collar

A club collar looks best on thin faces. The softness of the points counteracts sharp verticality created by thinness in a face. Round-faced men should skip the club collar because the curved lines will pronounce a round face's roundness, an undesirable effect which is easily averted.

Also, because these collars are mostly seen on bespoke shirts, make sure the tailor understands that you want your collar in proportion. If you have a slightly longer neck, you will want a slightly longer collar. The rounded collar is naturally shorter, so a man's long neck will look especially long if his collar is not in proportion.

Pinning a Rounded Collar

The club collar is one of the most popular dress shirt collars to pin. A collar pin sits under the necktie, holding down the collar points and pushing the necktie knot up and out. Because of the club collar's shortness, pinning will also help keep the collar points flat on the shirt. Matched with a custom suit, the look will be classic, different, and individual.

Keep in mind that a collar pin may be one accessory too many in your outfit that day, in which case leave it in the jewelry box or omit another accessory in favor of the pin. Also, never pin a collar without wearing a necktie, and if your collar has eyelets for a collar bar, never wear the shirt without a necktie and collar bar.

If the Collar Works for You, Wear It

Men may naturally be shy about wearing a rounded collar shirt because they haven't seen anyone wear them before. You needn't be shy, gentlemen. If your face is right for the club collar, go for it. A man who wears a rounded collar is going to get second glances, and that's okay.

Wear it with a collar pin, and you'll definitely get noticed by people who didn't notice you before. Rounded collars are an excellent choice for a well-dressed man's wardrobe.