Expect More from Your Collar Stays

Added: (Sun Dec 05 2010)

Pressbox (Press Release) - One of the most underused accessories in a man’s wardrobe is his collection of collar stays. You know what these little things are, right? If you have ever bought a new dress shirt, they are the little pointed pieces of plastic in the collar. They are often referred to as collar bones or stiffeners, because that’s actually their function. They keep the points of the collar stiff and from rolling upwards, creating a less than crisp appearance.

Collar stays are nothing new. In fact, a quick search of history reveals their first appearance in the late 1800s in England. Both men and women used these pieces of bone or metal to keep their collars stiff and crisp. The plastic versions didn’t arrive until several decades later and today, you can find a unique variety of metal collar stays that are as individualized as you are.

Metal collar stays can now be found in several different metals, such as brass, aluminum, and even stainless steel. There are also a number of different finish options, such as polished, painted, and feathered. There are other options, too, such as engraving, which is a nice personal touch when giving collar stays as a gift.

Metal collar stays can be purchased from a number of different sources, such as online or at your local men’s suit store. Most are available in a beautiful gift case, which can also be engraved with the recipient’s name or a short message. If you’re looking for a unique gift for the man in your life, this is certainly one to consider.

One thing to remember is that you must remove the collar stays before the shirt is laundered or sent to the cleaners. Not only do you risk losing them, but also they may mark the shirt in someway due to the water, cleaning solution, or heat. If you’ve ever ironed a shirt yourself, you know that something hard caught underneath will make a mark on the shirt until it washed again. It’s the same thing that will happen when a shirt is pressed with collar stays in it.

For those that really value their individuality, there are collar stays available in gold, silver, or with jewels encrusted on them. Metal collar stays are also available in titanium, platinum, mother of pearl, ivory, or even horn. These metal collar stays can say just as much about a man and his fashion sense as can a pair of cufflinks or a watch.

There are collar stiffeners for the different type of collars on today’s clothing, too. Some are rounded at the tip, pointed at the tip, or even v-shaped to ensure that the sides of the collar remain straight and crisp, too.

If you want to add a sophisticated look to your next dress shirt, consider investing in a quality pair of collar stiffeners. Not only will you feel like you are ready for anything, you’ll look like it too! Sometimes, it’s the little things that really do make a difference.

Resource Box: Exuvius offers a wonderfully sophisticated set of collar stays. You must check out the four-in-one metal collar stays that includes a bottle opener, screwdriver tip, and a sharpened edge to cut those stray threads.