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What are the different types of turtlenecks?
Nine Different Types of Turtlenecks to Know
Classic Turtleneck
The classic turtleneck is a pull-over shirt or sweater that can be worn by either men or women. It has a length of fabric that’s designed to cover the neck entirely and often there’s an extra length of fabric that can be folded over to create a more firm collar that circles your neck.
Classic turtlenecks are designed to fit snugly over the body and show off the form.
The classic turtleneck can be worn alone or with another pull-over sweater. Combining a turtleneck with a blazer or sports coat can give you an elegant, semi-formal look that’s a true classic.
Over the years many famous actors have used this fashion style to set themselves apart in both movies or TV shows in fact!
Cowl Turtleneck
The cowl turtleneck is a pull-over shirt or sweater usually worn by women. It’s different from the classic turtleneck in that it has loose folds of fabric along the neckline that drape over the shoulders and the top of the body.
It may be designed to cover the upper body or to leave shoulders exposed but the fabric always drapes over the top of the neckline. While a classic turtleneck is supposed to be tight, a cowl turtleneck is different in that it’s supposed to be floppy.
A cowl turtleneck can flatter a wide variety of body types. You can complement it with belts and shoes for example. The fold of the garment doesn’t really leave room for a necklace, which will either be entirely lost in the extra fabric or seem a little bit overboard.
Funnel Turtleneck
The funnel turtleneck, sometimes called the mock turtleneck, is a garment that can be worn by either women or men. Unlike the classic turtleneck, the funnel turtleneck has a shorter collar that doesn’t completely cover the neck.
When shopping you’ll find them sold with a variety of fabrics or styles. While it’s usually tight fitting on the body it doesn’t have to be.
The mock turtleneck can be used in any fashion setting as a substitute for a classic turtleneck. In fact, you might want to pick a mock turtleneck if you find the high neck collar of the classic turtleneck uncomfortable.
Knit Turtleneck
A knit turtleneck is simply a turtleneck sweater knitted from yarn which can be wool or some other fiber for example. A knit turtleneck can be worn by either men or women.
While classic turtlenecks are usually designed to fit closely to your body, the knit turtleneck is somewhat loose around the body. It’ss a heavier garment and designed to be worn alone or as an outer garment – especially during cold weather months.
You can wear them with a blazer although this could potentially be too warm in some cases if it’s not truly cold outside. You can also accessorize them the same way as a cowl turtleneck although many ladies find it easier to wear a necklace to compliment them.
Printed Turtleneck
A printed turtleneck is a turtleneck shirt of any of style made from printed cloth. This is most usually a women’s top. Among printed turtlenecks, animal print patterns depicting zebra stripes or leopard spots are popular but other styles are what you’ll find when shopping.
Since the printed turtleneck stands out a lot, usually you’re better off complimenting it with simple accessories that don’t clash with the printed design on it. For example, a leopard skin printed turtleneck might look very nice when paired with a tan jacket having no other pattern.
Denim Turtleneck
A denim turtleneck is exactly what the name describes; a turtleneck made from blue denim. This is usually a women’s clothing item.
Denim turtlenecks have all of the advantages of any clothing made from denim fabric. For example, they’re tough, strong, and durable and can last for years. It’s a heavier garment and is often better for cold weather like spring, winter, or fall and not summer months.
A denim turtleneck can be paired with a denim jacket, skirt, or jeans to look very nice. When picking out denim clothing you should make sure that the shade of the turtleneck and its company don’t match exactly but instead contrast a little bit at least.
Otherwise, the result will look like a poor attempt at a denim suit.
Cutout Turtleneck
A cutout turtleneck keeps the neck collar material of a women’s turtleneck but cuts away fabric around the shoulders and chest, leaving the skin exposed. It’s a more casual kind of top that you can wear for evenings out and less-serious occasions.
