Q&A

What are removable collar stays?

What are removable collar stays?

Collar stays, also called “collar tabs” or “collar stiffeners”, are flat, rigid pieces of plastic or metal which are inserted in special pockets on the underside of dress shirt collars.

Are you supposed to remove collar stays?

Take Your Collar Stays Out Before You Clean Your Shirt. This is especially important if you are using plastic stays. Wash cycles or dry-cleaning procedures can easily ruin collar stays, so be sure to remove them before you clean your shirt. If your shirt has stays sewn in, fear not.

What is the point of collar stays?

Collar stays are flat, rigid pieces of metal (or plastic) that are inserted into the sleeves on the underside of your dress shirt collars. They work by keeping the collar smooth and flat. They also add weight and support to keep your collar perfectly straight and crisp for hours.

What are removable stays?

Removable collar stays are small inserts that help a shirt collar to maintain its shape. Cheap shirts often feature non-removable collar stays, while more expensive shirts are usually equipped with removable ones.

Are collar stays worth it?

Although, collar stays aren’t visible from the outside of your ensemble, they are necessary in doing all the ground work to keep your collar looking sharp throughout the day. It’s small touches like these that help your style go a long way.

How long should a collar stay be?

Depending on the type of collar, the collar stay slot will generally be around 2.5 to 2.75 inches, or under 2 inches for narrower collars (tapered shirts that are typically worn for casual wear). However, from our research, the most popular collar stay sizes are in the 2.5 inch to 2.75 inch range.

What are collar stiffeners called?

A collar stay, collar stick, collar tab (British English), collar stiffener, or collar stiff is a shirt accessory consisting of a smooth strip of rigid material, rounded at one end and pointed at the other, inserted into specially made pockets on the underside of a shirt collar to stabilize the collar’s points.

Do you leave plastic in shirt collar?

While plastic collar stays may keep your collar looking crisp at first, plastic is easily bent or warped and especially if you let your plastic stays go through the wash, through the dryer, or under an iron, they’ll break down quickly and your collar will end up looking unsightly.

How do I get my shirt collar to stay down?

Iron the collar until it stays flat using a steam iron at the highest heat recommended on the label. Flip the shirt over and repeat ironing on the opposite side of the collar. Lightly spray starch on the collar and iron it again. Flip the collar over, spray starch and iron on the opposite side.

What size collar stays do I need?

How can I make my collar lay flat?

Place the shirt on the ironing board and spread the collar out. Iron the collar until it stays flat using a steam iron at the highest heat recommended on the label. Flip the shirt over and repeat ironing on the opposite side of the collar. Lightly spray starch on the collar and iron it again.

Are there collar stays that are removable on shirts?

Most collar stays are removable but you may occasionally find shirts with stays that are permanently sewn into the collar.

Do you have to have an exchangeable collar stay?

Many people say that “good shirts ” should always have exchangeable collar stays. It is true that there are many shirts with inferior glued interlining that have non-removable collar stays. After laundering and ironing, this cheap collar is often deformed and the shirt becomes worthless.

How do you keep collar stays in place?

In addition to the basic stays, these sets come with magnetic studs that stick to the underside of your collar. The magnets hold your stays in place, keeping your collar stiff throughout the day. 3.) Take Your Collar Stays Out Before You Clean Your Shirt

Which is the best collar stay to buy?

They’re pretty cheap and easy to find, though, so if you are a collar stay beginner, starting out with a plastic set may be a good, low-commitment option. As far as metal collar stays go, stainless steel sets are the most popular choice. Stainless steel is sleek and heavy enough to keep your collar looking crisp without weighing you down.