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What are the different types of sweater necklines?
Eight Different Types of Sweater Necklines
Sweaters come in a wide variety of styles, fabrics, and weights. They make a valuable and versatile addition to any wardrobe. They can be worn by men or women and can be worn as the most important part (the top) or paired with shirts and coats to create an amazing amount of outfits for casual wear or business casual.
Here’s a simple list of the main eight sweater necklines you’ll find.
Shawl Collar
A shawl collar sweater is a sweater, most often a cardigan, with extra fabric around the neckline to make a sort of shawl that can be drawn up and around the neck when the sweater is buttoned. It can be very warm and comfortable in cooler seasons.
A shawl collar sweater can be worn by either men or women.
Like any other cardigan sweater, a shawl collar sweater is open in the front and held together by buttons or a zipper. It is designed to be worn atop some other top or shirt.
Mock Turtleneck
The mock turtleneck sweater is a pullover sweater. Unlike a turtleneck, described below, its collar does not completely cover the neck, but only comes partway up.
Like the turtleneck, the mock turtleneck can be worn by both men and women. It has all of the advantages and uses of the turtleneck, the only difference being the height of the collar.
As with the turtleneck, the mock turtleneck can be worn with a blazer or jacket for formal situations which do not require a buttoned shirt and tie.
Turtleneck
The turtleneck sweater is a pullover sweater with enough fabric to entirely cover the neck. Sometimes, extra fabric is added, and the collar is designed to be folded down to make a stiff covering for the neck.
The turtleneck comes in both men’s and women’s varieties. It is best worn as a form-fitting garment that emphasizes the shape of the body.
A turtleneck can be worn alone, or paired with a jacket or blazer for a more formal or elegant look. It can also be worn with a cardigan or pullover sweater with a lower neckline, designed to emphasize the neck of the wearer.
Cowl Neck
A cowl-neck sweater is a pullover sweater with a loose-fitting funnel-necked collar which drapes over the shoulders of the garment. It differs from a turtleneck in that the collar of a cowl neck sweater is not stiff and tight on the neck, but folds down onto the shoulders.
Cowl-neck sweaters are mainly worn by women. It is usually found as a loose-fitting garment, which can be worn alone or with a lighter shirt underneath to separate the garment from the skin of the wearer.
The cowl-neck sweater is best worn as the outer garment. A cowl-neck is not usually a good match for a blazer or similar formal jacket as the cowl rarely sits right on the lapels of the coat.
Crewneck
The crewneck sweater is a pullover sweater with a rounded neckline, which rests on the base of the neck. The material of the neckline is usually ribbed, and made from a second piece of fabric, then sewn onto the garment. The crewneck collar can also be found on shirts and undershirts. The crewneck is not usually tight around the neck, but it is usually fairly close fitting, without a great deal of room to spare.
The crewneck undershirt made an appearance in the 1930’s. The crewneck sweater appeared at about the same time, and is sometimes thought of as a variant of the Fair Isle sweater, with an open neckline popularized by the Prince of Wales of the period, the future Edward VIII.
Crewneck sweaters can be worn by either men or women, and can be found in a variety of materials and weights.
A crewneck sweater can be worn by itself, or paired with a collared shirt or a turtleneck, for a more formal or elegant look.
V-Neck
The v-neck sweater is exactly as the name describes, a pullover sweater with the neckline cut lower, in the shape of a v in front. This type of sweater is also sometimes described as a “Fair Isle” sweater, after a type of pullover invented in the isles of Scotland and popularized by the Prince of Wales in the 1920’s. A Fair Isle sweater may also have a low rounded neckline, and not a v-neck, however.
V-neck sweaters come in a variety of materials and thicknesses, and can be found plain, or with patterns. They can be worn by either men or women.
V-neck sweaters can be used as the sole garment, or paired with a collared shirt, or a turtleneck sweater. A close-fitting v-neck sweater can also be used with a coat, a collared shirt and a tie as a substitute for a vest.
Banded Collar
A banded collar can be included on either a v-line or a round collared sweater to add some fabric. This has the effect of raising the collar somewhat.
A banded collar sweater can be worn by either men or women. It can come in a variety of weights and fabrics, and can be plain or patterned.
The banded collar sweater can sometimes be found with a zipper to close part of the neck. Such sweaters can be worn with a shirt in cooler weather, as a substitute for a heavier jacket.
Scoop Neck
The scoop neck sweater extends below the usual neckline. It is a pullover sweater with a larger neck opening than a v-neck sweater, and exposes more of the torso. It can be worn with a shirt, especially a patterned or printed shirt that can be displayed. It can also be worn alone to show a bit of skin. As such, it is usually thought of as a women’s sweater.
How do you choose a neckline?
As with any other item of clothing, a sweater, and its neckline, should be chosen both for the occasion, and for its appearance on your body. Formal occasions might call for a turtleneck or mock turtleneck sweater. A bulkier sweater of any kind of neckline might be inappropriate.
At the same time, a sweater neckline can emphasize your appearance. A tightly fitted turtleneck can make your torso look longer. A v-neck sweater can emphasize your neck and collar, or draw attention away from overly wide shoulders.
How do you wear an oversized sweater?
Choose your sweater to go with your pants. If you intend to wear a skirt or dress, you should look for a sweater that ends neatly around the waistline.
Consider the temperature. A heavy sweater may get uncomfortable in warmer temperatures, and you may want something lighter. You will also want something lighter if you are going to wear layers.
You may want to establish contrast by pairing the bulky, floppy sweater with a pair of form-fitting pants or trousers.
If the sweater hangs too far down, you may want to simply tuck it into your pants to give a neater look.
What are knitted sweaters called?
A knitted sweater is known as either a cardigan or a jersey. A cardigan has an open front, which is closed with a zipper or buttons. A jersey is pulled over the head.
Jerseys come with a variety of necklines. Cardigans, being open, tend to have a lower neckline, but this is not always the case.
Knitted sweaters are created by knitting them from single strands of yarn, rather than from fabric woven on a loom.