Collegiate Times

Your collar can be dressed up or dressed down.

Eclectically close-minded and endlessly stubborn, my interests are black, white and otherwise erratic. If I’m not an impassioned-heart-fluttering, iridescently glowing, toothy-grinning-enthusiast, I’m a crossly-staring-obviously-scowling, vomit-suppressing, eye-shifting detractor who shamelessly dooms potential love interests and budding fashion trends alike.

Such is my relationship with collars.

Choked by 13 years of stifling school uniforms, I distanced myself from the suffocating accessory without hesitation. And there has been little temptation, considering the general “blah” of the polo and tacky factor of affordable steam-punk and neo-Victorian frocks.

Paired with evening gowns and lacy webs of fabric, high fashion designers like Lanvin, McQueen and Givenchy have repeatedly charmed the runway with dark, elegant takes on the noose’s delicate cousin. Yet, visions of my body flayed across the road amid a tangle of fabric and ruffles caused me to save the cumbersome trend for days when I don’t have to compromise checking my blind spot for high fashion.

Yet, just as I was letting go of my high collar ambitions, I stumbled across the work of New York based fashion designer Timo Weiland and encountered a vision free of a blind spot give-and-take: soft, detached, ruffled wreath-like collars far too sweet to strangle or obscure vision.

Too broke for Timo, but too infatuated and inspired to wait for this love to fizzle, I tore through my wardrobe to create my own rendition. Armed with scissors, a sewing machine and a plain black turtleneck, I concocted this frock just in time for the spring breeze.

HOW TO:

Cost: $3
Time: One hour
Materials: One turtleneck

Step One: Start by cutting the arms off your turtleneck and proceed to remove excess fabric from the back, as if to create a backless halter top. Cut remaining fabric in front into a bib shape.

Step Two: Pin what should look like a backless, turtleneck bib in place.

Step Three: Use remaining fabric to cut out shapes and strips to pin along the collar. Be creative, use loops, ruffles or anything else you can dream of.

Step Four: Sew in place.

Flaunt it. Your collar can be dressed up or dressed down. Layer it with a structured jacket, a loose tank, a plain white tee, a floral dress, your boyfriend’s slacks, your mom’s wedding dress or all of the above.

A version of this article appeared in the Mar 25 issue of the Collegiate Times.