ONE-PIECE COLLAR SHIRTS AKA COOPER COLLAR is THE COLLAR OF A MADEMAN
The Cooper Collar, also known as the California collar, describes a shirt where one-piece is cut on the bias all the way from about the third shirt button, up around the collar, and back down. The effect is a collar that stands on its own, remaining perfectly parted for those jacket and odd trouser days, preferably with suede loafers and an eclectic pocket square. It became popular as as the casual collar of choice of men’s style icon Gary Cooper, which is not a bad role model.
An easy way to upgrade an outfit is to play around with its collar style. The shirt design has its own language a one-piece collar can look fantastic when layered underneath a sport coat.
Like many of the styles here, the one-piece collar recalls the grand old traditions of vacation life, when jetsettlers used to spend their summers in the French Riveria. When worn under a jacket, a one-piece collar will have the soft, angelic roll of a button-down, but look even more fluid. If the collar points aren’t anchored down with buttons, however, they’ll splash out when they’re not worn underneath a jacket (the effect looks like an aggressive cutaway collar). we tend to like these better when they’re layered underneath something, so the collar stands upright.
ONE PIECE COLLAR VS REGULAR BUTTON DOWN
SHIRT
is there a difference?
At first glance you’d probably look and think this collar is a type of button down collar. Then you look closer and go, “wait… something is different here…”
The collar itself is distinguished in that it’s cut from a single piece of cloth that extends through the front torso and doubles as a placket. This reinforcing effect allows the collar to stand on its own, without collapsing under it’s own weight. There is no interlining or collar band whatsoever which gives it a roll that you won’t see with any other shirt collar and a curved top placket which give it a unique casual look.
For it to look / function as described, the one piece collar requires a skilled pattern cutter, making it almost exclusively a custom or bespoke item. As such, one piece collars are rarely found in ready to wear shirts. As the placket and collar are one, the pattern needs to be cut with absolute precision and with an exact curvature that give it such a distinct look. It’s an incredibly difficult construction that if cut poorly, ruins the entire shirt’s look.
Laying on with a Suit Jacket
The One Piece Collar in Action
The resultant effect is a shirt that looks totally natural sans tie. If you’re into collar roll, the one piece collar is the perfect casual shirt – appropriate with or without a blazer. The other benefit is comfort. You never have to worry about a one piece collar collapsing as some collars sometimes do with a blazer.
ONE PIECE COLLAR ON OUR CLIENTS
WHAT THEY SAY:
Wow the comfort is unparalleled when you think of the freedom to go without a tie and not have to worry about constantly adjust a collapsing collar.
Now they can wear them with a tie but the biggest draw is how refined the one-piece collar feels in even an informal setting.
The one-piece collar makes elegance look easy,
much like Gary Cooper.
Attach below is a bonus from Gentlemen Gazette Talking about the famous one piece collar.
