dress shirt question

[David Dubh]

Ok xmarkers, my middle daughter is getting married next weekend, October 6. I know that I shouldn't wear my PC for the wedding, but my father is also going to be wearing his kilt and the only jacket that he has is his coattee, so I'm wearing mine so that he wont stand out. (ps my 9 month old grandson will be in a sport kilt) So here is my question, I have two french cuff shirts, the wing tip collar one has stains on inside of the left cuff(due to my watch) the other is a brand new normal turnover collar. Which type of collar should/can I wear? I will of course be wearing a self ite bow tie. So what say the rabble wing tip or regular collar?

[PEEDYC]

I personally wear a winged collar with my PC as it seems a bit dressier but that is usually kept for evening doos. If I wear my Argyle then it is usually the normal collar with either bow or regular tie.

[Downunder Kilt]

I would go with the turn down collar, I would suggest that you and your dad wear the same type. This is assuming that the men in bridal party will be wearing tuxes or least the same level of formality as you and your dad.

[davidg]

Traditionally a turn down collar is worn for black tie and a wing collar for white tie. It's only a general rule that is often ignored these days but the point is that a turn down collar is, strictly speaking, the correct shirt to wear

[Father Bill]

Wing collars have come into style here over the last twenty years. Davidg is correct, but the advice to be consistent is also first rate. May I suggest that if you're trying to dress down the jacket, the foldover collar may be a better choice.

[JSFMACLJR]

Traditionally a turn down collar is worn for black tie and a wing collar for white tie. It's only a general rule that is often ignored these days but the point is that a turn down collar is, strictly speaking, the correct shirt to wear

Traditionally since when?

[artificer]

Traditionally a turn down collar is worn for black tie and a wing collar for white tie. It's only a general rule that is often ignored these days but the point is that a turn down collar is, strictly speaking, the correct shirt to wear

Traditionally since when?

I have always understood this to be the general case as well, with the wing collar having it's origins with tail coats, and the turned collar coming into vogue with the "dinner" jacket some time later (in the 20's and 30's) as a casual alternative to white tie.

For those interested in the history of men's formal dress, a fascinating read can be found HERE.

They also have a pretty solid (if conservative) guide to the dos and don't of formal dressing today- their guide to classic tuxedo looks may be found HERE.

ith:

[Chas]

I would wear a turn down collar -

Unless,

Your father is going to be in a wing collar.

If you are going to match jackets, then it is only a little thing to match collars as well.

Regards

Chas

[Braemar Kiltmaker]

davidg is correct ... a wing collar shirt exposes the band of the tie and was only ever intended to be used with white pique tie & vest, where the band would be unnoticed. That's where the designations "white tie" or "black tie" came from, indicating the degree of formality of an occasion. These days, when men's formal dress is most often seen as only an accessory to what the ladies are wearing, AND when formal dress is not a regular part of most men's lives, we often see men looking like they are in costume rather than dressing with the elegance of former days. Ron.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Traditionally since when?

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