Different Collar Type Dresses – The Ultimate Guide (What & Where to Buy)

A stylist-written breakdown of the most flattering dress collars, who they suit, and where to shop them on the UK high street, premium, and designer tiers.

The fast answer: collar styles change the entire proportion, mood, and formality of a dress—choose a V-neck to lengthen, a boat neck to widen the shoulders, a Mandarin collar for clean minimalism, or a Bardot for an elegant neckline reveal. Pick with your face shape, shoulders, and bust in mind, and you’ll shop smarter instantly.

Why collars matter

Collars do more than frame your face. They balance your silhouette, direct the eye either vertically (lengthening) or horizontally (broadening), and set the tone—polished, romantic, retro, or modern. If a dress “almost” works, the collar is often the missing piece.

The key collar types (and who they suit)

1) Peter Pan collar

Rounded, neat, and softly vintage. It adds sweetness and pairs well with fluid fabrics and tea‑dress silhouettes. Works nicely for narrower shoulders or longer necks, and softens angular features.

High Street: M&S, Oasis, & Other Stories
Premium: Ghost, KITRI, Rixo
Designer: Valentino, Simone Rocha, Miu Miu

2) Mandarin / stand collar

A short, upright band that reads clean and contemporary. Great with crisp cottons or crepes, and superb for structured shirt‑dresses. Best on longer necks; add a low bun and minimal jewellery for a gallery‑opening sort of polish.

High Street: Zara, Arket, H&M
Premium: COS, ME+EM, Reiss
Designer: Armani, The Row, Victoria Beckham

3) Boat neck

Wide and straight across the collarbone. It visually broadens the shoulders, which helps balance pear shapes. In ponte or fine wool it can look supremely refined for work; in satin it’s red‑carpet classic.

High Street: Next, Phase Eight, Warehouse
Premium: Reiss, Hobbs, LK Bennett
Designer: Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Max Mara

4) V‑neck

The most universally flattering. It elongates the neckline and creates vertical emphasis, which is particularly balancing for fuller busts. Depth is your dial: modest for office, deeper for evening.

High Street: H&M, River Island, New Look
Premium: Arket, Whistles, AllSaints
Designer: Diane von Furstenberg, Elie Saab, ALAÏA

5) Shirt collar

Tailored, sharp, and endlessly useful. Shirt‑collar dresses swing from boardroom (belted, ankle boots) to weekend (rolled sleeves, trainers). Leave the top two buttons open to soften the line.

High Street: Mango, M&S Collection, Uniqlo
Premium: Whistles, ME+EM, Cefinn
Designer: Max Mara, Victoria Beckham, Chloé

6) Off‑shoulder / Bardot

Romantic and feminine, spotlighting collarbones and shoulders. Gorgeous for weddings and summer events; style with a soft up‑do and drop earrings. If you prefer arm coverage, add a sheer wrap or bracelet‑length sleeve.

High Street: ASOS, River Island, Coast
Premium: Needle & Thread, Rixo, Self‑Portrait
Designer: Carolina Herrera, Zimmermann, Marchesa

Stylist shortcuts: match the collar to your shape

Rounder face: choose V‑necks and shirt collars to lengthen.
Pear shape / narrow shoulders: boat necks and Bardot styles add width up top.
Fuller bust: a V‑neck is balancing; avoid tiny high collars that crowd the neckline.
Petite: smaller, neater collars (Peter Pan, shallow V) keep proportions in check.
Taller / long neck: you can wear Mandarin collars beautifully.

How to shop smarter (and skip size guides) with Tellar.co.uk

Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s Leading Free Sizing Tool: add your exact measurements once (bust, waist, hips) or start with a size that fits you well in any brand, and Tellar instantly matches you to your precise size across 1,500+ brands in real time. No apps or downloads—just use it in your browser, always free.

Try the Store Size Lookup: get your exact size across COS, Reiss, Arket, Everlane & more in seconds.

https://tellar.co.uk/store-size-lookup/

Once you’ve identified the collar shapes that flatter you most, use Tellar to make sure the fit is right every time. You’ll bypass inconsistent size charts, reduce returns, and focus on quality dresses that will actually earn their place in your wardrobe.

Explore the Tellar Fashion Hub (free, honest, unbiased)

Alongside the sizing tool, Tellar runs the UK’s largest free Fashion Hub—an interactive, searchable library written by stylists, covering everything from dress shapes to denim fit science. It’s independent, unbiased, and always free.

Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy.