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Article: The Collar Code: A Clean Guide to Shirt Styles

The Collar Code: A Clean Guide to Shirt Styles

When you look closer at your shirts, you’ll see that no two collars speak the same language. Some are designed for authority, others for ease and a few for expression. Together, they create a wardrobe of choices that guide how you show up, wherever the day takes you.

A well-chosen shirt collar style adapts to your itinerary. The regular collar shirt becomes your everyday constant, equally at home under a blazer or worn open after hours. And when it’s time to step outside formality, the Cuban collar shirt brings breezy refinement without losing structure. Each style is a different chapter in your personal story. 

At Selected, our premium shirts for men are designed with Nordic simplicity and modern versatility, offering styles that carry you smoothly from boardroom to rooftop dinner.

Why Do Shirt Collar Styles Define Character?

A shirt is never just a shirt, the collar shapes the attitude. From formal meetings to laid-back weekends, collars frame your look and set the tone. With Selected, understanding these codes is simple, clear and always stylish.

The Regular Shirt Collar: The Classic ConstantThe Regular Shirt Collar: The Classic Constant

The regular collar shirt is the foundation of refined dressing. Balanced in proportion, it works smoothly under a blazer, with formal trousers or even left slightly open for a softer, contemporary edge. It’s the everyday essential for men who prefer timeless structure over fleeting trends.

The Button-Down Collar: Smart Utility
The Button-Down Collar: Smart Utility

Practical yet polished, the button down collar shirt brings understated confidence to office wardrobes. Originally designed for movement, it now signals control: ideal for office wear, travel days or smart casual evenings. You can pair it with chinos or tailored trousers for quiet versatility.

The Cuban Collar: Relaxed Refinement
The Cuban Collar: Relaxed Refinement

Defined by its open neckline and relaxed stance, the Cuban collar shirt is where modern ease meets European elegance. Perfect for warm-weather dressing, it works best with lightweight trousers or premium jeans. With its clean lines, it balances leisure with sophistication, making it a weekend staple that still commands presence.

The Spread Collar: Power in Precision
The Spread Collar: Power in Precision

The spread collar shirt is the language of formality; bold yet precise. Designed to frame ties elegantly, it anchors your formal wear for men wardrobe. You can pair it with blazers or suits for men to sharpen your presence in the boardroom or during high-stakes occasions. Structured, modern and definitive; this collar doesn’t whisper, it speaks.

The Polo Collar: Casual Elegance
The Polo Collar: Casual Elegance

More relaxed than its formal counterparts, the polo collar shirt sits at the crossroads of smart and casual. Minimal, versatile and endlessly wearable, it pairs with formal trousers for men when the agenda demands subtle polish or with jeans when off-duty style is in play. It’s a collar designed for men who value movement and ease without losing clarity.

Collars as a Style Language

Each collar is more than a design, it’s a signal. Regular for tradition, button-down for versatility, Cuban for ease, spread for authority, polo for understated polish. By curating the right mix of premium shirts for men, you build not just a wardrobe, but a toolkit, where each collar is ready to adapt to the rhythm of your day.

FAQs

Q: Which collar is best for everyday office wear?

A: The regular collar and button-down collar are ideal—they offer polish without rigidity.

Q: Can Cuban collars be styled formally?

A: Cuban collars lean relaxed, but when paired with tailored trousers and loafers, they deliver a contemporary take on smart casual.

Q: Do spread collars always require a tie?

A: No. While they frame ties beautifully, wearing them open adds modern sharpness without formality.

Collars That Speak Before You Do

Every collar carries intention: the ease of a Cuban on a weekend, the quiet strength of a spread in the boardroom, the balance of a regular for everyday confidence. Each one shifts the mood without changing the man, proving that true refinement is not about owning more, but about choosing with purpose. Collars aren’t just details; they’re quiet signals of character, presence and clarity.

At Selected, we believe style begins with intention. Our collection of premium shirts for men combines clean minimal design with timeless craftsmanship, offering collars for every code, whether it’s business, leisure or everything in between.

Discover shirts designed with intention, cut with clarity and built to last. Explore the shirt collar collection and define your style with purpose.

 

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