MAN’S COLLAR

Cromwell Argus, Volume L, Issue 2644, 13 October 1919, Page 3

MAN’S COLLAR

ITS 01UG IX

(.beat oaks - from little acorns grow. but in the ease of men's collars the process has been reversed (says an American paper). Collars have been growiifg steadily smaller and smaller. The collar of to-day had its origin in Ihe Spannish rulf. This was a huge affair, usually at least 9in wide and containing as much as 18 yards of tine, sheer linen. It, was often elaborately decorated with fancy gold, silver, and silk faces. Tin; ruff wa j introduced into Kngland and France during the reign of Queen Klizahetli, and no article of dress ever sprang in ore ■ (jnickly into popular favor. •Soon it became the distinguishing mark of every gentleman of family and breeding as well as of those who had only great wealth to recommend them. But. rapid as the i ntf’s rise to favor was. it was a fashion that was comparatively short lived. Prejudice began to be shown against it on the gioiind of its high cost and because it was thought too ostentatious for any true gentleman. The result was the introduction of what was known as the “ playne baud ” —a flat linen collar extending over the shoulders. These were- quickly adopted by the Puritans and others, who thought economy and plainness in dress a virtue. But even the " playne band ” was not destined to long life. The collar kept- shrinking in size until it reached the two or three inch widlii of the present day. An American woman is said to have invented the modern starched linen collar. S; : c was the wife of a blacksmith in Troy. New York, ami she invented the separate collar to save work, as she noted that the shirt remained clean much longer than The collar.