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No Longer Just Twee, Peter Pan Collars Are the Latest Cool-Girl Staple
@sandyliang / Instagram
Key Takeaways
- You may remember Peter Pan collars from their twee style heyday, but the silhouette is making a comeback endorsed by tastemakers like Emma Chamberlain and Chase Sui Wonders.
- Leaning into the classic nostalgia with a babydoll dress or cardigan is always an option, but you also can try pairing it with edgier, grungier pieces or a statement skirt for a less-expected look.
Move over, Y2K: Indie sleaze styles are making a big comeback. As our nostalgia watches transition from Sex and the City to Girls, our wardrobes are beginning to look a little less Limited Too and a little more American Apparel. Sure, there’s a tinge of kitsch (and, maybe, cringe) behind many of the trends that dominated our late 2000s and early 2010s closets (may we never see another mustache tee again), but as we collectively yearn for the simpler times of Williamsburg and Portland circa-2008—you know, before they got too cool—trends like the Peter Pan collar are sneaking back into our wardrobes. While still being aesthetically evocative of the era, the trend easily adapts to modern looks without feeling dated. Ahead, we explore the Peter Pan collar comeback, from its on-the-nose origins to ways to give the look new life.
What Is a Peter Pan Collar?
For those of you who aren’t familiar, the Peter Pan collar is a bit wider than the one on your usual button-down or blouse and has rounded edges. It might seem like a small detail, but it makes a huge impact on your outfit. In its indie sleaze-era prime, it was the peak partner for babydoll dresses and blouses, but now it’s getting a modern refresh with unexpected garment pairings, minimalist neutrals, and elevated embellishments. Below, we dive deeper into the Emma Chamberlain-approved trend and share our essentials for adding this trend into your new year’s closet.
Getty Images
The History of Peter Pan Collars
As you might expect, the name of this collar is derived from Peter Pan—albeit the early 1900s play starring Maude Adams in the title role, not the animated film, though similar styles were popular in the earlier Victorian era. On top of its childish appearance that’s fitting for Adams’s character, the Peter Pan collar was also, in a sense, a utilitarian choice. Though it’s a neckline-hugging style, its flatter design was more comfortable to wear than stiffer collar options, making it practical for performers. With its theatrical roots, it became a surprising early 1900s styling essential for women’s and children’s wardrobes.
Ever since, the Peter Pan collar has somehow found its way into the fashion discourse: It became a formalwear accent piece from the 1930s through 50s, turned into a mod essential through the 1960s, and became an ironic piece of riot grrrl and grunge fashion amidst the 1990s. In more recent times, it became a defining trait of indie sleaze, twee, and hipster wardrobes in the mid-to-late 2000s and early 2010s. They make an appearance in just about every Zooey Deschanel movie of the time, and we bet you could easily spot one in Frances Ha.
Getty Images
Related Stories
The Peter Pan Collar Trend in 2026
Unlike stomp-clap music and the word “epic,” the Peter Pan collar is one of the few peak millennial trends that hasn’t been hit with the “cringe” label. Now, this Victorian-inspired detail is making its triumphant return on runways for Chanel, Miu Miu, Prada, and Sandy Liang.
Getty Images
Celebrities are also hopping on the whimsical trend, with notable fans including Emma Chamberlain, Chase Sui Wonders, and the mother of twee styling herself, Zooey Deschanel. While Peter Pan collars can sometimes feel evocative of the early 2010s, today’s styles feel like an extension of coquette and Victorian-inspired trends rather than a literal comeback of the look from its millennial heyday.
Getty Images / Byrdie
How to Style
One of the most popular ways to style a Peter Pan collar is to pair it with a babydoll dress à la Courtney Love, but you have a range of options to play the look up or down. You might use it as a layering piece under sweater vests, blazers, and knitwear in your winter closet. The piece both works well as part of a preppier look and juxtaposed with edgier pieces. Whether layered under a leather trench or paired with a patterned maxi skirt, the Peter Pan collar is right at home as part of a maximalist statement.
@cavina / Instagram
As for the collar itself, there are the classic scalloped or lace-donning edges to experiment with, but if you’re looking for a more unique take, try an oversized rendition or a vibrant shade that goes beyond the Peter Pan collar’s usual off-white color palette. With this accent piece, your styling options are truly endless.
Standout Modern Peter Pan Collars to Shop
The styling appeal of Peter Pan collars will never cease to amaze us. From its classic prim-and-proper aesthetic to nods to its indie sleaze, twee, and grunge pasts, below are several ways to integrate the timeless trend into your current-day style.
