Spear point collar shirts

[Marc Chevalier]

That's a "modified spread" or "semi-spread" collar with long blades. It came into wide popularity in the later 1940s as an element of the "Bold Look" in men's suits and accessories. Variations of this collar are often seen in gabardine sport shirts of the era.


My rough guess is that Costello's collar is about 4.5 inches long.

 

[Johnny J]

Thanks Marc. I appreciate the knowledge you have on vintage clothing.

 

[esteban68]

Paddy whats the quality like.. I recently visited the Meadowhell branch and was fairly impressed with their offerings, I belierve they are doing some decent offers until January?
I asked if they did a 'spearpoint' and the guy knew straight away what they were and honestly said "not as such but we have a very close collar shape" he showed us one and it looked OK but seeing one on I can see me goping back, they also do made to measure options for not a lot more which for my 17" collar x 42" x 36 " shirt size with a short arm is aq definate bonus as most of the shirts I have are too long on the arms and too baggy around the middle unless I get a slimfit option.

 

[PADDY]

Unsure if they are doing 'this' model anymore. It was a slim-fit (so nicely tailored & tapered into the body), John Francomb design for TM Lewin. The collar is a nice length and works well with a collar bar. Plus great price when they were selling them off.

 

[Edward]

Last I was in they only had the generic spread collar. Charles Tyrwitt has a nice pin collar, but only on their "tailored" fit which requires a corset and no inhaling.

 

[Guttersnipe]

It's so annoying that, over the last few years, shirt manufactures have moved towards only offering two fits, balloonish and painfully tapered!

 

[Tomasso]

Why is a thread dedicated to spear point collars being littered with collars that can in no way be described as spear point?

 

[Two Types]

Why is a thread dedicated to spear point collars being littered with collars that can in no way be described as spear point?

I assume it's because people who genuinely want to own a wardrobe full of authentic spearpoint shirts - but cannot afford to - wish to celebrate and share the knowledge when they discover shirts with a similar long-pointed collar (but which may not be authentic) that they can actually afford.

 

[cookie]

Why is a thread dedicated to spear point collars being littered with collars that can in no way be described as spear point?

+1

 

[PADDY]

Why is a thread dedicated to spear point collars being littered with collars that can in no way be described as spear point?

As you'll be aware, there 'was' a difference between the English and the US spear points. I can't afford a modern made equivalent to those lovely long curved lines that ReVamp are producing.
However, I try to get the 'closest' I can within the limited budget I can afford and then 'share' those sources with other members in the same boat [huh]
The Lewin's are actually longer than the camera seems to be picking up on - to be fair.

But I understand those purists out there who love the extra long sweep and curved spear points and my pictures/sources probably don't satisfy that so pics removed.

 

[Two Types]

As you'll be aware, there 'was' a difference between the English and the US spear points. I can't afford a modern made equivalent to those lovely long curved lines that ReVamp are producing.
However, I try to get the 'closest' I can within the limited budget I can afford and then 'share' those sources with other members in the same boat [huh]
The Lewin's are actually longer than the camera seems to be picking up on - to be fair.

But I understand those purists out there who love the extra long sweep and curved spear points and my pictures/sources probably don't satisfy that so pics removed.

Paddy,

I don't see any reason to remove the pics. Looking back at the first post on this thread, the theme was the joy of finding longish-pointed collars for sale at a reasonable price in the UK (a Tesco shirt). As we all know, most british shirts have spread collars so any information on alternatives is always gratefully received.
The thread seems to me to have been intended to share that knowledge and show other Brits a source of appropriate shirts. Your recent post did exactly that (as had my own posts of the Racing Green shirts) and seem to be in keeping with the original theme.
Maybe some might find the title confusing but there seems to be a genuine interest from others posting on this thread.

 

[Edward]

Paddy,

I don't see any reason to remove the pics. Looking back at the first post on this thread, the theme was the joy of finding longish-pointed collars for sale at a reasonable price in the UK (a Tesco shirt). As we all know, most british shirts have spread collars so any information on alternatives is always gratefully received.
The thread seems to me to have been intended to share that knowledge and show other Brits a source of appropriate shirts. Your recent post did exactly that (as had my own posts of the Racing Green shirts) and seem to be in keeping with the original theme.
Maybe some might find the title confusing but there seems to be a genuine interest from others posting on this thread.

Hear hear!

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Away from that: There are some very nice spearpoint collar shirts in the 1931 FRANKENSTEIN

Ask google for pictures of Colin Clive who plays Dr Frankenstein:

 

[PADDY]

Actually, this was started "by me" based on an affordable shirt I found & chose to share with initially the UK crowd to which our US cousins appreciated and added to. See Post 1.
So no hijack. But spear "point" noted (some shapes shown aren't really "the shape" so we need to focus on the shape please - think "long, pointy & if possible sweeping.

Remember - we're here to help each other in a positive way, not ridicule.

Right - back off & move along with this folks please. It's affordable Spearpoints that are "as close" to the spearpoint look as possible, within a tight budget. Share where we can find them and the price.

 

[Two Types]

Yes, and let's go to the spectator shoe thread and show off our trainers because we can't afford spectator shoes.

Seriously, if you want to discuss affordable Spread Collar shirts that are available in the UK, then start a thread; don't hijack the Spear Point Collar thread.

I am rather confused by the description of someone 'hijacking' this thread. It appears that Paddy's recent post and photos raised this concern, however since Paddy started the thread with a post of a shirt whose collar was an approximation of a spear point, I don't see how he can be considered to have hijacked anything.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

I agree to paddy. The forum is a place to help each other and deliver information. There are collectors who have some of the best vintage pieces and I really love to look at their stuff.
But there are also a lot of member who need to live on a budget and try to make the best out of it. I am one of them (I am lucky to live with a seamstress though)

I once introduced the Signum shirts. They are not perfect but have a nice collar. Now most of the german vintage wearers bought some of them and it is funny to see all the shirts at the last meeting this fall.

For real cool shirts I recommend Revamp or Vecona. The Darcy shirts need a sharper curve, imo.

 

[esteban68]

I have been on other forums and had membership of clubs before where elitism split the sites and clubs and it wasn't nice, we are all in it together, we are collectors and re-enactors, often we have different words and understandings even for the same word, the spearpoint collars are just one example, you cannot lump all such collars into an exact example, in the UK people often talk of 'flared' trousers but in the 1970's there were flares and then there were FLARES.
I/we know there were 'proper' spearpoint collars in the UK and examples have been shown, but I have rarely seen such examples in period photographs of UK subjects, maybe matinee idols but definately very uncommon within hoi polloi most of which would wear no collars on their 'grandad shirts'.
I know this is a predominantly US based site but there are people from around the world on it and all their nations had different ideas about clothing just check out the show us your suits thread, which has now split into, several sub threads, perhaps that is the answer?
I don't think Paddy was wrong in showing what was/is available.

 

[Tomasso]

Spear Point Collar

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[esteban68]

Originally Posted by Marc Chevalier

"Back in the 1990s, the "Perry Ellis" brand put out dress shirts with pretty good spearpoint collars"

A.C. Lyles "Armani and Versace did as well"

 

[PADDY]

So this Jantzen shouldn't be here then either..?