Why turtlenecks are awesome

However, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind. Striped turtlenecks can be worn with solid suits and sport coats for a little extra flair, while solid turtlenecks will mesh better with patterned suits and sport coats. Lest all this talk of pairing turtlenecks with suits and sport coats gives you the idea that it's solely the preserve of the business world, remember that turtlenecks began as practical, hardwearing clothing worn by sailors and alpine climbers.

Indeed, you may find that layering a turtleneck under a quarter-zip fleece or fleece vest can provide all the warmth and wind protection your next outdoor jaunt requires. Embrace the outdoorsy side of the best turtleneck by choosing its more casual cousin, the mock neck turtleneck.

It's not quite business wear, but it's not jeans and a t-shirt either. What's a person to do? Wear a turtleneck, of course. The face-framing nature of fashionable turtlenecks ensures a clean, put-together look, whether it's being worn under a sport coat or on its own with jeans and a pair of chukka boots. From Steve McQueen in Bullitt to Audrey Hepburn in anything to Nora Ephron and Steve Jobs in real life, there's a whole pantheon of American actors, writers, and innovators that have hitched their wagon to the turtleneck.

Your desired aesthetic may mean you get yours slightly tighter, or looser. You should make sure the fit points are maintained in the back and sides too. How Tight Should a Turtleneck Be?

Learn Which Color Turtleneck To Wear Like t-shirts, as roll necks are such a simple item, the main thing that you can switch up is the color. If in doubt, wear navy. If possible, invest in these first. The Bold Colours Other natural bases, and statement pieces On the other end of the spectrum, you have turtleneck colours such as: Ecru Neutral Orange Statement Red Statement In all cases, they require a bit of confidence to pull off, and are more casual and less versatile, but allow you to inject some personality, sartorial expertise, and modern colour schemes into your outfits.

Play Around With Texture, Fabric and Material Aside from colour, experimenting with the texture and fabric of your polo neck is a great way to change up the function and formality of your look. Generally: Textured turtlenecks with thicker fabric are less formal. Smooth turtlenecks with finer fabric are are more formal.

Smooth turtleneck fabric. High formality, and good for those of you who prefer dressier looks. Ribbed roll neck fabric — medium formality, and great for adding a little extra depth to your look. Casual cable knit fabric , for a definite nautical feel. Easy to machine wash. Extra Fine Merino Wool — One of the most popular fabrics for turtlenecks, especially for your smooth textured, dressier choices. Generally, merino wool turtlenecks are still machine washable. Wool — Usually produces a slightly thicker and warmer garment than fine merino wool options, making them bulkier.

Cashmere — A luxurious wool fabric found in high end roll necks, known for its ultra soft and supple touch. Again, they are usually non-machine washable. But as a quick summary, the main three you should pay attention to are: Cotton — Usually cheaper, very easy to care for. Merino Wool — The supple slick classic. Cashmere — The luxury, harder to maintain, purchase. Alternate Yarns Though turtlenecks are usually comprised entirely of one of the above yarns, they can also be spun in alternate ways, to give specific characteristics to the fabric.

Usually found in grey turtlenecks. Donegal — A type of Irish tweed categorised by up to eight speckled colours dispersed through a standard coloured yarn.

If you prefer, remove your pocket square as I have done , to make the look as clean as possible. Try tucking your polo neck into your trousers. The turtleneck colour should work with your suit. Turtleneck With a Suit Colors When it comes to color, you have a couple of options: The first is to wear a turtleneck in the same, or similar, color as the suit, to produce a sweet monochromatic look.

This option is a favourite of mine, and just radiates class. Alternatively, you can bring in other, contrasting darker colors, like the above navy, to switch things up, and make it slightly less stuffy. Though, like below, you can remove the pocket square for a more streamlined look.

In a sea of turtlenecks in my closet I've developed a collection , this light-as-a-feather classic from Club Monaco is my favorite. It's light enough to layer but still super warm—and just sheer enough to give it a little edge while still being appropriate for work. I don't love the way turtlenecks look on me as a stand-alone piece, but they're an essential for layering under my dresses and tank tops in the colder weather.

This one from Artizia is perfect because it's thin and doesn't add any bulk, but the ribbed fabric keeps me warm. The lettuce edging at the neck and sleeves gives it a feminine touch and adds a little more visual interest.

Turtlenecks are the reason I'm able to wear summer clothes in the winter. I always wear them underneath crop tops or summer shirts. Since I love the way they look layered, I'm partial to a mesh knit turtleneck, like this one, that won't make too hot.

I also love patterned and printed turtlenecks especially animal print because they're the easiest thing to throw on in a rush with black jeans and a black top. Plus, this Callipygian knit has a different floral pattern on the back—that means it's a whole other look when worn on its own.

Whether you can appreciate the Game of Thrones reference or not, winter is here. For me, braving the chilly office means turtlenecks—and lots of them.

Lately, however, turtlenecks have been given the designer treatment, packing more personality than ever before. But if you aren't a fan of all that flash, Uniqlo, Topman, and COS have some sleek options that the aforementioned names, both real and fictional, would know and love. No matter what side of the spectrum you choose to inhabit, just understand that any of these turtlenecks makes you a badass mofo. Want essential style and shopping tips on the regular? Subscribe to Esquire Select.

A super-soft option made out of wrinkle-resistant Supima—and at a bargain price, too. It's not fall until you break out the camel tones, folks. Amazon Essentials never fails in offering a classic silhouette at a great price that is feels just as good as it looks. If you need something foolproof and free from any bells and whistles, just check out the name on this turtleneck: "solid. Uniqlo's cashmere turtleneck is one of the worst-kept secrets in the entire menswear universe.

The smash-hit style sells out, without fail, every season. So get in early and don't miss your chance. Simple, streamlined, easy to wear: Also known as COS at its absolute best, doing the absolute right amount. Todd Snyder's partnership with Champion continues to offer stuff that seamlessly combines style and comfort. Case in point: This turtleneck sweatshirt. So sleek that not only can you wear it with a suit, it might actually convince you to wear a suit again.

A cozy turtleneck with a couple of Preston's signatures: a splash of safety orange on the sleeve, plus "style" in Cyrillic on the neck. The undisputed kaiju of turtleneck sweaters by Undercover, an undisputed master of Japanese streetwear.