History Of The White Collar Shirt: A Menswear Guide

History Of The White Collar Shirt: A Menswear Guide

White collar. Blue collar. Used for decades as an identifying mark of the type of work a man does, the phrases are popular around the world, and only in relation to shirts or menswear. Almost exclusively associated with manual labor, the blue collar is still worn by hard-working men in a variety of occupations that require strength and training. Generally seen on professional men, the white collar generally labels a man as an office worker or other type of professional.

From where did these phrases originate? It turns out, in fact, that these terms have their root in American literature dating back nearly a century. Popular American author Upton Sinclair is credited with coining the term "white collar" as the distinguishing mark of a professional man. From his observations in the early 1930s, Sinclair witnessed the popularity of the classic white shirt as a menswear staple as far back as the turn of the century. Indeed, in the 19th and 20th centuries, businessmen in Europe and America were actually required to wear a dress shirt with a white collar when going about business.

Today, from Wall Street stockbrokers to New Zealand's top corporate executives, the white collar still prevails as a men's clothing favorite. Of course, men's fashion has enjoyed an infusion of color and style variations over the past century, but the clean, fresh look of a collared white dress shirt maintains its timeless appeal.

Perhaps it is the striking look of a freshly-pressed white shirt, or the way a distinctive tie can be set off by a clean white shirt. Maybe a favorite pair of cufflinks is best showcased by the neutral white cuff. Whatever the reason, the white collared dress shirt is as popular today as it was in Upton Sinclair's time, and men who wear them continue to set themselves apart as fashionable and distinguished, much like the business professionals of the last century. Apparently, some trends in fashion are here to stay.

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