Skate-Wear Central

Collar Man

The Advantages of Plastic Collar Stays and Metal Collar Stays

Not so many years back no gentleman going to work in the city would be seen dead without a starched shirt. The trouble was that the starched collar had to be a perfect fit if it wasn’t to cause near cutting of the neck. The housemaid had to be very careful in the exact amount of starch used in the final process of washing the shirt to ensure the correct stiffness. Too little starch would result in a shirt collar which would be limp before the end of the day at the office. Too much starch and the wearer of the collar felt the beginnings of a slow and cruel decapitation. The expression ‘he’s a stiff old shirt’ or ‘he’s a stiff collar’ must have derived from miserable looking business men constantly in pain from over starching. Poor old fools. Today of course there are still plenty of folk who like their shirts starched but starch today is not quite the industrial level stuff of the nineteenth century which left so many men in pain.

Somewhere along the line men, or more probably their wives, realized a little trick of making the shirt last more than just a day with the simple expedience of the detached collar. Exchanging the collar daily with a freshly starched one the following morning meant the man could carry on getting strangled but with a ‘two day’ shirt beneath his jacket which by day two had lost its starch and thereby at least given him some relief from a full above the waist starch attack! The detached collar of Victorian times called for the design of a collar box for the travelling man. These sometimes beautifully made round  leather boxes made just for holding a half dozen or so starched collars, still occasionally come up at provincial auctions around the country.

Later on some other bright spark hit upon the idea of collar stays. Doubtless this must have been the invention of a man and maybe some sadistic wives mourned the invention. (O.K. It may have been the invention of a very loving and concerned wife who felt pity for the lacerations around her husband’s neck).   Initially this clever device was made from slivers of whale bone; the larger pieces of course were used as the bigger stays of women’s corsets. The idea of the stay is to give the impression that the shirt is still crisply starched by keeping the collars straight and tight and free of creases. In the twentieth century, following the invention of plastic, the materials could be plastic collar stays and metal collar stays. Either material is as good as the other and becomes an individual choice.

Plastic collar stays and metal collar stays both have one big advantage over those early days of over starched shirts; you do not have to worry about neck injuries! I think there was a thriller film once where the hero managed to pick a lock and escape captivity with a metal stay from his shirt collar, so maybe there is more than one use.

About the Author

When you are looking for plastic collar stays and metal collar stays the best site for your search is http://www.qstays.com The selection is brilliant and you will not be anything other than delighted with the service. Just don’t ask them for starch!

Styx – Blue Collar Man (Live)

Mens Quiksilver Cypher Brigg Boardshorts $62 Cypher Brigg Boardshorts by Quiksilver are stylin’ man.

Mens Old Guys Rule Got to Do 2 Tee $19.95 A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do, just do it in the Old Guys Rule Got to Do 2 Tee

Womens VANS Desolate Top $39.5 Desolate Top by Vans is amazing. Man, I like this top!

Mens Islanders Burnout V-Neck Tee $22 The Islanders Burnout V-Neck Tee features the Islanders logo and and a v-neck collar all on a premium cotton shirt

Mens O’Neill John John Boardshort $60 John John Boardshort is from O’Neill. Hey man, stretch out or get in the water with these board shorts. Yea, you’re cool!

Mens Oakley Dispatch II Limited Edition Sunglasses $119.95 Dispatch II Limited Edition Sunglasses by Oakley are not the sunglasses you’d want to lose. Keep ‘em on your face, man!

Mens Islanders Empire $39 Empire by Islanders is the rasta style to be wearin’ these days. You got your rights man, so buy it!

Womens Hurley Prism ll Satchel $40 Prism ll Satchel is from Hurley. Man, they have great purses. This is a must have in your collection.

Mens Billabong Komplete Lanyard $8 Komplete Lanyard is from Billabong. Hey it’s a lanyard, man, what else can we say?

Mens Quiksilver Sea Stash $55 Sea Stash is from Quiksilver. If you’re going to the water, you need this bag. You have to keep your stuff dry, man!

Mens Paddle Out Fishing Is More Than Fish Tee $20 Fishing Is More Than Fish Tee by Paddle Out is a tee for the man that can’t think too much. You just can’t have enough fish!

