Turtlenecks - Learning to Love them

This blog is about embracing individualistic fashion choices. Whatever they may be. That is the core objective. One method I am going to take to allow for this is to talk about components of my own fashion style and discuss why I like them and what makes them comfortable to me. To begin with, I will discuss turtlenecks.

Turtlenecks are a decisive fashion choice. Many people feel like they are a stylistic choice which they can’t wear successfully. However, this does not have to be the reality. In this post, I will explain first why I am drawn to turtlenecks, second, the benefits of turtlenecks and third how to style an outfit which features a turtleneck.

To begin I should disclose that turtlenecks are one of my favourite aspects of my winter wardrobe. I am excited when the weather begins cooling and I know I can pull out my turtlenecks. For some reason I just find them comforting – maybe because they are warm.

Warmth is the core reason I am drawn to turtlenecks. I am cold in basically all scenarios and turtlenecks provide that perfect layering aspect to an outfit whilst contributing to the style of an outfit. Turtlenecks are the perfect base layer. You can wear a cardigan or jumper over the turtleneck. You can then wear a coat over that.

This is seen in the above photo. The white turtleneck composes the base layer. Then layered over the top is a jumper. This jumper is a colourful one which consists of four different pastel colours. The pastel colour palette of the jumper contributes to the overall aesthetic of the outfit by subduing what could otherwise be a very bold, colourful jumper. It is important to note that bold, colourful jumpers are definitely not a bad thing!

Another benefit of a turtleneck is the neckline. When wearing a turtleneck, you don’t have to worry about the overlap of your top’s neckline with that of your jumper or cardigan. It may seem simple, but no one likes putting together a stylish outfit, that is ruined by a jumper which has a wide neckline enabling the white shirt your wearing underneath to show. This is seen in the jumper of this outfit. It has a wide neckline hence finding tops you can wear underneath it that don’t have necklines that show can be difficult. This is one of the beauties of a turtleneck. You can pull it out and put it over any jumper and not worry about messy necklines.

Additionally, wearing a turtleneck will elide the need for a scarf. Do not get me wrong – I love a thick woollen scarf as much as the next person. But sometimes they can be cumbersome and can prove to be annoying. A perfect example is if you're riding a bike. You don’t want to worry about your scarf (if it is a long one) getting caught in the bike chains or wheels.

Hence, turtlenecks have a stylistic feature, but they also have a practicality feature. They enable you to wear any jumper and not be concerned with the neckline of the top which you wear underneath. They also keep you warm and eliminate the need for a scarf which can be beneficial in certain circumstances. Additionally, though they are a stylistic fashion choice.

Lots of people have reservations regarding turtlenecks. They believe them to be something which you must have a certain style, neck length or face shape to wear successfully. Whilst there might be a small slither of reality to this – everyone suits certain cuts of clothes better than others, unfortunately. But determining which cuts suit you the best is an important part of developing your own style.

One way to wear a turtleneck if your worried they don’t suit your face shape is to wear your hair up. I have always found that if you wear your hair up it emphasises the length of your neck which is something beneficial to wearing a turtleneck. Another trick is to wear a necklace to provide a sense of scale and draw the eye to a focal point.

Turtlenecks also come in varying colours, styles and forms. Therefore, everyone should be able to find one which is a style which suits them. Whether it one such as those shown in the picture below or whether it be thicker, woollen, turtleneck jumper.

There is also the question of the neck aspect of the turtleneck. Do you roll it? Do you leave it as is? Everyone I know has a personal preference and honestly it is completely up to. As with everything with this site, the objective is you developing your own style not listening to me dictate how you should dress and why I think this to be the case. I am just aiming to provide some hints and advice to help you in developing that individual style – whatever it may evolve to be.

If we return to the outfit depicted in the above photo you see that a turtleneck can be paired with a skirt. Here a simple mustard yellow, button-up skirt. This skirt is a personal favourite of mine as it is incredibly adaptable and can be worn with pretty much anything. Considering the current winter weather, I would wear this outfit with brown tights. Brown complements yellow and green well and hence provides a good complement to the outfit as a collective.

For shoes, there are many possibilities. In the picture, I am wearing gold lace-up flats. These shoes are incredibly versatile and work well in this outfit combination as the gold works well with the colours of the outfit. Another possible shoe combination is brown lace-up boots which would complement the tights well.

Additionally, the coat seen in this picture can be worn to complement this outfit. The high collar and mid-thigh reach of the coat give it a cute vibe. This when combined with the colour – which compliments the rest of the outfit well make it a perfect addition to the outfit.

As this post has hopefully expressed turtlenecks are something which I personally enjoy wearing for a myriad of reasons. This is what finding your sense of personal style should be about. It should be finding a type of clothing which suits you and makes you feel comfortable. Whether that is for something as mundane as it keeps you warm – a crucial element of being comfortable. Or whether it is more complex and has more personal meaning associated with it.