The collar pin
An alternative to the collar bar is the collar pin, and it looks a bit like a large safety pin. True to its name, it will actually puncture your shirt collar. Therefore, after tying your neck tie, you’ll need to choose a good spot on either side of the collar to pin through. This isn’t too complicated so long as you end up with a level looking pin.
The more rounded nature of the collar pin makes for a slightly less dressy aesthetic than the collar bar.
If you’re worried about poking holes in your favorite shirts, there’s a good chance that after laundering the shirt, these small holes will no longer be noticeable. However, after repeated wearings, I do feel that the collar pin will degrade your shirt collar, so it’s something to keep an eye on.
From a purely economic perspective, it really comes down to how often you think you’ll be wearing a collar pin. If you like the look and you’re wearing it several days a week, then it may be time to invest in a custom shirt with pre-formed holes and use a collar bar.
Pros: You can wear a collar pin on any dress shirt.
Cons: You’re physically puncturing your shirt collar and over time, this will degrade the fabric and leave permanent holes on the fabric.
Comments