Meaning & use
shawl collar
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Meanings
nouncountable
A collar on a garment that forms a smooth, rounded, continuous band around the neck and down the front, often on formal jackets and sweaters.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a shawl collar' or 'shawl collars'.
Patterns
- a shawl collar jacket
- a shawl collar sweater
- with a shawl collar
He wore a black tuxedo with a shawl collar to the awards ceremony.
She knitted a cozy cardigan with a soft shawl collar.
The designer added a shawl collar to the velvet blazer for a vintage look.
nouncountable
A similar rounded collar on a piece of clothing, especially a woman's dress or blouse, that drapes softly around the shoulders.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the phrase 'a shawl collar'.
Patterns
- a shawl collar dress
- a shawl collar blouse
The silk blouse had a delicate shawl collar that framed her face.
She chose a wedding dress with a lace shawl collar.
The shawl collar on this dress makes it look elegant and timeless.
Word forms
| plural | shawl collars |
|---|
Common combinations
- shawl collar jacket
- He bought a navy shawl collar jacket for the party.
- shawl collar sweater
- This shawl collar sweater is perfect for chilly evenings.
- shawl collar tuxedo
- The groom wore a classic shawl collar tuxedo.
- shawl collar cardigan
- She layered a shawl collar cardigan over her shirt.
- shawl collar robe
- The hotel provided a plush shawl collar robe.
Synonyms and how they differ
- roll collar
- A roll collar is similar but often refers to a collar that rolls over, not necessarily continuous like a shawl collar.
- shawl neck
- Shawl neck is sometimes used interchangeably, but it more often describes the neckline shape rather than the collar itself.
Word family
- shawl noun
- A piece of fabric worn loosely over the shoulders, from which the collar shape gets its name.
Commonly confused: shawl collar or notch collar? shawl collar or peaked collar?
shawl collar vs notch collar
A notch collar has a V-shaped cut where the collar meets the lapel, while a shawl collar is a smooth continuous curve.
shawl collar vs peaked collar
A peaked collar has pointed lapels that flare outward, unlike the rounded shawl collar.
Practice
Which of these is a shawl collar most commonly found on?
Choose one answer.
A shawl collar is a type of collar, so it appears on garments with collars, such as a tuxedo jacket. Jeans, caps, and sneakers do not have collars.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shawl collar”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.