Collaring, Part 3

With Collaring and Collaring: Part 2 turning into a real series (one's an accident, two's coincidence, and three's a conspiracy?), the lovely and talented Persephone suggested I might do one on different styles of collars - specifically in her case because issues with her neck make many traditional collars problematic. There are plenty of other reasons... And plenty of ways around it.

So first, why might you want an alternative collar? Oh, the list of reasons could go on for days and days. To name a few:

• Leather allergies
• Nickel (or other metal) allergies - many metal collars and the metal fixtures on leather collars are nickel alloys.
• Sensitive/easily irritated skin
• Bruising susceptibility
• Mental concerns - panic, anxiety, or bad associations either with specific types of collars or collars in general.
• Moral concerns - for example, a vegetarian/vegan - depending on why they choose that lifestyle - may object to a leather collar.
• Privacy concerns - wanting to be collared 24/7 but not being able to due to professional or personal limitations. 
• Medical concerns - severe alignment issues (poor Persephone!), breathing stoma, neck injuries, etcetera. 
• Aesthetic concerns - maybe you just don't like the damned things.

Obviously, depending on the specific reason you don't want a normal collar, you'll end up wanting something different. But before we get too deep into it, what exactly is a collar?

A lot of definitions focus on the vanilla aspects. Ask Google, and you get this:

1. A band of material around the neck of a shirt, dress, coat, or jacket, either upright or turned over and generally an integral part of the garment.
2. A restraining or connecting band, ring, or pipe in machinery.

Merriam-Webster adds lines for "a short necklace", "a band around the neck of an animal", "part of the harness of a draft animal", "an indication of control/token of subservience", and "protective or supportive device".  Look in Wikipedia under "Collar (BDSM)" and it goes into a little more detail about a couple of specific types of collars, some hints at alternatives to traditional collars, and some portion of the social significance of them. Look in other books or sources, and they go into discussions of the equivalence of collaring and marriage, the different forms of collars, the different reasons for them, the different sources, the different materials... The one thing they all have in common: no two places define them the same way. They have enormous amounts of overlap and they have lots of similar thoughts and ideas, but the only really underlying point is that every one is different because every one of them are coming at it from different points of view. A collar is a tool, a decoration, a symbol, or whatever the people involved think of it... And this is part of what complicates it so much. To that point, though, collars can grouped into two major groups - utilitarian and decorative.

The form of a utilitarian collar is driven directly by its use, and - to a lesser extent - its use is driven by its form. Probably the most common collar you will see is a simple synthetic or leather band with a plastic or metal buckle and a D-ring on the front; in other words, a dog collar, sized to fit a person. They can come in all different materials and shapes; some have O-rings rather than D-rings; some have two or three rings rather than one; some are rigid rather than flexible; some are hinged; some are lockable, some are not; some fasten in other ways. This is where they really start to differentiate themselves, and you need to seriously consider what you want it for. Posture collars, for example, tend to be very wide bands and intentionally make movement of the head very difficult; while thin metal bands are no more intrusive than a normal necklace. Something tighter will be better for control of position or movement of the head but has the inherent danger of applying more pressure, and therefore being more of a risk for someone sensitive to it - physically or mentally.

Some specific types of utilitarian collars include:

• Basic collars - Nothing more than a band with one or more attachment points. Basic and functional.
• Posture collar - as above, wide collars intended to make it difficult to move the wearer's head. Notorious for being uncomfortable and unforgiving to wear, especially over long periods.
• "Wolf collars" - collars with spikes on them, frequently decorative but usually also utilitarian - even if just for attaching a leash.
• Choke collars - collars which have a sliding ring rather than a buckle or latch, allowing it to contract when pulled.
• Pinch collars - Similar to choke collars, except instead they pinch or jab the neck when pulled.
• Martingale collars - essentially a cross between a choke collar and standard strap collar.
• "Gimmick"/device collars - those whose function comes not from the collar themselves, but from something attached to it.
• GPS collars - to locate people.
• Anti-bark/shock collars - occasionally used on humans, too.
• Vibrating collars - Similar to shock collars, but less painful.
• Rigid collars - solid rings of metal, wood, plastic, or some similar inflexible material.

