Collaring Your Man

Modern Pointed Collar
The turned down, pointed collar is the collar most commonly found on shirts today. They come in a wide variety of lengths, degree of pointedness, and amount of spread. A wider spread collar is useful for larger ties such as ascots.

These are certainly acceptable for steampunk, although many people eventually strive to find less common collars (see below). You can sometimes modify a pointed collar, such as turning it up (into a stand up collar) or ironing the tips into a wing collar, and then adding a tie that keeps the collar upright.

Band Collar / Mandarin Collar / Collarless Shirt
A band collar is a good collar for a workman's shirt. It generally does not go with a tie for practical reasons. A band collar also allows the addition of a detachable collar. Some are even constructed specifically for the purpose.

Similar-looking collars can be found on modern "collarless" shirts, which are commonly used. Some are less stiff in apperance than the band collar, and the collar may taper to a slight V in the front, with the first button sitting below the collar instead of being a part of it.

Club Collar
Pretty much an all-purpose collar, similar to a spread collar of today, minus the pointedness.

Stand Up Collar
Worn stiff, this is a formal and professional collar. Less stiff, and it it can be more widely applicable. The stand up collar allows for very large cravats and other neckwear to be worn without interference from the collar.

Wing Collar
The wing collar is a sort of cross between the stand up collar and the modern turned down pointed collar. Highly formal, it allows for a wide range of ties and cravats.

To consider what sort of neckwear might go with your collar, check out The Ties that Bind.

Credit

Photos (c) The Gentleman's Emporium, used with permission.