Lace Collars: Shapes


Figure 1.--This English image is undated, but HBC estimates the 1880s. The younger boy wears a wrap around pin-on lace collar without any collar opening. It has a star point shape. Notice the matching sleeve wrist trim. Click on the image to see the entire family. Note the great difference between the outfits worn by the two brothers in the center, despite the fact that they seem rather close in age.

True lace collars lay flat. They came in many shapes. Some had a modern boy's collar or Eton collar shape. More commonly they were rounded like a large Peter Pan collar. Other collars have irregular geometric shapes. One popular version was a star like shape with points radiating out in all directions. The irregularly shapped lace collars appear to have been somewhat more popular for bots than the more rounded-shapped collars. The rounded shapped collars appear to have been more popular for girls.

Shapes

HBC has noted lace collars in the following shapes.

Collar Shapes

Some had a modern boy's collar or Eton collar shape. This boyish style, however, was not commonly used for actual lace collars.

Rounded

More commonly they were rounded like a large Peter Pan collar. HBC's initial assessment is that the rounded shapped collars appear to have been more popular for girls. This is, however, just an initial assessment and requires considerably more investigation.

Irregular or Geometric

Other collars have irregular geometric shapes. One popular version was a star like shape with points radiating out in all directions. The irregularly shapped lace collars appear to have been somewhat more popular for bots than the more rounded-shapped collars. The rounded shapped collars appear to have been more popular for girls.

Country Trends

HBC can not yet determine if specific collar shapes were more common in specific countries.

Chronolgical Trends

HBC can not yet determine of lace collar trends changed over time.

Hand-Me-Downs

One HBC readers wonders if the general case was for geometric collars for boys, but where there were older sisters some mothers used the outgrown lace collars for younger boys due to the expense of the collars. It is noteworthy that collars were expensive (relatively speaking) and many were detachable so that one collar could be used on several outfits. HBC believes that this makes considerable sence. Real lace collars were indeed espensive. It would seem quite likely that the lace off a older sister's dress might be used for her younger brother's Fauntleroy suit. HBC does not yet have any contemporary sources referencing this, but it is another questiin HBC hopes to persue.





Christopher Wagner





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Created: July 28, 1998
Last updated: July 31, 2000