With decorative collars, of course, form follows fashion - not function. Decorative collars have wormed their way into mainstream culture with chokers and tight necklaces - though of course most people don't see that way. A decorative collar is pretty much defined by its lack of utility; they aren't structurally strong enough to be used for bondage purposes. It's hard to describe these effectively, simply because they can be anything that a person can think of - the variety is too great. Use your imagination; these show up in books, movies, fashion shows, and on the streets of your town as well as clubs, private parties, dungeons and bedrooms.

Collars can be made out of almost anything. Some of the most common materials, with their pros and cons, include:

• Leather - very common, very popular. Prices range from dirt cheap (if you don't care about quality) to extremely expensive (if you do). Depending on quality and finish, can be very comfortable. Easier than most to cut, easy to decorate. Can cause irritation to some people.
• Fabric - nylon, rayon, polyester, velvet, silk, hemp, or others. Safest in that they're the easiest to cut off if it becomes necessary. Again, ranging from dirt cheap ($5 for a cheap synthetic one) to... Well, much much more for something fancy out of silk. Some people can be sensitive to some fabrics.
• Metal - solid metal or chain collars can be made out of almost any metal you're willing to pay for. Steel is the most common. Strong and durable, but some people can be sensitive to some metals - especially nickel.
• Plastic - not particularly common, because metal is more common for rigid collars and leather or fabrics are more common for flexible ones. They do exist, however. Their primary virtue is low price compared to other rigid collars... But because they're so uncommon, even then they're usually much pricier than a standard synthetic one.
• Wood - obviously only useful for rigid collars. Uncommon, easily damaged, frequently brittle, and generally expensive; however, it can be quite beautiful if done correctly.

One thing you'll notice is I didn't really list any of them as dangerous... For the simple reason that they all are. Any collar, used ignorantly, can lead indirectly or directly to injury or death. Any even partially rigid object around the neck can be deadly if the wrong type of force is applied. Any force applied to the front of the collar tends to pull against the spine - possibly causing damage - while any force applied to the back constricts the throat - possibly cutting off the wearer's breathing. Attaching a collar to something over the wearer's head can, in extreme cases, lead to accidental strangulation. As counter-intuitive as it may be, especially since most people immediately lead to "leashes" as a major use, attaching anything or applying any force to a collar is a questionable thing to do.

Be very careful playing with these things, kids. Don't take them for granted no matter what you do.

Decorative collars are frequently much safer, for the simple reason that any strong force is more likely to break them or tear them off rather than injure the wearer. A good rule of thumb, though, is that you should never put something on someone that you're unable to get off in a hurry while they're panicking. Safety scissors are a good idea, as are spare keys if you plan on locking them.

When it comes down to it, though, traditional collars aren't always what you want. In the case where they are more symbolic than functional, a collar may be made out of anything... Or not even a collar. Collars can be replaced with earrings, especially cuffs; nose-rings; rings on your finger; bracelets; anklets; necklaces; even tattoos. They can be hand-made to give them more personal meaning; learning to cut, punch, and rivet your own leather isn't excessively hard and can even turn into a nice little side business. Collars can be created out of woven cord, braided leather, crocheted yarn... I even know a couple where the submissive's collar was a two-foot-long segment of the first piece of rope her Master ever used to tie her up.

So when you're picking a collar, first identify what you want it for (is it to be utilitarian, decorative, or somewhere in the middle?); decide your budget (are you making it yourself, do you just want the cheapest nylon one in the pet store, or are you willing to spend hundreds on a meaningful custom-hand-made engraved masterpiece?); decide your style (locking, attachment points, decorated?); and then start looking. They can be found everywhere from Amazon.com to pet stores to clothing stores to department stores to accessory stores to specialized BDSM and sex shops. With a little research, you can find the perfect one for you, no matter who you are.