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If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
No Longer Just Twee, Peter Pan Collars Are the Latest Cool-Girl Staple
@sandyliang / Instagram
Key Takeaways
- You may remember Peter Pan collars from their twee style heyday, but the silhouette is making a comeback endorsed by tastemakers like Emma Chamberlain and Chase Sui Wonders.
- Leaning into the classic nostalgia with a babydoll dress or cardigan is always an option, but you also can try pairing it with edgier, grungier pieces or a statement skirt for a less-expected look.
Move over, Y2K: Indie sleaze styles are making a big comeback. As our nostalgia watches transition from Sex and the City to Girls, our wardrobes are beginning to look a little less Limited Too and a little more American Apparel. Sure, there’s a tinge of kitsch (and, maybe, cringe) behind many of the trends that dominated our late 2000s and early 2010s closets (may we never see another mustache tee again), but as we collectively yearn for the simpler times of Williamsburg and Portland circa-2008—you know, before they got too cool—trends like the Peter Pan collar are sneaking back into our wardrobes. While still being aesthetically evocative of the era, the trend easily adapts to modern looks without feeling dated. Ahead, we explore the Peter Pan collar comeback, from its on-the-nose origins to ways to give the look new life.
What Is a Peter Pan Collar?
For those of you who aren’t familiar, the Peter Pan collar is a bit wider than the one on your usual button-down or blouse and has rounded edges. It might seem like a small detail, but it makes a huge impact on your outfit. In its indie sleaze-era prime, it was the peak partner for babydoll dresses and blouses, but now it’s getting a modern refresh with unexpected garment pairings, minimalist neutrals, and elevated embellishments. Below, we dive deeper into the Emma Chamberlain-approved trend and share our essentials for adding this trend into your new year’s closet.
Getty Images
The History of Peter Pan Collars
As you might expect, the name of this collar is derived from Peter Pan—albeit the early 1900s play starring Maude Adams in the title role, not the animated film, though similar styles were popular in the earlier Victorian era. On top of its childish appearance that’s fitting for Adams’s character, the Peter Pan collar was also, in a sense, a utilitarian choice. Though it’s a neckline-hugging style, its flatter design was more comfortable to wear than stiffer collar options, making it practical for performers. With its theatrical roots, it became a surprising early 1900s styling essential for women’s and children’s wardrobes.
Ever since, the Peter Pan collar has somehow found its way into the fashion discourse: It became a formalwear accent piece from the 1930s through 50s, turned into a mod essential through the 1960s, and became an ironic piece of riot grrrl and grunge fashion amidst the 1990s. In more recent times, it became a defining trait of indie sleaze, twee, and hipster wardrobes in the mid-to-late 2000s and early 2010s. They make an appearance in just about every Zooey Deschanel movie of the time, and we bet you could easily spot one in Frances Ha.
Getty Images
Related Stories
The Peter Pan Collar Trend in 2026
Unlike stomp-clap music and the word “epic,” the Peter Pan collar is one of the few peak millennial trends that hasn’t been hit with the “cringe” label. Now, this Victorian-inspired detail is making its triumphant return on runways for Chanel, Miu Miu, Prada, and Sandy Liang.
Getty Images
Celebrities are also hopping on the whimsical trend, with notable fans including Emma Chamberlain, Chase Sui Wonders, and the mother of twee styling herself, Zooey Deschanel. While Peter Pan collars can sometimes feel evocative of the early 2010s, today’s styles feel like an extension of coquette and Victorian-inspired trends rather than a literal comeback of the look from its millennial heyday.
Getty Images / Byrdie
How to Style
One of the most popular ways to style a Peter Pan collar is to pair it with a babydoll dress à la Courtney Love, but you have a range of options to play the look up or down. You might use it as a layering piece under sweater vests, blazers, and knitwear in your winter closet. The piece both works well as part of a preppier look and juxtaposed with edgier pieces. Whether layered under a leather trench or paired with a patterned maxi skirt, the Peter Pan collar is right at home as part of a maximalist statement.
@cavina / Instagram
As for the collar itself, there are the classic scalloped or lace-donning edges to experiment with, but if you’re looking for a more unique take, try an oversized rendition or a vibrant shade that goes beyond the Peter Pan collar’s usual off-white color palette. With this accent piece, your styling options are truly endless.
Standout Modern Peter Pan Collars to Shop
The styling appeal of Peter Pan collars will never cease to amaze us. From its classic prim-and-proper aesthetic to nods to its indie sleaze, twee, and grunge pasts, below are several ways to integrate the timeless trend into your current-day style.