Cutout turtlenecks can be found in a variety of styles with different sizes of the top cutout. The cutout turtleneck can be accessorized with boots and short skirts as it’s sometimes a popular style for women as it’s a cool mix between traditional country but also a little bit city, too!
Lace Turtleneck Top
A lace turtleneck pairs the turtleneck top with a lace collar and trim to make an elegant and stylish garment that any woman can wear to a formal or romantic event.
As with any other sort of turtleneck, it can be worn as the main garment or paired with a coat or blazer to step your style up a bit.
Pullover Turtleneck Sweater
Pullover turtleneck sweaters are heavier turtlenecks designed as warm clothing for cold weather wear. They are designed to be oversized, having a loose and floppy neck instead of being tightly fitted to the body and neck.
Pullover turtleneck sweaters are more often a women’s garment. They can be made from any material but are pretty often made from knit heavy yarn.
You can wear them alone or with a lighter undershirt to keep the fabric from direct contact with the skin.
Is a turtleneck a collared shirt?
Yes, any sort of turtleneck has a collar or fits that general description falls under the definition of a “collared shirt.”
Usually, though, the term “collared shirt” is understood to mean a buttoned shirt with a buttoned closable collar and either soft or stiff distinctly shaped collars that don’t wrap around the neck.
In many cases, dress codes will explicitly say “no turtlenecks” or “no mock collars,” leaving no room for confusion. If a dress code says “collared shirt required,” the safer practice is to ask beforehand rather than risk being turned away.
That’s because unfortunately people interpret turtlenecks and sweaters in different ways can you can’t be 100% sure without asking specifically.
How did the turtleneck come about?
The turtleneck has been around since the middle ages when it was worn as a garment under metal armor, providing both a thick layer of cloth armor to protect the neck. It also served as an undergarment that kept metal chains from chafing and pinching the wearer.
In the 1600s, when armor was less important for warfare, the turtleneck style of clothing evolved into a thick cloth collar of many folds called a “ruff.”
In more recent times, the turtleneck enjoyed popularity throughout the twentieth century as an informal and stylish garment that could be worn by both men and women. Hollywood personalities, like Noel Coward, Jayne Mansfield, and Audrey Hepburn all helped to keep the turtleneck in the eye of their fashion-conscious fans.
The turtleneck is a really unique type of top – the easiness, comfort, and classy appearance of it (along with occasional waves of nostalgia and being worn by famous celebrities on TV and film) helped to make sure that the turtleneck, while having its ups and downs, never really fell out of fashion.
What is the difference between a turtleneck and a mock turtleneck?
A turtleneck or classic turtleneck has a much longer collar than a mock turtleneck which is also called a funnel turtleneck.
At a minimum, a classic turtleneck has enough fabric to completely cover the neck of the person wearing it. Usually a classic turtleneck will have even more fabric than this and is meant to be folded over and doubled. This gives it a stiffer neck collar that looks very nice, not unlike an old-fashioned leather “stock” collar.
On the other hand, the mock turtleneck has a neck collar that comes only about halfway up the wearer’s neck.
What is the difference between a turtleneck and a polo neck?
Turtleneck is a term used in the US to refer to a shirt or sweater with a high collar. A polo neck, in the US, means much the same thing: a shirt or sweater with a high collar. It’s just a lot less common term in the United States.
In Britain the terms have slightly different meanings. For example, a turtleneck shirt in the United States is a polo neck shirt in Britain. The British turtleneck has a much shorter neck, and would be what the Americans would describe as a ‘mock turtleneck.’
Why are turtlenecks so popular?
Turtlenecks are simple, practical tops that are great for a wide range of situations. They’re often a great option for everything from informal to business casual by the simple addition or subtraction of accessories or other articles of clothing.
Another big reason is they’ve been made popular by a variety of famous people like actors, tech leaders, book authors, and more ranging from artists like Noel Coward to elegant and glamorous Hollywood actresses like Audrey Hepburn, and George Peppard to powerful business figures like Steve Jobs.