BARE. NECKS FOR MEN

Evening Star, Issue 17227, 17 December 1919, Page 6

BARE. NECKS FOR MEN

News comes from France that young men’ of fashion want to imitate young women of fashion in neck exposure. Some of the bolder spirits have already discarded stiff and soft collars, and have appeared at fashionable seaside resorts in open, flowing, chest-exposing “Byronio” collars. “There is no donbt that freedom of the neck helps both in the general health of the body and the development, of the. neck muscles,” said a Harley streetphysician. “If you are observant, yon have probably noticed that men who wear low or loose collars, or no collar at all. like sailors, are invariably better developed men, and have a healthier appearance than a man who tries to throttle himself with a 3jin linen band.” A hosier stated that Englishmen would not tolerate low necks, although he thought it was the next step after the soft collar. “Stiff-necked lingland” started with the ruffle, in Queen Elizabeth’s days. Since then we have always kept our throats covered. Demobilised soldiers are used to high collars, and although officers certainly did wear unstarched neckwear it. was never loose. Besides, most men have not nice necks to expose. Constant cramping has slightly deformed the modern neck, and, except in the case of athletes, the necks of men do not sit well upon their shoulders.