A camp collar — also called a Cuban collar or a convertible collar — is a soft, one-piece collar with a deep, open notch that lies flat against the chest, forming a relaxed V at the front of the shirt. There is no separate collar band and no button at the neck in its classic form: it is designed to be worn open. It defines the camp shirt, the Cuban guayabera-style shirt, and the bowling and resort shirts of summer.
Three Names, One Collar
The names record where the collar has lived. 'Camp collar' comes from American leisure and camp shirts. 'Cuban collar' nods to the warm-climate shirts of Cuba and Latin America that made the style famous. 'Convertible collar' is the pattern-maker's term: the collar can be worn buttoned up to the neck or open and flat — it converts. Retailers use all three interchangeably for the same soft, notchless shape.
The construction is the giveaway: collar and facing are cut so the front forms a small lapel-like fold, and the whole thing sits flat without the stiff stand of a dress-shirt collar.
Wearing the Camp / Cuban Collar
- It belongs on short-sleeved summer shirts — linen, rayon, and printed resort shirts above all.
- Wear it open over a plain undershirt or bare chest; the deep V is the point of the design.
- It dresses down everything it touches, which is why it anchors vacation, retro, and 1950s-inspired looks.
FAQs
- Is a camp collar the same as a Cuban collar?
- Yes. Camp collar, Cuban collar, and convertible collar are three names for the same soft, open, one-piece collar — regional and trade terms for one construction.
- Can you wear a tie with a camp collar?
- No. The collar has no band to hold a tie and is designed to be worn open. It is a strictly casual collar.
- What is a resort collar?
- Resort collar is a retail synonym for the camp/Cuban collar, used on holiday and resort shirts — the same open, flat-lying shape.
Detailed Guides: see Camp Collar in the glossary A–Z listing of the Apparel Search fashion glossary for related terms.