I love a good turtleneck. So much so that I wish I could wear them year-round (but don't worry, I'm not insane). I eagerly await the Fall and Winter months when it's acceptable for me to bust out my assortment, and as I'm sure you can imagine, it's vast: chunky knits, fitted mock-necks (technically not a turtleneck, but close enough), and ribbed styles are the styles I wear most. While I'm totally an equal turtleneck opportunist, my absolute favorites are tissue-thin styles I can easily tuck into jeans, high-rise pants, and skirts as well as comfortably layer under sweaters, dresses, and shirts sans bulk. I'm also here for a good turtleneck bodysuit; it's the ultimate piece for achieving a seamless look. To put it simply, what a white t-shirt is to many, a thin turtleneck is to me. An utterly essential basic I can't live without.
One of my go-to outfit formulas is a thin turtleneck tucked into high-rise jeans with boots in cool weather; it is super flattering, is easy to throw on, and always looks polished, though effortlessly so. But when I need to bundle up a bit more or simply want to experiment with layers, a thin turtleneck can really transform an outfit, even if it's just barely peeking out from under a cozy knit, button-down shirt, or sweatshirt.
To give you a visual on just how easy layering a turtleneck is, I've snapped a few pics detailing three superwearable looks. From a vegan-leather-shirt-and-jeans formula to a double-sweater situation (fear not, I'll break this down), ahead, my guide to layering a simple turtleneck IRL. While these looks err on the side of minimalist, I promise, the results are anything but boring. Plus, I've shopped out all three of my outfits head to toe, including most of my exact pieces and similar styles.
A white turtleneck is my absolute favorites for layering. While I love styling mine with all of the neutral tops in my closet, it really pops under brighter colors and fun prints while at the same time grounding them so they feel more wearable and less loud.
Here, you can see this white turtleneck barely peeks out from under the neckline and cuffs of my sweater, bringing a little more dimension to an otherwise supersimple outfit.
To really show off your layering, give the ole sweater hair tuck a try.
Tibi Cashmere Mini Pullover ($695)
American Eagle Cozy Crew Neck Sweater ($20, originally $50)
Bottega Veneta Cassette Bag ($1,900)
Miista Olga Stretch Bootie ($395)
I love layering a thin turtleneck under a button-down shirt in the Winter. It's warmer and feels a bit more exciting than donning either piece on its own.
For a trendier and more textured take on this look, I went for an oversize vegan-leather shirt (fastening a single snap at my waistline to define my shape a bit more) and paired it with straight-leg jeans, black boots, and a sleek bag.
As you can see, this look is less about the turtleneck itself, but it's a simple base that actually creates a lot more impact than you'd expect.
Seven Dials Nicole Mid-Calf Boots ($55, originally $70)
Carolina Lemke Plenty Sunglasses ($40, originally $75)
Barbela Diamond Wilder Ring ($1,150)
Roxanne Assoulin The Mixer Bracelet ($85-$415)
When it's freezing out, there's no other option but to cloth your body is as many layers as possible, though it's hard not to feel like the Michelin Man or Joey in that episode of Friends where he wears all of Chandler's clothes. An easy way to cover up sans bulk is to layer a thin turtleneck under a V-neck sweater.
While I chose to layer an oatmeal turtleneck under a white V-neck sweater, this combination works well with pretty much any combination of neutral colors (white and grey, camel and brown, navy and white) but also works with brighter colors, too. I love a white turtleneck layered under a solid shade like red, cobalt, yellow, or Kelly green.
Here's a closer look at my low-key layering.
By Far Lada 50Mm Ankle Boots ($351, originally $585)
Polène Number Seven Bag ($480)