It has now been over 20 years since Michael Douglas, as Gordon Gekko, donned contrasting collared shirts to complement his well-tailored power suits in the movie "Wall Street."   The contrasting collar look that thrived during the eighties is now back and even coming on strong across the pond in the UK.  It's now being seen outside the boardroom as well. This look is being worn with sport coats (sans necktie), and has even influenced some designer sportswear lines as well.

Christian Boehm, Tom James’ Director of merchandising: "The appeal of this look and its secret is that the shirt is set in a white frame, which features your face. Your eye is naturally drawn to the collar and then to the face which is what it is supposed to do. They are perfect for public speaking events or important meetings where you want the attention drawn to you." 

Gekko was not the first to wear the white collar. The look goes back to the turn of the century. A housewife in Troy, NY named Hannah Montague invented detachable collars, because she noticed that the collars soiled and wore out faster than the rest of her husband’s shirts. He loved the look and so did the other gentleman in his office. The word got out and a new business was born. The look caught on and became a status symbol in executive offices. Soon afterwards, the detachable collars were being replaced with white collars on vibrant colored striped or solid bodies. White turn-ups, or French cuffs, were also added to finish the look, and thus this sophisticated style remains today.

For the coming season, spread collars remain a solid fashion statement. If you’re game, the best way to freshen the look is with white collar and cuffs. While changing your entire shirt rotation is not recommended, adding several to your collection would be a smart decision.