The Best Collar Stays Currently Available

Are you in search of the best collar stays? Well, you’re in luck, because I’ve found some great products.

For years, I’ve struggled with keeping my casual button-up shirt neck straight and in place. If you wear casual button-up shirts too, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.

Outside of my shirts that have collar stay pockets, or integrated plastic collar tabs, all my other collared shirts need constant ironing to stay semi-straight and looking decent.

Even with ironing, the necks on my button-up shirts still flop around, and lose that just-ironed crispness in minutes.

In fact, I’ve long thought about creating my very own solution, and how I would approach fixing my crinkled collar problem. One of my ideas was to create a stick-on collar stick pocket that could be applied to any shirt. Then, once the pocket was attached, you could insert a plastic or metal collar stiffener and keep the shirt’s neck looking spiffy.

But that only solves one part of the problem — keeping the tips of your collars straight.

It doesn’t address the other issue of keeping your shirt necks upright and in place. if you’d like to learn more about that, check out my article about placket stiffeners.

Types of Collars in Men’s Shirts

There are plenty of articles and images on the internet that go over the different collar types. But as a quick recap, here are the most common men’s shirt neck types

"Types
  1. Cutaway
  2. English Spread
  3. Spread
  4. Forward Point
  5. Snap-Tab
  6. Abbreviated Spread
  7. Club
  8. Button-Down
  9. Tab Collar
  10. Eyelet Collar
  11. Hidden Button
  12. Italian Spread
  13. British Spread
  14. 2-Button Collar Band
  15. Wing Tip

There are more, and probably some overlap in the list above, but the the fact remains that nearly any collared shirt, even those with a stiffener can look frumpy from time to time.

What are Collar Stays or Stiffeners?

collar stays
A traditional stiffener

Just like other product categories, this term can mean different things.

Most commonly, these are those small rigid strips, rounded at one end and pointed at the other, that either slide into a holder on the under-side of a shirt neck, or are built directly into the collar of the shirt.

They can be made out of nearly material that has some rigidity to it.

The most common material, and least expensive is thin, but stiff plastic.

Of course, if you want something a tad fancier, you can get something made from stainless steel, sterling silver, brass, horn, and mother of pearl.

Check out Wikipedia’s page on collar stays where my friend Antonio Centeno from Real Men Real Style is credited with defining what they are.

People around the world know them as collar stiffeners, sticks, bones, knuckles, tabs, and last but definitely not least, collar stiffs.

What are The Best Collar Stays?

Here’s a list of the best collar stays that I’ve come across so far.

Fashion Anchors

Fashion Anchors are a small gel adhesive dot that not only can act as your perfect collar tabs, but they can also solve other fashion problems as well.

best collar stays

These are now on nearly every one of my casual button-up shirt collars. The best part, is that I can get many uses out of a single set because they stay on the shirt, until it’s time to wash it.

I hemmed my pants with them a couple of months ago. It took about 5 minutes, and the dots are still in place! I even used one today as a hidden button on one of my casual button-up shirts to keep my v-neck undershirt hidden.

Where to buy: Amazon

No Curl Collar Stays

Great for golf & polo shirts, dress shirts, sports shirts, or any other collared shirt!

No Curl Stays
  • Price: $9.99 (enough for 20 shirts)
  • Types: Stick-on (temporary)
  • Collar Stay Pocket Needed: No
  • Colors: Clear

Where to buy: Amazon

Stiff Collar Stays

Stiff Collar Stays solve 3 problems:

  • Open, sloppy collar
  • Wrinkled placket shirt
  • Lack of collar support

Works great without requiring magnets, glue dots or complicated shirt alterations.

Stiff Collar Stay
  • Price: $11.99
  • Collar Stay Pocket Needed: No
  • Color: Black (stays hidden)
  • Other: Works on any collared shirt, adjustable, holds up entire perimeter of collar

Where to buy: Amazon

Be sure to check out my placket stiffener article for other products that help address droopy or wrinkled plackets.

Wingman Collar Stays

Front portion of Wingman will straighten front part of collar, like a conventional collar stay. Rear portion of Wingman helps shape & hold curve of collar.

Wingman premium collar stays
  • Price: £19.95
  • Collar Stay Pocket Needed: Yes
  • Colors: Skyblue, Space Silver, Matte Black
  • Sizes: 2″, 2.5″, 2.7″

Where to buy: wingmanhq.co

Hulas Sport Collar Stays for Polos

One company called Hulas has created collar stays for polo shirts, a sportier version of the traditional design. I think of them as small felt guitar-pick like adhesive pads.

Collar stays for polo shirts
  • Price: $10.95 for 15-sets
  • Colors: Offered in different colors to match the polo shirt

Where to buy: fixmycollar.com

Würkin Stiffs

Another company more well known is Würkin Stiffs. They offer two types of this fashion accessory.

One is called Power Stays, which is most easily described as metal tabs, paired with a magnet backer. The idea is that that the accessory will keep your collar tip straight while the magnet part allows you to keep that tip more upright.

Würkin Stiffs collar stiffeners

Würkin Stiffs also offers Stick-N-Stays Magnetic Collar Stays for shirts that don’t have collar stay pockets.

Würkin Stiffs - Stick-n-stays
Stick-n-stays installation

The main drawback with Würkin Stiffs is that it is not too difficult to loose or have the the magnet part fall off. The most common complaint I’ve heard, is that the Würkin Stiffs magnets will fall off during the day, and wind up either lost, or somewhere inside your shirt or pants.

Where to buy: Amazon

What Do You Think?

What’s your experience with collar stays?

Have you tried any interesting collar stiffener products? If so, let me know about it in the comments section below.


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1 thought on “The Best Collar Stays Currently Available”

  1. Where can I find Plastic collar stiffeners? I was watching some 1950’s movies with Grace Kelly in them. She wore her shirt collars up in the back and folded at the tips. I’m sure she used some type (probably plastic) stiffeners to help maintain the collar and it became extremely popular. I’d like to wear my shirts like that. I thought it was very classy. Help please

    Reply

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