Mens Rainbow Sandals Texas A&M Eastcape Sandals $41.95 GO AGGIES! Be a true 12th man with these Rainbow sandals! The non-slip insole and neoprene lined strap make this sandal great for everyday use and perfect for those times you plan on getting wet. SIZING NOTE: The Mens East Cape Rainbow Sandals are available in whole sizes only. If you normally wear a half size, it is recommended that you go to the next size up in these sandals.

Womens Rainbow Sandals Texas A&M Westcape Sandals $41.95 GO AGGIES! Be a true 12th man with these Rainbow sandals! The non-slip insole and neoprene lined strap make this sandal great for everyday use and perfect for those times you plan on getting wet. SIZING NOTE: Rainbow Westcape Sandals run true to size, however, they are only available in whole sizes. If you are a half-size, please go to the next size up. See Rainbow Sandals sizing chart for more information.

Womens Rainbow Sandals Premier Single Layer Texas A&M Sandals $51.95 GO AGGIES! With these Rainbow sandals you’ll truly be the 12th man! Handmade and held together with strong glue, Rainbow Sandals will stay in one piece and will keep your feet comfortable with sponge rubber that molds to your individual foot shape. Rainbow Sandals keep the beaches clean and our feet comfortable, and they have grown to become a world-known brand that provides us with a variety of sandal choices, as well as shoes and boots. With an unbeatable Rainbow Guarantee, your Rainbow Sandals and Footwear will carry your feet for miles. SIZING NOTE: Mens Rainbow Sandals run true to size, however, they have a wider footbed than the womens Rainbow Sandals. Many women with a wider foot order the mens sandals if the womens sizes are too narrow. See Rainbow Sizing Chart to compare mens and womens sizing. NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT USE PETROLEUM OR OIL BASED CONDITIONER, CLEANER, SEALER OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF CHEMICAL ON THE LEATHER SURFACE OF RAINBOW SANDALS. DOING SO WILL CAUSE UN-REPAIRABLE DE-LAMINATING AND SUCH DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RAINBOW GUARANTEE

Mens Rainbow Sandals Premier Single Layer Texas A&M Sandals $51.95 GO AGGIES! With these Rainbow sandals you’ll truly be the 12th man! Handmade and held together with strong glue, Rainbow Sandals will stay in one piece and will keep your feet comfortable with sponge rubber that molds to your individual foot shape. Rainbow Sandals keep the beaches clean and our feet comfortable, and they have grown to become a world-known brand that provides us with a variety of sandal choices, as well as shoes and boots. With an unbeatable Rainbow Guarantee, your Rainbow Sandals and Footwear will carry your feet for miles. SIZING NOTE: Mens Rainbow Sandals run true to size, however, they have a wider footbed than the womens Rainbow Sandals. Many women with a wider foot order the mens sandals if the womens sizes are too narrow. See Rainbow Sizing Chart to compare mens and womens sizing. NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT USE PETROLEUM OR OIL BASED CONDITIONER, CLEANER, SEALER OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF CHEMICAL ON THE LEATHER SURFACE OF RAINBOW SANDALS. DOING SO WILL CAUSE UN-REPAIRABLE DE-LAMINATING AND SUCH DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RAINBOW GUARANTEE

Mens Lifetime Shirt – Lifetime Lucky Man Long Sleeve Woven Shirt $49.5 Solid blue shirt with chest pocket. Button front. Medium spread collar. Long sleeves. Straight yoke. Regular fit. Machine washable. Imported. 100% cotton.Medium shown.

Mens Pusher Man, Black $19.5 Screen-printed T-shirt, Custom sleeve label, Available in sizes: S, M, L, XL

Mens Pusher Man, White $19.5 Screen-printed T-shirt, Custom sleeve label, Available in sizes: S, M, L, XL

Women’s MIA Parisian $53.99 Easy slip-on wear with elasticized collar; Man-made upper with contrasting trim and beautifully-crafted stone detail; Man-made lining; Lightly cushioned man-made footbed; Flexible man-made sole;