Ask Angie & everyone: popped collars - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie & everyone: popped collars

Diana

Veteran

Sveta's most recent set of WIWs reminded me that I LOVE the look of a popped jacket or shirt collar. Now I don't wear stiff buttoned up shirts, but I would love to be able to pop the collars on my denim jackets. I've never been able to pull it off though, maybe because I have long hair that gets in the way or because I have a short neck. Also, my collar stays popped for about one minute or however long it takes me to move my head, pick something up, or sling a purse over my shoulder.

So... first, how in the world do you get the collar to stay popped? And, second, do I have to put my hair up / suddenly grow a longer neck to wear this look right?

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Diana

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Well, my hair is short and my neck is average to long-ish so that might help. I am surprised you have problems to keep denim jacket collars up - usually they stay up pretty well because they are stiff. I have problem to keep soft silk collars up - they just collapse back - but cotton shirts are usually OK especially if collar are on the firm side.
Maybe long hair is the problem... try to do your hair up one day and see if it makes a difference.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It has to do with the hair, I think, Diana. Mine stay popped with short hair, but didn't when my hair was longer.

Diana

Veteran

Sveta, I think it's the long hair and short neck that makes the collar fall down. Basically when I move my head something hits it and it falls. I will try next time with the hair up... the problem is that I almost never keep my hair up all day, although I guess I don't wear my jacket all day either.

KathyL

Veteran

I have never mastered the popped collar or the scrunched jacket/shirt. I think the collar is due to my long hair. Not sure what the problem is with the scrunching. So much effort to try to make it look effortless.

Anonymous

I'm very interested in this topic. I've never been able to pull it off myself, and I always assumed it was due to a short neck....

Diana

Veteran

Kathy, I learned from someone here that you can get any sleeve to scrunch if you put a hair elastic inside the cuff! It does leave a mark on my arm afterwards though.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

i definitely think hair length makes the difference Diana. Like Suz and Sveta, mine stays popped all day.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Both my hair and neck length get in the way. The base of my skull totally pushes collars back down. It is less a problem if the collar or lapel is short. :T

sarah

Veteran

I also started using spray starch on my collars to help them stay pop. I don't know if it helps or not, since I got my hair cut short at about the same time LOL (not a controlled expt. - ok that was a totally geeky scientist to scientist comment - SORRY).

KathyL

Veteran

Diana, thanks for the tip on the scrunching. I might try it, but my hands are sensitive to things that are too tight around my arm. Maybe a bigger rubber band would work.

Anonymous

I use rubber bands all the time, they leave a little mark but they aren't tight.

Diana

Veteran

Good point, Rae. I'll have to look in my closet to see if I have a jacket with a shorter collar...

jayne

Veteran

I use doubled sided tape to keep the scrunch in place on the less stiff shirts. totally works and comes off easily when I launder

I manage to pop with shoulder length hair, but it is pretty fine and rarely inteferes. It works best with thicker jackets and stiff cotton

Lyn D.

Veteran

I have not done much popping because I feel a bit 'Elvis-ish' (can I say that?) when I do!
(Especially with white or larger collars!)

Mona

Veteran

Diana, like you I have long hair but love the popped collar look. I have never tried it with a medium collar though.

Deborah

Veteran

Diana I have trouble keeping collars popped! My hair and shorter neck seems to get in the way. Interesting to read the suggestions here.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Like the others have already said, my short hair and long neck help a lot. The mutant giraffe neck acts like a support foundation and my hair ....well....it doesn't get in the way because I don't have a lot of hair! My collars stay popped all day. And I'm a busy body. I am very physical when I shop and work with my clients - polished but not precious.

You can buy starching spray to make the collars stiffer as Sarah mentions. I believe that helps a lot.

Diana

Veteran

Ah, OK. So it sounds like at a mininum, I'll need to wear my hair up if I want to pop my collars. Then look for a jacket with a smallish collar so my head does not hit it when I move. Will have to experiment a bit, and maybe look into starching too. Thanks everyone for the tips!