Black Tie shirt Collars: wingtip vs. turndown
Hi all, I'm looking for some practical advice regarding black Tie shirts collars.
I think a wingtip looks quite striking, and since black tie is quite exotic to be, I'm inclined to go all out.
However: 1) The MFA guide seems to recommend a "normal" turndown collar https://malefashionadvice.substack.com/p/black-tie-guide
2) the kings of Spain and England (whose style chops I was introduced to by Derek Guy) wear turndowns.
So I'm torn. Is the wingtip collar really as uncomfortable as the guide says?
Btw I'm especially interested in customs in Germany.
Black Tie Guide
by u/zachinthebox (2011)
7 Replies
wingtip is generally for white tie if I'm not mistaken so a classic turndown collar is the traditional here. That being said, depending on the event you can get away with quite a lot.
I'm going to a "black tie preferred" wedding later this year and I'm going to wear a white western shirt a bolo tie most likely
For Germany always turndown.
And please get either a pleated or pique front shirt with studs.
Very good. I feel like when I see black tie here it's always with wing tip, but you're confirming my suspicion that turndown is really preferred. Very well. I'll probably go with pleated.
Not sure whether I want to spring for studs, I quite like the "clean" look of the hidden buttons, which AFAICT do not use studs
I like a pique shirt and turndown collar, with a spread wide enough that the collar tips are beneath the jacket. Makes for a clean look that emphasizes the bow tie, for which I prefer a straight-end design. You always see a bunch of butterfly bow ties at formal events, so a straight-end stands out from the crowd and looks sleeker to me.
Interesting. When I picture this, the spread turndown kind of turns into a hybrid wingtip/turndown this way. For business shirts, I don't think spread collars suit me very well, but I'll look into it.
Here’s the kind of collar I’m thinking of. With a wing collar, the band of the tie shows, and I prefer having that hidden
Thanks!