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How to Style a Turtleneck: 10 Outfits for Every Silhouette, from Fitted to Oversized
Chic, cozy, and luxurious. Here’s how to style my favorite fall and winter item.
Growing up, I hated wearing turtlenecks. I thought they were uncomfortable, overly conservative, and so not cute. My mom, not one to force the issue, gave up on trying to get me to wear them pretty quickly, and as a result, I spent my early winters in the Northeast free-necked and probably a little colder than I needed to be.
I’m older now, and so much wiser. Because guess what I’m wearing as I write this? Yes: a turtleneck. In fact, in a classic enemies-to-lovers plot twist, the turtleneck may just be one of my favorite garments today.
Turtlenecks are chic, cozy, and luxurious, and when I wear a really nice one, I almost believe I own a ski house in Aspen. You, too, can feel this way, and today, I’m going to show you how. Below, 10 turtleneck outfits to try for every silhouette, from fitted to oversized.
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How to Style a Turtleneck
How to Style a Fitted Turtleneck
FOR WORK
A fitted white turtleneck like the pima-cotton Axam is the ideal underpinning for a suit during fall and winter. And speaking of suits—isn’t this Shiraz ensemble just wow? I’ve been eyeing the Horton pants and Yiyan blazer in our rich new wine hue since it launched, and trying these pieces on IRL was everything I expected and more. Not only is the color stunning, but the suit itself is so unexpectedly comfortable, thanks largely to the stretchy knit inserts in the seams of the blazer. Here, I paired it with the Lana ankle boots in burgundy, the Claressa earrings in gold, and my deep red manicure for a head-to-toe wine palette.
FOR WEEKENDS
Turtleneck tops like the Axam are perfect for those days that start out cold but warm up in the afternoon. Most recently, I wore mine with my Milo jeans, Koio sneakers, and Daniela earrings for a Saturday morning walk, followed by a visit to a local brewery with some friends. For the chilly morning, I layered on my vintage denim jacket—a hand-me-down from my dad’s middle school days—but you can get a similar look with the Rhoda jacket.
How to Style an Oversized Turtleneck
FOR WORK
Is there anything cozier than snuggling up in an oversized turtleneck sweater in cold weather? On winter days when you really don’t want to get out of bed, slipping on the plush cashmere Lea sweater is the second best thing to staying snuggled up in your duvet. (For the uninitiated: Our plush cashmere is the best of the best; it features 4-5x the quantity of yarn as a typical cashmere sweater, making it extra warm, extra soft, and extra, well, plush.) Pair your chunky knit turtleneck with the Skinny Foster pant in mahogany for a chic neutral palette, and add a bit of texture with snakeskin-printed flats.
FOR WEEKENDS
Seeing the Lea sweater brings two words to mind: luxurious and impactful—not only due to the cashmere itself, but also because of the sweater’s artfully shaped silhouette. As a result, it requires very little styling—no super-creative outfit ideas needed. On the weekend, I like to wear it with a simple ensemble of jeans, Chelsea boots, and earrings.
How to Style a Cropped Turtleneck
FOR WORK
A styling trick everyone should keep in mind for their winter wardrobes: To winterize your favorite work dress, just wear a turtleneck on top. Layer a cropped style like the Arbus over a shift dress like the Rosie for an outfit that has the energy of a sweater dress but feels a bit more office-ready. Bonus: The Arbus sweater has a longer hemline in the back, so you can add a belt at the waist and tuck in the front half of your sweater for some extra definition. Give the look a bit of festive flair with shiny green pumps.
FOR WEEKENDS
The ’90s are back, and I’m embracing it with an outfit that Jennifer Aniston definitely would have worn back in her Friends days (and may even be spotted sporting in 2023). The cropped Arbus sweater is an ideal match for the high-waisted, vegan leather Whitney skirt. Gold hoops and pointy-toed burgundy booties complete your autumnal palette and confirm that going out to show off your outfit this evening is simply a must. Need some extra insulation? Just add tights and a matching vegan leather jacket.
How to Style a Long Turtleneck
FOR WORK
With tunic-length styles like the McKenzie sweater, you have two choices: tuck it in, or don’t. Your decision will depend on some combination of your personal style, destination, and what you’re wearing on your bottom half—so I’ve decided to share turtleneck outfit ideas for both options. First up: the tucked-in turtleneck. For a work-appropriate outfit that legitimately feels like wearing pajamas, tuck the McKenzie into the buttery-soft, elastic-waist Jordan pants, which are roomy and substantial enough to avoid that awkward bulk that sometimes comes from tucking a sweater. Give the outfit a bit of flair with shiny heels and fun earrings. (Tip: The sleeves on this sweater are very long. To see how I shortened them, check out the hair-tie trick at the bottom of this article.)
FOR WEEKENDS
While minorly hazardous if you plan to eat spaghetti Bolognese, I love an all-white winter outfit. For your weekend look, try leaving the McKenzie sweater untucked to create a more casual vibe. The comfy Archie jeans, Koio sneakers, and Claressa hoops complete this easy but appealing ensemble.
How to Style a Multicolored Turtleneck
FOR WORK
The Rajni sweater is another one of those pieces that does the styling for you. Thanks to its cocoon-like shape and pleasing swaths of olive, ice blue, camel, and red, all you have to do is add pants. For a Power Casual office look, wear it with the Milo jeans in black and Rowan flats in snakeskin. The Better Than Denim fabric of the Milo jeans is darker and smoother than classic denim, giving the pants an almost trouser-like appearance—especially when the waistband is covered by your sweater’s hemline.
FOR WEEKENDS
Lighter-colored pants tend to have a more casual feel than darker pairs, so the weekend is a great time to break out your Archie jeans. I’ve styled them here with sneakers, but this outfit would also look great with the Lana boots for special occasions, or with loafers—and thanks to the Archie’s adjustable hems, you can always find the right length for any shoe.
