Collar Stays Guide - How to Use and Different Options

Collar stays are small, flat accessories that are designed to stiffen the collars of dress shirts. They do this by being inserted into small pockets that are sewn into the underside of dress shirts. Most dress shirt manufacturers will include a collar stay, but many of these are sub-par and should be replaced by stays of higher quality and/or strength.
Below you will find links to some that I personally use, but there are many options on the market. Have you found some that you like? Leave a comment down below and let the rest of us in the Mandem know.
Collar and Cuffs London Multi-Tool Collar Stays:
www.collarandcuffslondon.com/accessories-for-men/collar-stiffeners.html
Wurkin Stiffs Magnetic Collar Stays:
www.wurkinstiffs.com/collections/magnetic-collar-solutions

[@karldorn7099]

I have been using wurkin stiffs for about 4 years, with magnets, love them!

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

They’re great! With or without a tie!

[@karldorn7099]

@@thegreyfoxmandem They really help with business casual to create a little more conservative look.

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

I’ve always found the visible buttons of the OCBD shirts unsightly. These give a much cleaner, distinguished look. You’ve got good taste, my friend!

[@SendItVibes]

I odered some from &collar, thank you sir.

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

You’re welcome, Bill. I’ve owned mine for six years now and have never needed to replace them.

[@lightningal1777]

Ngl I kinda like the arced look that the magnets give the second shirt

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

Right?! It gives the tight look of the button-down Oxford collar without the unsightly buttons.

[@Lassehansen3]

Honestly not the biggest fan of collar stays in general 🙂 in fact I often remove them. I far more prefer the softer look and if the shirt collar is properly designed, it shouldn’t be necessary 🙂👍 The multi-tool ones might make me change my mind though 😂 they are actually pretty cool, and practical. 👍😅

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

Ah yes, what could be more masculine than wearing a multi-tool around your throat! 🤣😁 I actually like them for exactly that reason! Thanks for your perspective Lasse, we all greatly appreciate it!

[@Whoarreyou]

8:30 love it 👆 Big fan sir

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

Likewise sir!

[@andrewxx445]

What if my collar shirt doesn’t have the inserts for the collar stays to insert

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

It’s not a perfect solution, since it doesn’t have the rigid support that a full-length collar stay has, but you can try the magnetic stays that are mentioned in the video. They’ll keep the point of your collar in place while a well-starched collar body will do the rest. If you’re wearing a tie, you can also try a collar bar, which is a device designed to clamp the two collars together beneath a tie. VVCome 3PCS Men's Classic Tie Clips Shirt Collar Clip Collar Bar for Necktie Gold Silver Black Tone Necktie Bar Pinch Clips Tie Pins Collar Holder a.co/d/1HaGjVv

[@danielfrancis3660]

Love collar stays but i keep losing them

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

Somehow I’ve been lucky enough to not lose a collar stay NOR one of those tiny magnets! 😆 But I can imagine if they go through laundry or dry cleaners, they’re lost!

[@samtsang8471]

For me, I just get a box of collar stays and whenever I put a dress shirt on, I just make it a routine to stick one in and then I take it out when I'm done wearing and ready to wash. For me, it's just getting used to that routine. I just can't understand how someone can have a collar stay emergency.

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

I agree! It has become such a routine for me as well. A collar just doesn’t look right without that additional stability of a metal stay. But a collar stay emergency? Not sure when that would actually happen!😄

[@samtsang8471]

@@thegreyfoxmandem In addition, there're collars that're less formal. Such collars don't really need a stay. A relaxed shirt that's meant to be worn open collar seems to be exactly the kind that doesn't need a stay. Those i don't really bother with.

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

@@samtsang8471 Most of the casual shirts I wear are either athleisure or henley’s-neither of which have collars. The Polo shirt in the video was the first soft-collar that I tried with the Wurkin Stiffs Stick-N-Stays. If I was wearing a Polo just to run to the store, I probably wouldn’t worry about it. But if I was at a presentation where my company’s uniform included a Polo shirt, I would probably wear the stays to maintain a neat appearance.

[@too2810]

Polo collar stays are a hard pass

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

I honestly tried once with this one polo and haven’t tried them since. I guess that’s a pass from me as well.

[@danielfrancis3660]

Oh yeah get silver or gold ones not plastic

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

I’ve always had stainless or titanium ones, but SILVER? Hmmm…I’m intrigued. I may have to be on the lookout for those!

[@Jletzgo]

Is . . Is . . Is my Mom a Mo. Mo. Mo. MoMo. Monsterrr?! (Bold and italicized text). 😢

[@thegreyfoxmandem]

YOU’RE mom?? NEVER! That woman’s a saint! Truly a national treasure!