Just interested if anyone has any tips for maintaining and/or improving a collar roll on a shirt...?
Always found that ironing is the enemy of the collar roll, but perhaps there are things I should be doing to help myself...
(e.g. cold wash only? dry clean? unbutton the button down before washing? never do up the top button in the closet?)
When ironng a shirt, I undo the buttons and iron it on the back.
I also re-roll the collar with fingers inside each side and pulling it down with the other hand. This seems to work very well.
1) I wash cold and air dry.
2) I iron the collar flat, unbuttoned, and usually then fold it and iron quickly right at the back of the neck to encourage it to stay fully folded.
3) I used to spend a lot of time with my fingers under the collar points during the day, pulling the collar out and such. After a while I realized that the collar responds better to fixing my personal problem - the collar creeping up in the back. Pulling the back of the collar fully down brings out the roll in the front.
4) I also make sure my tie is not too tight. A very, very well-fitting collar (bordering on too tight) will have a good roll even when the tie is pulled fairly tight, but if you pull the tie very tight on most shirts, the tie creeps up your neck inside the collar, pulling the points taut as it does so. I can take a photo of this tomorrow if anyone isn't sure what I'm talking about. Loosening the tie a bit will allow the collar to sit correctly folded, and the points will be relaxed and roll.
5) Other than initially ironing and re-folding occasionally throughout the day, I set it and forget it.
Definitely unbutton before washing
hmmm ... never paid attention to it, have machine washed them in cool, warm, and hot water, have hand-washed them, have unbuttoned the collars and also left them buttoned, but after they're finished washing I do up the buttons and stick the fingers in and stretch the collar out and shape it, and then air dry them, and that's it ...
I don't even iron them ... the slightly rumpled and wrinkled vibe reminds me of the old days
I agree with many of the suggestions above and so I've not much to add, except that, in SOME circumstances, collar buttons may be moved closer to the collar to create more roll.
I'd say it depends on the fabric of the shirt. A collar with unfused lining (Michael Spencer) will roll more nicely than an unlined collar from a flimsy madras (Gitman Vintage). Also agree with Patrick that you should unbutton the clothes before washing, or you risk wearing out the button hole.
I don't mind ironing. I find it restful, especially on Fridays, which is "Ancient Aliens" day on the "History" channel. "Perhaps this avocado is a portal to the ninth dimension which could be where the Council of the Annunaki decides the fate of the human race." Hiss, steam, flip, hang.
I get the collar pretty wet, iron it on the back with the steam cranking, and pin one end down with the iron while I tug on the other end to stretch it out. Switch ends and repeat. It works better with oxford than lighter fabrics, probably because oxford seems to shrink more and has more give.
I too like the "just hopped out of bed" look.
Last edited by Patrick (2020-01-10 06:44:55)
I just wash them, hang dry and iron. I'd have thought its a given one irons the back of the collar and undo ALL buttons before washing and ironing.
If your finding your collar doesn't retail its natural roll following these simple steps I'd suggest buying a another shirt makers product.