Turtlenecks date back to the 15th century and were usually worn by knights who would wear this classic jersey which protected their necks from the chainmail or chainsaw. Fast forward to 2023 and turtlenecks are still worn by not the knights anymore but even fashionable classic men. Now the question lies then , how do you wear a white turtleneck formally as a stylish man? The solution to that question is explained below in this blog post below.
1. Formal suits are to be worn with a white turtleneck
One way to wear a white turtleneck formally it is to just bring in a formal suit. This is a suit that is formal by design and the current ones we have in stores are suits with double vents and double breasted suits. Findings on the internet give many synonyms to the word “Formal” , they call it evening dress, dress clothes, black tie, white tie and full evening dress. Why the color white on a turtleneck? Well because this color is the most formal and looks very clean as it slims up the silhouette of the suit thus a white turtleneck is ideal. England was the only country to dominate American menswear and for good reason. Most people who see other wearing suits have this perception that they are like the English Men who are highly educated. Yes in theory that is proven to be a fact but a suit does not mean you are from England but it does carry with it the convenience that this man knows English and can be in charge of a business.
For the suits, as I usually write in my previous blog posts, a suit needs to be well tailored or it must fit your body so that it looks good on you and colors such as Navy blue, Charcoal Grey, Brown and Black or a farm green are ideal for formal wear. Believe me when I say you will never go wrong with pairing a white turtleneck with these suits colors and just leave the dress shirt and ties all at home.
2. White turtlenecks need to be tucked thus a belt is mandatory
That’s right, a belt creates a slimmed up appearance especially if you are a thin guy. For the bigger guys with bellies, probably a belt won’t work for their figure but I think suspenders are fine for that type of man because you can tuck in the turtleneck like a white dress shirt and just fasten the clips if you are wearing a clip on suspender. Tucking in the turtleneck is done to project a formal look which needs you to dress up.
3. If suits are not your thing bring on an overcoat
I know there are some gents out there who don’t wear suits on a daily basis like myself or don’t like suits at all, there is nothing wrong with that. However, to dress formally I think an overcoat will assist in this scenario, coats like these are super affordable even the second hand ones. A black or brown overcoat matches perfectly with a white turtleneck and nice boots or dress shoes. What I don’t think will match the coat and turtleneck is jeans because the subject of this blog post it is formal menswear.
4. It is important that you buy quality fabrics like cashmere because they can be layered with other formal pieces in your closet
This is another reason why a man needs t buy the right turtleneck not just the color white but also consider fabric of the turtleneck. I suggest a cashmere fabric because it has a soft drape that makes it super comfortable on the skin and they provide extra warmth. I believe a white, brown or a blue turtleneck is ideal but for the purpose of this blog post, white is the preferred color since it brings the formality of the outfit. This cashmere fabric on a turtleneck can also be matched with a sports jacket or blazer that is not from the suit, a leather jacket or suede jacket also works well with this turtleneck if you want to go for at least a smart casual or business casual outfit.
5. White and black are great combinations thus for footwear black boots are ideal
If you want to add combinations don’t be afraid of wearing black boots to become sharply dressed.
Mens Fashion & Style By Mthobisi 