standaway
Denoting a kind of rolled collar that stands away from the neck.
standaway: collar that flares outward from the neckline
A standaway collar is a shirt or garment collar that stands upright and flares away from the neck rather than lying flat against it. The collar points project outward and slightly upward, creating visible space between the fabric and the wearer's skin. This style contrasts with a lay-down collar, which hugs the neck in a close, flat formation.
The standaway effect is created during garment construction through the collar's cut, interfacing weight, and the angle of the collar stand (the narrow band that connects the collar to the garment body). A steeper angle and stiffer interfacing, typically using materials like cotton-polyester blends or linen, encourage the collar to project outward. The collar point length and the shape of the outer edge also influence how aggressively it stands away.
Common applications and variants
Standaway collars appear on dress shirts, casual button-ups, and blouses. The degree of stand varies: a modest standaway shows 2 to 4 millimeters of space and is common on business shirts, while more pronounced versions on fashion garments may stand 8 millimeters or more. On knitted polo shirts and sports wear, the collar may be designed to stand away through the knit structure itself rather than interfacing.
Manufacturing challenges include maintaining consistent collar height across production runs. Poor interfacing application or low-quality interlining causes standaway collars to lose shape after washing, collapsing into lay-down position. Improper pressing during finishing can also flatten the stand permanently. Garment designers must balance aesthetic intention with practicality, since aggressive standaway collars can feel uncomfortable against the neck and look exaggerated on different body types.
The term reflects the functional language of tailoring: the collar does literally stand away. This distinguishes it from descriptive names like 'spread collar' or 'cutaway collar', which refer instead to the angle of the collar points themselves. A single garment can combine both features: a spread collar with standaway properties, or a narrow collar point paired with minimal stand.