To Collar Pop or Not? - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

To Collar Pop or Not?

Dee

Veteran

When I wear shirts or jackets with collars, I have this strong urge to always want to pop my collar to a certain degree because somehow leaving that collar lying flat just doesn't feel right on me.

The reason I opt for popping the collar is because it seems to add a certain sophistication, polish and drama to the whole outfit and helps frame the face too but I sometimes wonder if maybe its too cliché a styling tool to just keep using all the time.

If you've ever watch Grace and Frankie you know Jane Fonda's character was one serious collar popper too.

What about you? How do you feel about the collar pop? Is it apart of your styling repertoire?

Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from Lee

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Team Pop.

Been popping my shirts since 1983! It's my '80s gene

I have a very LONG neck, and my collar wants to pop. It's natural.

Dee, if you're a popper - POP. Nothing cliché about it. Feel like a change - UN-POP.

Never been a popper - don't pop! Feel like popping - try it. All good

Joy

Veteran

I am not a popper, but I do not hear the voices you hear. If I were you I would listen to them. It may have something to do with the length of your neck and hair. Angie has short hair and a longer neck. Popping may her help achieve balance.

Irina

Veteran

Tried it but it doesn’t work for me. It doesn’t look authentic to my style. To me it’s a classic style look, so if you identify yourself with this style, should be OK.

Dee

Veteran

Angie- Haha, the 80s was a serious collar popping decade, that's when my habit of popping began too.

Joy- I think you're right, my style instincts are seeking some type of balance.

Irina- I guess the pop may suit classic dressing better than some other styles.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Pop pop pop!!

Seriously, I am always inclined to try it except with silk shirts or those with very soft collars.

If I don't pop, I often button to the top.

And sometimes (rarely) I leave it as is and just let it be. More often in summer or if I am wearing. a dangling earring.

I have short hair, a relatively long but not extraordinarily long neck, and I tend to look best in higher collars, so it just makes sense. I poo the collars on many coats, too!

You look good in popped collars, so I say go for it. I don't know if it is clichéd, or if it is purely associated with a classic style -- regardless, it works for me so I am sticking to it. For me, it's like scrunched sleeves and a semi-tuck -- makes what might seem "stiff and proper" or a little more masculine seem dynamic.

ETA: I see above that I wrote I "poo" the collars. Honestly, I try my best not to do that and would never wear them out in public in that condition.

ARGH!!! TYPOS!!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I don't but only because it doesn't look right on me. I think it is a combination of my undone style and my shortish neck. But definitely I appreciate the look on others - pop away.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I don’t wear shirt collars much but when I do I sometimes pop. I think it frames my face and adds some drama. I also sometime pop jacket lapels and collars for the same reason.

I don’t think popping your collar is necessarily a preppy or classic look. It can be rebellious. Look at James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause. Or Marlon Brando in On The Waterfront. That was long before the 80s trend for popped polo collars.

If you like the vibe, do it! There is no (objectively) right or wrong way to style your own clothes. If you like it, it’s right.

Runcarla

Veteran

Team POP! I love turtlenecks too. And, draping a scarf around my neck. I have no idea if my neck is long or short. Maybe average? But, I have short hair.

Cee

Veteran

Knowing when to stop is vital !

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Dee

Veteran

Cee- Yep, that's polo collar popping on steroids!

Suz- Haha, those darn typos. True, some collars don't lend themselves to popping, but I rarely button my shirts all the way to the top, it feels too confining for me. I like having that V- shape opening at my neckline.

Runcarla- Hey, another fellow popper, not sure about the length of my neck either, but I also have to be careful about having too much happening around my neckline with additional scarves or turtle necks when collar popping.

Brooklyn - You're right, James Dean etc. were all popping way back then too.

unfrumped

Veteran

I like collar- popping also , for crisper fabrics. But I have somehow lost my nerve, as though it’s too affected for my environment. But I don’t think it’s not authentic for my own style, and a popped collar gives me a higher neckline without a turtleneck which I often find seems too choked up— I like the pop with open small V of the neckline.. So I’m upset with myself for having this inner critic, “ who” I don’t think is my true style voice, if that makes any sense.
I have collected a few collared sleeveless shirts for purpose of layering under a pullover, which I find much easier to do without sleeves bunching & feeling too stuffed in. So, silky LS shirts layer a little better but the collars are soft, so a few of my sleeveless are in crisp cottons/blends. But sometimes that layered look looks too masculine for me & I want to pop the collar. The reason I do some layers at all is that I can ad a touch of a “color”— sometimes white or black, even, that would not work as a whole- too color but is like adding pattern without actual pattern, IYKWIM. OR also have a couple of patterns- checks, stripes maybe— so same idea of limiting it.

I think part of the style approach for me is for the outfit to be pretty casual otherwise— even sporty- so, not TOO “ special “ plus popped collar, which then becomes more not-me. But a touch of cheeky would be good amongst all the casualness.

Does anyone else have this weird inner conversation & trying to see what is actually going on ?

.

Kim M

(website)

Love this conversation! I do hear the "pop" voices, however I'm leery of doing it, b/c I'm not sure it would look dated. I think I have a longer neck so they do work. However, also, these days, I don't have many stiff traditional collars. Love to hear all of you who are working this look.

RobinF

Veteran

I have never been a popper, it just feels odd to me. I say go for it if it works for you!

Dee

Veteran

Unfrumped- Yes I get what you’re saying, because there’ve been times when wearing the collar pop seems too contrived for where I might be going or the outfit I’m wearing, so the collar goes down and the outfit doesn’t seem to have the same snap, Somehow wearing the collar up in these situations seems to feel conspicuous or reads “trying too hard” and I don’t want to feel that way either.

Kim M- I have a bit leeriness at times with doing it myself but not because I feel its a dated look, see comment above.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Dee, I'm noticing that those who like to pop their collars have longer necks! It could be an intuitive body type styling tool

Ket

Veteran

I'm also a popper! Pop! ⊹ ࣪ ˖ And... like Angie noted, I have a long neck I love deep shawl collars, funnel necks, and turtlenecks. And by golly, I pop a collar unconsciously on every collared shirt I own, without thinking about it. Even with soft flannel shirts, I pop the collar.

Dee

Veteran

Ket- Looks like many long necks crave that pop, although I’ve never thought of myself as having a particularly long neck.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Rarely a popper. One thing I really enjoy is the look of a collared shirt under a sweater or sweatshirt.

Cee

Veteran

I've popped the occasion turtleneck skivvy collar, but that's it.

Olive Green

Veteran

Not a long neck, and broad shoulders, and I always popped. Buttondowns are a favourite year round.

lyn67

Veteran

I like it when done good-so I say go for it, if it's authentic on you! But, I don't do that because: 1. seldom wear a stiff collar shirt, 2. it just looks costumey on me 3. if wearing a shirt I always wear the first 2 buttons unbuttoned from the collar down(I need a V-neck more than a pop!:-)).

Dee

Veteran

Olive Green - There we go, a longer neck isn't always necessary to do the collar pop, but perhaps having shorter hair also contributes to wanting a pop.

Carol- For me, all collars under sweaters require a subtle pop.

Cee

Veteran

Some can pop a collar with more aplomb than most

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Cee, you are cracking me up here....

A popped collar done wrong might sink into a cowl-- horrors!

Cee

Veteran

*Shrieking noise*

Lee

I have never popped because it doesn’t look right on me but I think it’s jaunty/sassy/spirited on others and enjoy it.