wearing the turtleneck

So maybe you're looking to add another roll to your neck and wondering how?  Maybe you're not. Either way, turtlenecks aren't reserved for the genetically blessed who possess chiseled jaw lines and elongated necks passed down through maternal genes.

Not to state the obvious, but I’m well aware that I don’t possess the features consisting of anything chiseled.  I thought that after all those childhood years spent challenging my mom on the hand-me-down turtlenecks that I would be completely over them. Fast forward many (many) years later, and they've somehow seemed to work their way into my wardrobe.  Anyway, the neck thing is a constant struggle, but then again it’s also hard for me to turn down a cozy turtleneck when it's 50s and gloomy, especially one that comes in a pink checked print.  So when it comes to matters of the turtleneck, how does one wear it without looking, for lack of a better word, bloated?

Let me preface this by saying that this isn’t anything out of the ordinary, these are merely a few things I do before I slip on my turtlenecks.  First, it’s all about the prep work.  I do a little research and figure out what I'm looking for.  If I'm going for the loose and oversized look, I always size up -- think, oversized and chunky, and go two-three sizes bigger.  Seriously, bigger the better.  

Then, I try to stretch out the neck a bit more, trying not to let the roll graze my chin.  It irritates me if I'm not purposefully allowing it to do so.  Then lastly, to style it, I simply balance the oversize look with something a bit more fitted on the bottom (see oversized burgundy sweater and leather pencil skirt version here), or just go completely oversized and pair it with slouch pants.

If you're going for a more fitted look -- take for example this ASOS turtleneck I'm wearing, a slightly loose look but very much fitted -- give the neckline a few tugs to stretch it out, then pair it with something slight more slouchy.  Always make sure you pull it high enough so it reveals that there is in fact a neck underneath it all.

And there you have it, my attempt at a less-bloated look.  Simple enough?

Wearing ASOS turtleneck sweater.