https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1hvf2gs
created by Birkenstock01 on 07/01/2025 at 00:51 UTC
260 upvotes, 44 top-level comments (showing 25)
I know a lot of you dismiss this wonderful piece of menswear, one with visual interest and a little bit of the "go to hell" mindset. The contrast collar shirt, or Winchester shirt, is a great addition to your collection of OCBDs and Grey Flannel Suits. J. Press, Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren, and many other reputable makers have sold them before, but due to the cassualization of menswear, a lot of variety has went away. Back in London, and other parts of the UK, it was common for men to wear out their shirts, and have a white collar added instead, so the old money principle of thriftiness is applied. Also, it's a great style for business wear if you want your cohorts and clients to know that you're into menswear, maybe strike up a conversation or two. It's a great "Trad Look." I'd recommend keeping the patterns to a conservative stripe, check, or solid (I love the ones with pastel boddies) and to make it extra trad have a club collar or collar pin or collar tab. They'll go great with your Flannels and Worsted fabrics but avoid wearing it with tweeds or sports wear. We have to keep the Ivy Tradition alive and keeping stylish pieces, especially ones that's represent the glorious 1920s and 1930s, out certainly makes it less interesting to many. Just because Kennedy or Take Ivy didn't feature it doesn't mean you can't incorporate it into your rotation. Do I recommend you wear it everyday? No, but a couple times a month or so helps to send the signal you're not stuck in a rut stylisticly, same as wearing a point collar shirt. Yes, keep your style conservative as to not send the signal you're a constant risk taker but through some dash in here and there tastefully and appropriately for your clientele and peers. Dress for a vibe, and if your outfit is say, 80% ivy, then you're probably sending an ivy vibe.
Comment by AutoModerator at 07/01/2025 at 00:51 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Is this a high-quality post that belongs on r/NavyBlazer's main page?
1: /message/compose/?to=/r/NavyBlazer
Comment by KofiObruni at 07/01/2025 at 01:05 UTC
180 upvotes, 5 direct replies
Funny, as a Brit they seem very American to me. Very wall street though / new money. I could see prep, probably not Ivy/trad.
Comment by lift_ticket83 at 07/01/2025 at 01:14 UTC
64 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I’m not sure why this is a hot take (perhaps because they’ve been hijacked and can look gaudy when done improperly). A contrasting club collar shirt fits the look perfectly.
Comment by OkPotential1072 at 07/01/2025 at 01:10 UTC
52 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I like to wear them while making sure everyone put the new cover sheet on their TPS reports.
Comment by freudsaidiwasfine at 07/01/2025 at 01:24 UTC
63 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Very banky and more yuppy imo.
Comment by Contumelious101 at 07/01/2025 at 04:32 UTC
9 upvotes, 0 direct replies
An alternate origin story for these are the tunic shirts worn by barristers (court lawyers / advocates in the UK and other commonwealth countries) that will wear a jabot with wing collars to court, and switch it out to a standard dress collar when out of court). Lots of the original Jermyn St makers in London would have shirts with detachable collars for this purpose.
Comment by ExclusivelyVintage at 07/01/2025 at 04:02 UTC
16 upvotes, 3 direct replies
I adore them, just that little bit of *flair* that is subtle. With white french cuffs too :)
Comment by AvastYeScurvyCurs at 07/01/2025 at 01:47 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I like them a lot. If you can get past the 80s finance-bro look and go straight to the 20s collegiate look.
Comment by dandrada968279 at 07/01/2025 at 01:03 UTC
21 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Gordon Gekko! It’s a good look, but easily messed up. Keep it simple; dark color suit and simple stripes. If suit is too baggy or shoulders too big - you’re a clown trying to copy your dad. If slim, not skinny, the contemporary silhouette will make the overall look pop in a good way.
Wondering if a shorter guy could pull this off (under 5’7”) could/should try this?
Comment by AxednAnswered at 07/01/2025 at 02:33 UTC
9 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Not my jam, y’all do y’all.
Comment by jamiesonwild at 07/01/2025 at 01:18 UTC
32 upvotes, 0 direct replies
They are ivy and very trade. Not sure why this is a debate. They came around because originally collars were interchangeable. It wasn't until later that collars were attached. During the 80s and then again during the very early 00's by way of the club collar contrasting collars came back. They have fallen out of poparity now as an option because of the association with "straight white men in power" (which is silly), as well as, an adoption of simpler looks and thrifting looks.
Comment by frijolesespeciales at 07/01/2025 at 06:47 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The jacket is too tight in the first pic
Comment by i-like-your-hair at 07/01/2025 at 03:37 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Excuse me, I have to return some video tapes.
Comment by SellaTheChair_ at 07/01/2025 at 14:05 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I went to a prep school and kids wore this kind of thing all the time. It always struck me as very preppy, the same way boat shoes and Nantucket red pants do. It's more of a casual choice but in your example photos with the tie and jacket it looks nice. Still a more sporty option than a regular shirt imo. Like a weekend shirt for the country club.
Comment by Quick353 at 07/01/2025 at 23:35 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I have a Winchester shirt from Brooks Brothers and I love it but I feel it really only works with a suit. I find it a bit too formal for even an odd jacket.
Comment by Beneficial-Sugar6950 at 07/01/2025 at 01:21 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Yes!!!! I love contrast collar shirts!
Comment by DangerMel at 07/01/2025 at 03:27 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I don’t know if this is unpopular or not, but I really like the white contrast collar look on men’s shirts. It’s certainly a bold choice.
Comment by Parking-Fig-7414 at 07/01/2025 at 07:13 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Of course it is-
Comment by Bluetooth_Sandwich at 07/01/2025 at 18:16 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Blake didn't wear one of these and he was a closer that drove an $80,000 BMW...
Comment by light--treason at 07/01/2025 at 18:35 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
They’re very corporate
Comment by _benjamin_braddock_ at 08/01/2025 at 00:31 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Someone who is actually part of what is referred to here as preppy, ivy or trad would not argue with strangers on the Internet.
Comment by Automatic_Rule4521 at 08/01/2025 at 00:55 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Wtf else would they be ….?!?
Comment by Specialist_Jello5527 at 07/01/2025 at 02:20 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I love the look of these, though I’ve never seen anyone wear this style shirt outside of the movies. It’s a statement piece for sure
Comment by vanity_chair at 07/01/2025 at 02:25 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I feel like it's certainly traditional, but not "trad/ivy". Not that that matters. Nowadays I mainly see it with morning dress in the UK. At weddings or Ascot sometimes.
But I also the the tab collar version does sneak into trad. You see it sometimes in pictures of ivy students in the 60s. Usually on people you'd assume were that era's version of "old-fogeys" or "#menswear" people.
Comment by Birkenstock01 at 07/01/2025 at 01:15 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
We all know that Gordon Gheko and Bill Lumburgh were well dressed. We are still talking about them 40 years later. Thank you, Alan Flusser!
