Preferred Collar Stay or Stiffener?

[Bugbear]

Things like the preferred material for the stays and such in the shirt collars traditionally worn with the kilts and Highland attire, or what ever else you can think of in relation to the subject.

[artificer]

If you have a collar that takes stays, the grand poohbah would be the silver collar stay.

If you have a detached collar, it is either celluloid or professionally starched Cotton/Linen (most likely cotton).

I like a metal collar stay as it adds weight that the cheap plastic ones won't.

ith:

[robthehiker]

I have some of these which I've never used...

[fluter]

I've got a little box of these plastic ones, which are used constantly. I'm hopeless at keeping up with the ones that come with the shirts; I just put them all in here. Its 3 sizes cover most collars.

[Mickey]

If you have a collar that takes stays, the grand poohbah would be the silver collar stay.

***.

If you don't have a collar that takes them, the simple wire ones do a fine job.

[Zardoz]

I've had some metal stays that I got with some cuff links years ago. I used to use them, but now I feel like the are too stiff. I've picked up a few different packs of plasic ones over the years, but most are very thin and flexy. I started buying custom made shirts from Paul Fredrick a few years ago, and they come with some plastic ones that are fairly stiff but still have a little flexability, more to my liking anyway, so I got a few extra of those and use them in everthing now.

[Tobus]

I like a metal collar stay as it adds weight that the cheap plastic ones won't.

Me too. Last year I bought a box of 10 brass collar stays, and I swap them out in my shirts. They just seem to work better than plastic ones. I just have to make a mental note to take them out before sending them to the laundry.

[Kiltboy]

I was given a set of metal stays. Great fit and look. Just remember to take them out before sending out the shirt for cleaning. Or you may never see them again.

[cruiser348]

I've had a couple shirts with metal one's but feel the same as what was said before that they're a little stiff. Most plastic one's though seem way to flimsy. I've got a couple shirts though from J Peterman that came with plastic stays that appear to be a little bit sturdier than normal.

[MacLowlife]

One shirt came with contoured plastic ones- they seemed to have been molded instead of being punched out of a sheet. It seemed like gilding the lily to me. Lately, I have found some of mine have become brittle, which might be because they are over fifteen years old. I have a handful of metal ones, mostly from Charles Tyrwhitt, but they really do not excite me. I am guessing a set of silver ones would, if I were to get them as a gift or if I got around to buying them. I find that hotel room key cards and gift cards are a good source of plastic to make your own.

Unless of course you prefer to make guitar picks out of them:

http://www.pickpunch.com/