the portrait collar

after seeing the valentino fall 2013 rtw show, i have been obsessed with the portrait collar. an old-fashioned term/idea that deserves to be resurrected. there is nothing more elegant than framing the face with with a pretty, white (or off-white), starched, lace or crochet collar. it invokes a simple timeless beauty that could be found on portraits by artists as diverse as goya and vermeer. all collars below have been purchased at flea markets.