How to Pop Your Collar and Keep it Up
I’m a big fan of popping the back of my collar up. I love the sassy attitude it gives and the way an upturned collar frames the face. In fact, I have a hard time not popping my collar on any shirt designed with a structured collar.
A popped collar is just sassy and looks chic. Today I’m sharing exactly what I do to pop my collar and keep it up. I’m updating this post from 2018 with some fresh links to fabulous shirts.
Long hair is a real challenge with a popped collar so you’ll have more success if you wear your hair up.
The softer the fabric, the tougher your challenge. As you see, I do fold the collar down but not where the manufacturer intended it to be.
Here are a few things to try:
Spray Starch
Good old-fashioned spray starch like this works wonders at stiffening your collar, which it needs to be to stay up. Lay the collar flat on your ironing board. Spray the top of the yoke and collar with spray starch and press. Flip and repeat. Here’s the important part, leave it laying flat until it cools completely! If you’re planning to hang it up before wearing it, hang it with the collar popped up! Be careful you don’t crush it when hanging on the rod.
Fold Collar and Finger press
Pop collar up and fold back down 1/2″ in the back. “Press” it lightly with your fingers for a moment to help set that small fold. This alone can often prevent the entire collar from coming down.
Iron collar to the inside
Most shirt collars are meant to crease along the neckline. If you’re not a fan of spray starch or it’s still not working, iron it the opposite way. Fold the collar to the inside and iron. Let it let cool completely before moving or wearing.
The trick is to pop just the back of your collar and have it angled down toward the front. Are popped collars still in style? Of course, it’s always fun to add a little attitude to your look and a popped collar does just that.
Any and all crisp or semi crisp button-down shirt is a candidate to pop. I love also adding a brooch at the throat which really keeps a woman’s collar up!
The underside of a popped collar is also the perfect place to showcase a beautiful scarf.
SOME SHIRTS WITH GREAT COLORS TO POP
Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
Love this look and have been doing it since time immemorial – when I first viewed Lauren Bacall showing it off in “Designing Woman” … and she did it for her entire life. Classy never goes out of style!
I agree!!
Do you normally just pop the collar in the back or do you on occasion pop it up all the way around?
I sometimes pop the side too, button the top button and add a brooch at the neck.
I love this. So many great tips for how to pop one’s collar – where’ve you been all my life! Lol. Thank you, so much 💜
My pleasure. Welcome!
My mom used to do this your styles and proportions are very similar. Always classic and classy.
i have always loved to have the back of my collar up in back since high school in 1950. It was stylish back then and still chic today. I still , as then, soak my shirts in starch water after washing them. I hang them up dripping , inside out ( no shoulder bump ) on a hanger. The collar is dried in this manner up strait . Mission accomplished . Thank you for your posts. At my age it is difficult to go shopping and you keep us posted of the newest styles and merchandise offered in the market places. Of course, Norstroms is my favorite. 😊
That’s a great idea!!
You have the only post I can find about how to keep a collar popped! Thank you! I also love the look, a la Carolina Herrera, and I have a dress I’m wearing to a wedding in December and I’m trying to get the collar to stay up. Unfortunately, I think the material won’t allow it even with your great suggestions. Can I use the collar stays I see on Amazon? I’ve never used them before. Thank you again!
You could have a seamstress insert them in the back of the collar. She’d have to sew a channel to slide it in but it would absolutely work.
great post and tips. really needed the suggestions. thanks
Love the look, always have. Been wearing popped up collars for 35+ years! Also, love your sense of humor. You’re hilarious on fb. More please!
Though it has died down, how do you feel about the popped collar look on men?
I love popped collars on everyone! They add a level of insouciance that always looks chic.
unless you are wearing an egg, it is a yoke, not yolk.
Hilarious! I missed that
Great tips on popping the collar. Mine don’t stay up
Love your white blouse. Do you have comments on good ones.?
I think the no iron ones from Foxcroft and Chico’s are fabulous. Some others need touching up, those never do!