@sandyliang / Instagram
Key Takeaways
- You may remember Peter Pan collars from their twee style heyday, but the silhouette is making a comeback endorsed by tastemakers like Emma Chamberlain and Chase Sui Wonders.
- Leaning into the classic nostalgia with a babydoll dress or cardigan is always an option, but you also can try pairing it with edgier, grungier pieces or a statement skirt for a less-expected look.
Move over, Y2K: Indie sleaze styles are making a big comeback. As our nostalgia watches transition from Sex and the City to Girls, our wardrobes are beginning to look a little less Limited Too and a little more American Apparel. Sure, there’s a tinge of kitsch (and, maybe, cringe) behind many of the trends that dominated our late 2000s and early 2010s closets (may we never see another mustache tee again), but as we collectively yearn for the simpler times of Williamsburg and Portland circa-2008—you know, before they got too cool—trends like the Peter Pan collar are sneaking back into our wardrobes. While still being aesthetically evocative of the era, the trend easily adapts to modern looks without feeling dated. Ahead, we explore the Peter Pan collar comeback, from its on-the-nose origins to ways to give the look new life.
What Is a Peter Pan Collar?
For those of you who aren’t familiar, the Peter Pan collar is a bit wider than the one on your usual button-down or blouse and has rounded edges. It might seem like a small detail, but it makes a huge impact on your outfit. In its indie sleaze-era prime, it was the peak partner for babydoll dresses and blouses, but now it’s getting a modern refresh with unexpected garment pairings, minimalist neutrals, and elevated embellishments. Below, we dive deeper into the Emma Chamberlain-approved trend and share our essentials for adding this trend into your new year’s closet.
Getty Images
The History of Peter Pan Collars
As you might expect, the name of this collar is derived from Peter Pan—albeit the early 1900s play starring Maude Adams in the title role, not the animated film, though similar styles were popular in the earlier Victorian era. On top of its childish appearance that’s fitting for Adams’s character, the Peter Pan collar was also, in a sense, a utilitarian choice. Though it’s a neckline-hugging style, its flatter design was more comfortable to wear than stiffer collar options, making it practical for performers. With its theatrical roots, it became a surprising early 1900s styling essential for women’s and children’s wardrobes.
Ever since, the Peter Pan collar has somehow found its way into the fashion discourse: It became a formalwear accent piece from the 1930s through 50s, turned into a mod essential through the 1960s, and became an ironic piece of riot grrrl and grunge fashion amidst the 1990s. In more recent times, it became a defining trait of indie sleaze, twee, and hipster wardrobes in the mid-to-late 2000s and early 2010s. They make an appearance in just about every Zooey Deschanel movie of the time, and we bet you could easily spot one in Frances Ha.
Getty Images
Related Stories
The Peter Pan Collar Trend in 2026
Unlike stomp-clap music and the word “epic,” the Peter Pan collar is one of the few peak millennial trends that hasn’t been hit with the “cringe” label. Now, this Victorian-inspired detail is making its triumphant return on runways for Chanel, Miu Miu, Prada, and Sandy Liang.
Getty Images
Celebrities are also hopping on the whimsical trend, with notable fans including Emma Chamberlain, Chase Sui Wonders, and the mother of twee styling herself, Zooey Deschanel. While Peter Pan collars can sometimes feel evocative of the early 2010s, today’s styles feel like an extension of coquette and Victorian-inspired trends rather than a literal comeback of the look from its millennial heyday.
Getty Images / Byrdie
How to Style
One of the most popular ways to style a Peter Pan collar is to pair it with a babydoll dress à la Courtney Love, but you have a range of options to play the look up or down. You might use it as a layering piece under sweater vests, blazers, and knitwear in your winter closet. The piece both works well as part of a preppier look and juxtaposed with edgier pieces. Whether layered under a leather trench or paired with a patterned maxi skirt, the Peter Pan collar is right at home as part of a maximalist statement.
@cavina / Instagram
As for the collar itself, there are the classic scalloped or lace-donning edges to experiment with, but if you’re looking for a more unique take, try an oversized rendition or a vibrant shade that goes beyond the Peter Pan collar’s usual off-white color palette. With this accent piece, your styling options are truly endless.
Standout Modern Peter Pan Collars to Shop
The styling appeal of Peter Pan collars will never cease to amaze us. From its classic prim-and-proper aesthetic to nods to its indie sleaze, twee, and grunge pasts, below are several ways to integrate the timeless trend into your current-day style.
