Hi, it's Nicolò, here we go again for an episode of Très Bien Habillé, the weekly video to be well rolled ...
Uh no, well dressed.
Forgive my slip of the tongue, I was already on the topic of the day... Indeed, today we are going to talk about this emblematic piece that is THE TURTLENECK!
Regarding the cut, color and style, I will give you some basic tips to choose it well. And then I also added a few little secrets, in particular on how to "twist this collar".
1. The magic of the turtleneck
Yes, this room is "magical".
Magical, because it can add a touch of sophistication to almost any fall or winter outfit, with very little effort. And what's more, it works for so many styles .
...
It's almost a little too easy, right?
Maybe it should be banned, for the sake of fairness with other sweaters?
...Anyway, it's still legal for now.
And that's good, especially for bald men , since it gives them an additional visual benefit.
2. The thin turtleneck
The basic. The one that goes everywhere. The one that slips under a jacket, a coat, a windbreaker, an overshirt... Come on, let's be crazy, we even realize that it doesn't look so bad under a simple casual shirt!
A layering of a camel sweater, under a light blue denim overshirt... Itself UNDER a thick wool cardigan with large navy ribbing... Who? Who can do that for you, besides your friend the turtleneck?
Is the world upside down?
No sir, it's called layering.
Its finesse allows it to play many roles , and even to perform those famous "collar twists" that I told you about above.
Note also that in the image above, it is not even a "real" thin turtleneck.
We are more on "medium-light" weight. And even there, layering remains very easy!
3. The thick turtleneck
The thick turtleneck is less flexible than the thin turtleneck.
... No, but I mean, in terms of style. Yes, yes... Of course it stretches less.
It doesn't allow as many layering possibilities , and is much more difficult to fit into pants.
It also doesn't allow for those little variations in how the collar is worn.
But then why is it still an incredible piece?
...Because, forgive my expression, it's really impressive.
SEH Kelly.
It allows for great visual richness through multiple knitting stitches , thick ribbing , or even cables , and gives the possibility for materials to express themselves fully.
Want a super textured, thin sweater? Good luck. Or you'll have to pay for some seriously luxurious blends of fabric. At a price that would probably get you a nice chunky turtleneck.
Altea Milan.
Want a visual roughness on a thick turtleneck? No problem: rice stitch, English rib, gauge variations, multiple twisted threads to achieve effects... it's almost made for that.
A nice chunky turtleneck can be very expensive, but it's probably the type of knit with the most potential for a "Wow!" effect.
4. The cut
If I say "fitted, but not too tight," I suspect that won't surprise anyone.
When I say "fitted," I mean "fitted." Like here, for example. Not "tight," not "loose," either.
And for good reason: in the past, this piece had fallen into disuse, and I think that the extra-loose and drooping cuts with which we could see it could have contributed to this. (That, and some rather ugly colors)
This isn't the only good way to wear it though.
There are probably a whole bunch of them, but I would like to give you a second alternative which also highlights the silhouette , but is not fitted...
5. Complexion, color and beard
The question of our complexion and the colors that suit it is a vast subject, constantly debated.
Some people downplay its importance, others just see it. And in any case, I have never read a really convincing and exhaustive attempt to theorize which color goes precisely with which skin.
So I'm not going to go into it in detail, but I'll just say: yes, in my opinion, it matters. Especially for pieces worn close to the face.
A photo from Tricot Paris. In my opinion, the "offbeat" side is intentionally assumed for the shoot. In real life however, the model would really not be helped by this sweater color.
And while I'm not the most obsessive on this point either, note that in the case of the turtleneck , it's a more important parameter than usual.
Makes sense, since it's not just a top, but a top that covers your entire neck down to the base of your face. So you have to pay special attention to how it suits your skin tone.
And finally: rah, the beard!
No no, I'm not tired of it...
"The beard", that's what I want to end on: imagine that the beard (even modest and sparse) has a mysterious power that allows you to wear top colors that you would have difficulty wearing otherwise...
PS: In this video, I am wearing...
- A fine BonneGueule camel turtleneck .
- Then a thick dark green turtleneck from Altea Milano.
