Men's turtleneck (aka 'banlon' or 'badlon') is a moderately tight knitted or knitted jumper with a high collar. This garment is basic, has not gone out of fashion for many decades and, depending on other elements of the image, can look like a piece of retro style, and ultra-modern, and completely neutral. A properly selected turtleneck guarantees elegance combined with maximum comfort, and in addition, it can perfectly adjust some features of the appearance. Let's consider in more detail what is good about this type of clothing and what it can be worn with.
Benefits of a men's turtleneck
A turtleneck is a versatile wardrobe item that can come in handy in a variety of situations. In winter, it provides an additional layer of insulation: a thin turtleneck will easily fit under a jacket or jumper and, thanks to the high collar and, preferably, the wool content in the composition, will help to keep warm.
In cold weather, a warm turtleneck becomes an excellent alternative shirt
In warmer weather, jersey models are preferred, combining elegance and comfort: they are almost as comfortable as T-shirts, but quite acceptable as a replacement for a shirt in the office and other situations involving a business attire.
According to stylists, turtlenecks look especially advantageous on bald or very short-haired men, as well as on short guys. In the first case, the collar of the product most favorably emphasizes the shape of the face and head, and in the second, visually adds a couple of centimeters of growth, stretching the figure.
Perhaps the hero of the series “The Big Bang Theory” is not accidentally constantly wearing turtlenecks
The history of the men's turtleneck
Although Steve Jobs is often referred to as the most famous fan of turtlenecks, the garment is not on his list of inventions. Various high-necked jumpers have existed in Europe and Russia since the 15th century, but turtlenecks, similar to modern ones, have become widespread since about the 1850s. They were originally used to protect the throat from the wind in situations where wearing a scarf was uncomfortable: turtlenecks were worn by sailors, workers, and also athletes.
Black turtleneck became Steve Jobs' uniform
By the middle of the 20th century, turtlenecks were finally entrenched in everyday men's fashion and began to be perceived as an attribute of creative people and intellectuals who were not bound by a strict daily dress code. In the 60s, this garment was worn by many European movie stars, for example, Marcello Mastroiani and Yves Montand. Around the same time, turtlenecks were established in the women's wardrobe.
Young Sean Connery in a turtleneck
Nowadays, a men's turtleneck is one of the basic wardrobe items. Most often it is worn under a jacket, jumper or vest, less often as an independent piece of clothing.
How to wear a turtleneck under a suit
Fashion historians point out that the turtleneck was originally a rebellion against a shirt and tie. A thin plain jumper can really replace a shirt with a suit. In this case, the image remains elegant and businesslike, it is suitable for almost any situation, except for those with a strict dress code and special events.
The turtleneck + jacket combination guarantees comfort and elegance in one bottle
If you wear a turtleneck under a classic jacket, it should be solid, smooth and thin enough: for example, a different composition of fabric, including wool and cashmere, should not look massive and look like a separate sweater. According to the color scheme, it is recommended to choose a turtleneck a couple of tones lighter than a jacket. The exception is black: it can be worn with a gray suit.
A turtleneck will also perfectly fit into smart casual style, if you wear it with a tweed or colored jacket and chinos. In this case, the image will be less formal, but still quite elegant.
Consider a few business looks with a turtleneck:
How To Wear a Turtleneck in a Casual Style
The choices for casual turtleneck looks are almost endless. Here are just a few examples of clothing you can pair with:
- jumpers with V-neck,
- cardigans,
- vests and sleeveless jackets,
- casual shirts made of thick fabric (plaid, denim),
- denim and leather jackets,
- bomber jackets.
The turtleneck can be combined with most casual items
Classic jeans, chinos, corduroy trousers, etc. will look great at the bottom. You should not combine a turtleneck with sweatpants and shoes, you also need to be careful with pronounced youth and subcultural things (strongly ripped and tight jeans, leather trousers, etc.): after all, this piece of clothing hints at a certain restraint and elegance.
An important point: if you wear a turtleneck under something, it should be thin and tight enough to fit the figure and especially the neck. Sometimes turtlenecks are also worn as an independent piece of clothing, in this case, on the contrary, the product should not sit too tightly and can be made of denser fabric, in addition, various decorative elements are permissible: curly knitting, zipper on the collar, embroidery and logos, etc. .P.
Here are some examples of casual turtleneck sets:
Where to buy a men's turtleneck
The classic men's turtleneck is a popular wardrobe item and can be found in almost any brand of men's clothing. Thin knitted models are sometimes sold in sets of several, like underwear, it makes sense to look for denser woolen options in the sweaters and jumpers sections.
If you are planning to wear a turtleneck under a jacket or jumper, pay attention to plain, plain models. Now in stores you can find many options with stripes, prints and other decor: they are more suitable for wearing as a jumper, but whether they are suitable as a base for a jacket is an open question, it is better to try them on immediately with a jacket or other top with which going to wear them.
Smooth black, mid-cut turtleneck – the most versatile option for the base model
As for the colors, it is best to rely on the classic neutral colors: gray, beige, blue, burgundy, dark green, black, white. In this case, the turtleneck will be combined with a lot of items from your wardrobe and will come in handy in various situations.
Here are some examples of men's turtlenecks from current collections that you can find in stores:
Turtleneck Topman
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Sisley Turtleneck
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Turtleneck by Michael Kors
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Turtleneck by United Colors of Benetton
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Turtleneck by Tommy Hilfiger
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Turtleneck Topman
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Conclusion
A men's turtleneck is a very comfortable and versatile piece of clothing that will probably come in handy more than once in different circumstances. In winter, it will perfectly warm you in the office in combination with a jacket or jumper, and in warmer weather it will save you from having to think too much about choosing clothes: just put on a turtleneck with jeans, throw a leather jacket on top – and the stylish look is ready!
