Mandarin-collar shirts
A mandarin collar shirt stands up at the neck, with no fold and no tie.
From blazer to tee
Closed, under a blazer
Fasten the top button and skip the tie. It looks formal enough for a wedding.
One button open
Wear it with chinos or linen trousers. The neck stays cool and the look stays neat.
Open as a layer
A linen one works as a light overshirt on a plain white tee.
No tie needed. The collar does the job.
Collar first
Mandarin-collar shirts
Hand-picked pieces are on the way.
Good to know
What is a mandarin collar?
A short stand collar with no fold, usually open a little at the front. The English name points to Qing officials, called mandarins. In Chinese it is simply li ling, stand collar.
Is a mandarin collar shirt formal?
It can be. In dark silk or crisp cotton under a blazer it passes for formal. In washed linen it is casual.
What is the difference between a mandarin and a Nehru collar?
Very little. Both stand with no fold. Nehru usually describes an Indian-style jacket, and mandarin a Chinese-style shirt or jacket, often with frog buttons.
