Fashion History: The Peter Pan Collar

Named for the eponymous hero of the J.M. Barrie classic, the peter pan collar has long been popular with both boys and girls. In 1953, Disney replaced the original soft, rounded collar of the boy-who-never-grew-up with a jagged v-neck for their animated film adaptation. Although we now know this sweet, feminine collar as the “peter pan collar,” it had a different name in the 19th century.

Before being known as the peter pan collar, this small, flat, rounded collar was known as the Little Lord Fauntleroy suit collar (like the character in the Frances Hodgson book). Back then, the collar was usually made of delicate lace and were worn with ribbons or ties.

When Peter Pan hit theaters in 1904, little boys everywhere wanted to emulate their hero and the collar re-entered fashion under a new name. In the 40s, the collar was incorporated into Eton suits; by the 50s girls began to wear the collar and in the late 50s and early 60s, Teddy boys made the trend their own.
With the recent surge in vintage styles, the peter pan has made a reappearance in mainstream stores and magazines (and on fashion blogs all over).