Kragens

Kragens are the plural of the German noun Kragen, meaning collars. A Kragen is a band or shape that encircles the neck and is typically attached to a shirt, blouse, or coat. Collars serve both functional and decorative purposes: they frame the face, provide structure to garments, and signal style or formality.

Various types of Kragen are common in Western dress. Point collars have a narrow angle and long points. Spread collars have a wider distance between the points. Button-down collars secure with buttons and are common in business casual wear. The club collar has rounded edges. The wing collar is a formal variant with small, stiff wings. The mandarin or stand collar rises around the neck without fold-over points. Some collars are detachable, a feature that became widespread in the 19th and early 20th centuries to simplify washing and laundering of shirts.

Materials include cotton fabrics such as poplin and broadcloth, as well as linen and blends. Collars can be stiffened with interlining or stiffeners for a crisp appearance, especially in formalwear.

In German-speaking fashion and clothing descriptions, Kragen remains a standard term for shirt collars and contributes to instructions, sizing, and product descriptions in apparel catalogs and historical costume studies.