Popped Blouse Collar

Woman who is wearing a shirt with the collar popped up
Photo: Quadshock/Shutterstock
Q: I love the preppy look of popped blouse or polo shirt collars, and I think they look especially stylish paired with a pixie cut! Unfortunately, turning up the collars of my own shirts and blouses never seems to work. Maybe my collars are just too soft or floppy to stay up. Are there any tricks to making a collar stiffer so it stays popped all day? If I can finally manage to keep my shirt collar standing up, I'll definitely go for a pixie cut.
 
A: A popped collar has a timeless, sporty-preppy appeal, and it can look especially chic with a pixie cut. A short haircut draws attention to your neckline and collar, so the combination creates a clean look that's both classic and modern.
 
With most collared shirts, especially those designed to be worn buttoned up, the fabric has been pressed and stitched with a fold line. Because of that, the collar "remembers" its intended position and tends to flop back down whenever you try to stand it up.
 

Laundry and Ironing

One of the best ways to train your collar is during laundering. Always unbutton the collar before washing the shirt. Once it's clean, remove it from the dryer as soon as the cycle finishes (or while slightly damp) then hang the shirt with the collar standing upright instead of folded over. As the fabric dries and cools, it will begin to take on that shape.
 
Before wearing the shirt, press the collar with a hot iron while it's in the upright position. A light or medium spray starch can make a noticeable difference by helping the collar resist folding over. If you prefer an even firmer finish, apply two light coats of starch rather than one heavy coat, allowing each to dry slightly before ironing. Crisp 100% cotton shirts usually respond especially well to this technique, while softer fabrics like rayon, silk, or lightweight linen may never stand firmly without extra structural help.
 
Another trick is to choose shirts with collars that have a little more structure. Oxford cloth shirts and heavy cotton piqué polo shirts hold their shape far better than fluid knits or soft, delicate weaves. Look for shirts crafted with fusible inner lining or stiff interfacing built inside the collar band.
 
Woman wearing a shirt with the collar up
 

Styling Hacks and Accessories

Standard collar stays are traditionally used to keep the collar points flat when worn folded down, but when popped, they can actually weigh the fabric down. Instead, consider these extra tricks to keep your collar standing tall:
 
• Layering: Wear your collared shirt under a fitted sweater, blazer, or denim jacket. The jacket lapel or sweater neckline supports the back of the collar, locking it in place all day.
 
• Hidden Accessories & Tape: Use double-sided fashion tape applied between the inner collar band and the shirt neck, or insert flexible, adhesive collar supporters designed specifically to hold collars upright.
 
• Strategic Buttoning: Buttoning the top button directly beneath the collar band creates a narrower base, forcing the collar to stand up straighter rather than spreading out and flopping over your shoulders.
 
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See also:
 
How to wear front buttoned blouses
 
The boyfriend fashion trend
 
How to look cute in a cardigan