Shirts in the 30's and 40's

[Rittmeister]

In comparing shirts in many period pictures with todays shirts, there are many obvious differences, but some things that I cannot figure out. Assuming the height of the collar being the same, period shirts appear to have sat higher up the neck than modern shirts. Perhaps the patterns were cut differently or necks were shorter. Has anyone thought about or looked into this?

 

[dakotanorth]

Higher on the neck?

It depends on the cut of the shirt, but the collar height can depend on the type of collar.
A collar with a collar stand naturally rides higher- it has a little band round the base of the neck, then the collar is attached to it. This forms a vertical piece with the collar angled off of it.
Another type is the convertible collar- this is a collar attached directly onto the shirt. Usually when you see the modern-day hawaiian shirts or two-tone "Bowling" shirts you are looking at a convertible collar.

 

[Warbaby]

Necks were shorter. Since the advent of the digital age, we've been evolving into pencil-neck geeks.