Are Collar Bars Old Fashioned?
Collar bars reached their height of popularity in the Roaring 20s when they became the quintessential accessories for dapper style. Prized for their detail and ability to deliver nuanced style, collar bars appeared on some of our most revered Hollywood icons, such as Fred Astaire.
When men wear jeans and T-shirts to work these days, it's understandable to worry about wearing collarbars that are too old-fashioned. However, it's important to remember that even as many older fashions continually circulate into the modern sphere, collar bars still maintain traction in the 2019 landscape. Collar bars add a subtle vintage flair to your suit and a level of detail that many others fail to consider.
Elegance and opulent detail were hallmarks of the 1920s fashion landscape, and other accessories like suspenders, cufflinks, and watch chains were all at their height. Their level of intricacy made collar bars and these other accessories so highly in demand.
In today's oversaturated landscape of modern accessories, it's easy to forget the role collar bars once played in men's fashion. It's all too common to focus more attention on big-ticket items such as jackets and ties, mainly when there are so many competing financial pressures. But one thing's sure: collar bars can transform your outfit from ordinary to nuanced.
Hollywood Revival of Collar Bars
Although it's uncommon to see a men's collar bar daily, they're undeniably experiencing a revival in Hollywood. Jay Z was spotted wearing them on the red-carpet numerous times in 2013, and Harvey Spectre regularly sports them on the TV drama Suits.
If that isn't enough to convince you, Daniel Craig made a statement in the latest James Bond instalment, Spectre, when he wore a collar bar with a classic black tie and suit combination.
The 2013 remake of The Great Gatsby saw a massive revival of 1920s fashion sported by Leonardo di Caprio. Collar bars, waistcoats, pocket watches, and even the fashion walking stick appeared. The overwhelming blockbuster success of The Great Gatsby shows our sentimentality of the past, particularly our glamourisation of the 1920s era.
The Verdict
Collar bars are undeniably old-fashioned, as are so many accessories and staples we still use daily. The ties we take for granted originated in the 17th century—long before the collar bar was ever imagined.
Collar bars may have vintage appeal, but they do the hard yards in making your tie look more assertive and more confident than it does by itself. A collar bar's invaluable arc shape can be the difference between acing a job interview and leaving your potential employer unsure. However, are collar bars compatible with any collar? Not precisely—traditional collar bars are designed explicitly for shirts with pinholes, such as a pin collar shirt, to support their structure. Modern collar pins offer more flexibility but require the right shirt style for the best effect. The value of a collar bar is just as symbolic as anything; it's synonymous with pride as it creates a confident arrangement on your chest.