Key Takeaways
- You may remember Peter Pan collars from their twee style heyday, but the silhouette is making a comeback endorsed by tastemakers like Emma Chamberlain and Chase Sui Wonders.
- Leaning into the classic nostalgia with a babydoll dress or cardigan is always an option, but you also can try pairing it with edgier, grungier pieces or a statement skirt for a less-expected look.
Move over, Y2K: Indie sleaze styles are making a big comeback. As our nostalgia watches transition from Sex and the City to Girls, our wardrobes are beginning to look a little less Limited Too and a little more American Apparel. Sure, there’s a tinge of kitsch (and, maybe, cringe) behind many of the trends that dominated our late 2000s and early 2010s closets (may we never see another mustache tee again), but as we collectively yearn for the simpler times of Williamsburg and Portland circa-2008—you know, before they got too cool—trends like the Peter Pan collar are sneaking back into our wardrobes. While still being aesthetically evocative of the era, the trend easily adapts to modern looks without feeling dated. Ahead, we explore the Peter Pan collar comeback, from its on-the-nose origins to ways to give the look new life.
What Is a Peter Pan Collar?
For those of you who aren’t familiar, the Peter Pan collar is a bit wider than the one on your usual button-down or blouse and has rounded edges. It might seem like a small detail, but it makes a huge impact on your outfit. In its indie sleaze-era prime, it was the peak partner for babydoll dresses and blouses, but now it’s getting a modern refresh with unexpected garment pairings, minimalist neutrals, and elevated embellishments. Below, we dive deeper into the Emma Chamberlain-approved trend and share our essentials for adding this trend into your new year’s closet.
Getty Images
The History of Peter Pan Collars
As you might expect, the name of this collar is derived from Peter Pan—albeit the early 1900s play starring Maude Adams in the title role, not the animated film, though similar styles were popular in the earlier Victorian era. On top of its childish appearance that’s fitting for Adams’s character, the Peter Pan collar was also, in a sense, a utilitarian choice. Though it’s a neckline-hugging style, its flatter design was more comfortable to wear than stiffer collar options, making it practical for performers. With its theatrical roots, it became a surprising early 1900s styling essential for women’s and children’s wardrobes.
Ever since, the Peter Pan collar has somehow found its way into the fashion discourse: It became a formalwear accent piece from the 1930s through 50s, turned into a mod essential through the 1960s, and became an ironic piece of riot grrrl and grunge fashion amidst the 1990s. In more recent times, it became a defining trait of indie sleaze, twee, and hipster wardrobes in the mid-to-late 2000s and early 2010s. They make an appearance in just about every Zooey Deschanel movie of the time, and we bet you could easily spot one in Frances Ha.
Getty Images
Related Stories
The Peter Pan Collar Trend in 2026
Unlike stomp-clap music and the word “epic,” the Peter Pan collar is one of the few peak millennial trends that hasn’t been hit with the “cringe” label. Now, this Victorian-inspired detail is making its triumphant return on runways for Chanel, Miu Miu, Prada, and Sandy Liang.
Getty Images
Celebrities are also hopping on the whimsical trend, with notable fans including Emma Chamberlain, Chase Sui Wonders, and the mother of twee styling herself, Zooey Deschanel. While Peter Pan collars can sometimes feel evocative of the early 2010s, today’s styles feel like an extension of coquette and Victorian-inspired trends rather than a literal comeback of the look from its millennial heyday.
Getty Images / Byrdie
How to Style
One of the most popular ways to style a Peter Pan collar is to pair it with a babydoll dress à la Courtney Love, but you have a range of options to play the look up or down. You might use it as a layering piece under sweater vests, blazers, and knitwear in your winter closet. The piece both works well as part of a preppier look and juxtaposed with edgier pieces. Whether layered under a leather trench or paired with a patterned maxi skirt, the Peter Pan collar is right at home as part of a maximalist statement.
@cavina / Instagram
As for the collar itself, there are the classic scalloped or lace-donning edges to experiment with, but if you’re looking for a more unique take, try an oversized rendition or a vibrant shade that goes beyond the Peter Pan collar’s usual off-white color palette. With this accent piece, your styling options are truly endless.
Standout Modern Peter Pan Collars to Shop
The styling appeal of Peter Pan collars will never cease to amaze us. From its classic prim-and-proper aesthetic to nods to its indie sleaze, twee, and grunge pasts, below are several ways to integrate the timeless trend into your current-day style.
Source URL: https://www.byrdie.com/peter-pan-collar-fashion-trend-11887215