How to Wear: Turtlenecks
If you are anything like us, you probably hated turtlenecks as a kid, or maybe just any and all sweaters. But now that you’re an adult, we recommend you take a second look at this sophisticated sweater staple.
Turtlenecks are a historic piece of clothing originally worn by knights in the 15th century to prevent chaffing from chainmail. Fast forward to today, turtlenecks’ main function is to keep your head and neck warm in the colder Fall and Winter months. But most people avoid these sweaters all together (probably because they aren’t entirely sure how to wear them).
We hope this brief guide dispels any mystery around the turtleneck and encourages you to add one to your wardrobe.
Wear it Casually or Dress it Up!
On the dimension of casual to dressy, turtlenecks play a wide range of roles. If this is your first foray into turtleneck wearing, we recommend wearing it casually with a pair of jeans or chinos. Cotton or wool turtlenecks are both be great options, but we do recommend looking for a larger gauge (thickness) yarn. The additional texture of a large gauge yarn signifies a casual look. Looser fitting styles are also good options although not required.
If you are ready to start rocking a turtleneck on fancier occasions, look to layer it under a blazer or even with a full suit. Solid, darker colors work best here.
Layering
Whether wearing casually or dressy, there are two main things to look out for when layering your turtleneck:
1) When you layer, you’ll need a slimmer fitting style. If it’s too loose, it won’t look right underneath a jacket or blazer, and it probably won’t be very comfortable.
2) Finer gauge (thinner) yarns give off a dressier vibe. You’ll also want to look for simpler stitching patterns. Too much cabling or detail skews towards casual.
Turtlenecks look great layered under a variety of shirts or outerwear. A simple, casual look is to wear a turtleneck underneath a heavier shirt or shirt jacket. Another lightweight layering option is something like a bomber jacket. The two unique necklines complement each other well. Moto or café jackets are some other great choices.
Layering with a blazer is another great option that can lend to a dressier look - depending on the blazer you choose.
Alternative Turtleneck Options
There are other neck options that aren’t quite as exaggerated as the turtleneck like the mock neck or roll neck. These neck lines have a higher neckline than a traditional crew neck but aren’t quite as pronounced as the turtleneck. Mock necks and roll necks are great choices if the higher neckline of a turtleneck bugs you (which we totally get). All the above style advice applies for these two alternative neck lines as well.
We hope, in this brief guide, that we’ve made the turtleneck sweater a little less intimidating. It’s a great winter staple that will elevate any wardrobe!
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