Figure 1.--These brothers wear two different types of detachable collars, presumably withbshirt waists. There were many different styles of these collars. The boy at the left wears one of these that we cannot identify. The boy at the right wears a wing collar. Whle the boys are different ages, there are no age connotations associated with these collars. The cbinet card portrait is not dates, but was probably taken about 1900-05.

There were different types of collars, most prominantly attached and detachable collars. This was influenced by the different types of shirt garments. Here terminology varied slightly. Blouses had attached collars, but not shirt tails. Blouses were very common for boys at the turn of the century. Even younger teenagers wore them. Many had huge collars. Shirts had attached collars and shirt tails. Shirt waists had tail, but no collars. They were made to be worn with detachable collars. At a time when laundry was a daunting undertaken for beleagered houswives, the detachable shirt collar was a very efficent labor saving device. The shirt waist itself could be worn several days if not all week and all the boy or man had to do to look smart was to change the collar. Actually some young women also wore them--most famously the Gibson girls. Usually it was the collar that was the part of the shirt that got the dirtiest. There was a wide range of different collar types. Eton and wing collars are probably the best known, but there were many other stytles. Many different styles appeared in period catalogs, but often they were not identified by destinctive names. The Eton collar was especially popular for boys.

Collar Types

There were different types of collars, most prominantly attached and detachable collars. The invention of the detachable collar was a boon to the weary housewife. At a time when laundry was a daunting undertaken for beleagered houswives, the detachable shirt collar was a very efficent labor saving device. The shirt waist itself could be worn several days if not all week and all the boy or man had to do to look smart was to change the collar. Actually some young women also wore them--most famously the Gibson girls. Usually it was the collar that was the part of the shirt that got the dirtiest. And it was easier to wash just the collar than the whole shirt. Tis may sound like a small matter today with washing machines and laundry detergents as well as instant hot water. Housewives in the 19th century had none of these things. And laundry was an all day activity of heavy labor--usually monday. There was a wide range of different collar types. Eton and wing collars are probably the best known, but there were many other styles. Many different styles appeard in period catalogs, but often they were not identified by destinctive names. The Eton collar was especially popular for boys.

Shirt-like Garments

The type of collar was influenced by by the different types of shirt garments. Here terminology varied slightly. Blouses had attached collars, but not shirt tails. Blouses were very common for boys at the turn f the century. Even younger teenagers wore them. Many had huge collars. Shirts had attached collars and shirt tails. Shirt waists had tail, but no collars. Shirt waisrs were made to be worn with detachable collars. At a time when laundry was a daunting undertaken for beleagered houswives, the detachable shirt collar was a very efficent labor saving device. The shirt waist itself could be worn several days if not all week and all the boy or man had to do to look smart was to change the collar. Usually it was the collar that was the part of the shirt that got the dirtiest. There was a wide range of different collar types. Eton and wing collars are probably the best known, but there were many other stytles. Many different styles appeard in period catalogs, but often they were not identified by destinctive names. The Eton collar was especially popular for boys.

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Created: 5:00 AM 10/17/2008
Last updated: 6:44 AM 8/8/2014