Men's Turtleneck: An Exercise in Style Range

Getting straight to the point, I want to talk about turtlenecks. Hopefully you do too - they've kinda been a bit more of a thing this past season than I feel like I've seen them be in years past. Or maybe I've been that blind to their value in fashion this whole - most likely the case. Anyway, you may or may not be surprised by this (depending on how well you know me by now), but I've hated turtlenecks for the longest time. Yes, the same exact case as suits. In my adolescence, I tried wearing them but ultimately found them super uncomfortable. I kind of didn't like long-sleeve shirts in general, but then having fabric pretty much choke me all day - yeah, was not into it at all. 

Fast forward 10+ years, and now being the aspiring fashion influencer that I am, the scales have fallen from my eyes and now I can truly see the light. Turtlenecks are stylish AF! I wasn't exactly in the market for one, but of course in my shopping trips, I found a turtleneck that I absolutely fell in love with. While in Topman (shocker!), I noticed these very fitted turtlenecks, super soft to the touch and in dark colors, which I'm all about. I was going to go burgundy, because I'm practically obsessed with that color, but I wouldn't be doing my wardrobe its due service if I didn't get a blackish turtleneck. So I went charcoal. 

Having not worn turtlenecks for, well, my entire life, I was excited to see how I could dress and style the one I got. Needless to say, it was an effortless feat, and the results were nothing short of inspiring - for me at least. Without further or do, let's get into it!

Keeping It Hood

Well, not literally "hood". But I found that one of my favorite hoodies was the perfect fit for this look. Obviously, in choosing to style with a hoodie, I immediately steered my the outfit street. I LOVE this hoodie in a special way. One of my favorites that I picked up in Florida, I love how long, lightweight and fitted it is. Also, the fact that it zips along the side of the torso - that is everything to me, it's the little things. With that, I incorporated one my main beanies to reinforce that street style edge. This one in particular was 100% perfect because its color and subtle pattern (white speckles) are literally the same as the turtleneck. Feels incredible when your wardrobe conspires in your favor. While a solid street look, I had to help complement the elegance of the turtleneck with some silver chains and my beloved Rodd & Gunn Chelseas. 

Don't Make It Difficult 

As you can see by my playful and casual pose, this look is definitely not meant to make you feel too serious. It's very well coordinated and on point, but it is still intended to be a simple street look for any city boy (or gal) going about their carefree weekend. I think that's the strong thing about a look with street style  and semi-formal touches. Your hoodie and beanie tell yourself that you're just chilling, but the turtleneck, chains and boots tell everyone else that you mean business, without even trying. Remember, setting a simple but sophisticated base lets those 1-3 pieces do the heavy lifting in awe-factor, while you can dress it with more of your fun and favorite items without compromising style. 

Rooftop Assassin

I said it on Instagram and I'll say it here, this look gave me some serious Assassin's Creed vibes. I adore the hood on this hoodies because it's a little bigger than usual, and because the fabric is so lightweight and it wraps around the head. And then with the turtleneck covering my neck, having my face being all that peeks through makes me feel mysterious, hidden and stealthy. All in the best and most fashionable way possible. That's what clothes should do for you - they should make you feel something, as well as those that can share in the vibe.

But wait, there's more . . .

More With Less

A dope hoodie and fitting beanie aside, if you establish a solid base for your outfit, you put yourself in a very flexible position. Similar to my last blog, let's say you don't want to be street and you want to dial up the sophistication. Well, as we've learned by now, that is super easy - all you need is a jacket. Telling you, less is more when it comes to class, and as you can see, the core outfit is just fine on its own, but adding a jacket, whether more as an accessory or as an actual statement piece, kicks things up a notch. And since it doesn't cover as much of the shoulders and neck, the turtleneck is given more exposure, which is exactly what we want. 

Right On, Target

Fortunately for this jacket, it was not left neglected in my closet to the same extent as some of my other pieces. It's seen the light of day and has turned its share of heads. I think what's most surprising about this jacket is the fact that I got it from Target. Surprising I think, but not completely shocking - Target has been consistently stepping its game up over the years and has some quality items if you're patient enough to scope out their inventory. Interestingly, I got this jacket years ago, but it's just such a classic piece that I do not see it going out of style for me anytime soon. It's nicely tailored for a fitted look around the chest. The fabric and the khaki color help differentiate the jacket from other blazers/suit jackets - it's a little more militant or edgy for lack of better adjectives. In other words, you're an actual boss when you wear this.

360 Turtleneck Excellence

Developing my relationship with blazers/suit jackets has been such a game-changer; it's just a realization I keep having as I tap more into that aspect of men's wear. And seeing how a jacket can frame a turtleneck, I now have a killer look that fits my personal style well. And maybe it's just the fashion nerd in me, but I find the difference between a suited look and a street style look to be so interesting. When I switched between these looks, I sincerely felt like I transformed and was exercising the full range of my personality and style capabilities. I know it's only the second blog doing this kind of thing, but I'm already really enjoying the concept of establishing a base outfit and styling between different looks. I think it provides more value to readers/followers, while also giving me valuable practice in styling. Good thing there's plenty more to come.