This morning while visiting one of my favorite “smart fashion” blogs, I was excited to read Linda Grant’s link to Hadley Freeman’s column in the Guardian in which she would denounce polo-neck sweaters.
Perhaps, to paraphrase Nick Carraway, I’ve remained in these parts too long, for going into the article, I thought that I knew what a polo-neck sweater is: a double-knit sweater with a button placket and a collar reminiscent of a Polo™ shirt, though not as stiff (hence no collar popping). Such a sweater speaks to me of that dreaded category of Business Casual, rendered even more ghastly when it’s emblazoned with business-y logos: XYZ Drug Supply, say, for physicians, or Pencils-a-Plenty for accountants.
Anyway, I digress. Even when living in Canada, I knew good and well that while our countries share a lexicon, the meaning of those words differs. But I was still surprised to learn that Ms. Freeman was critiquing the turtleneck sweater—something I really like on men.
Granted, Tom Cruise (in the image Freeman provides) has given turtlenecks a bad name lately, what with their links to scary acting and megalomaniacal life-saving excursions. And what we call the “mock turtleneck” is truly a horror (think Steve Jobs)—it’s as if the owner shrunk something woolen in the wash but chose to wear the garment as if its fit on the neck were intentional.
But the true turtleneck sweater, if it’s not too tight, too sheer, or too reverend (the white turtleneck is a fashion faux pas for me), can be very attractive and dignified on men. Think Samuel Beckett! Think fishermen!
Now here’s where I’ll need a little more translation help: Ms. Freeman closes by suggesting that men should simply wear a jumper. To me, a jumper is a crew-neck sweater, and, as such, looks irredeemably goofy unless worn with a collared shirt or—wait for it—a turtleneck.
Any thoughts on this turtleneck turmoil?
Today’s photo, an image of some gorgeous hand-dyed yarn from Uruguay, comes from Purl SoHo’s website. All this thinking about sweaters has me yearning to knit!
Perhaps, to paraphrase Nick Carraway, I’ve remained in these parts too long, for going into the article, I thought that I knew what a polo-neck sweater is: a double-knit sweater with a button placket and a collar reminiscent of a Polo™ shirt, though not as stiff (hence no collar popping). Such a sweater speaks to me of that dreaded category of Business Casual, rendered even more ghastly when it’s emblazoned with business-y logos: XYZ Drug Supply, say, for physicians, or Pencils-a-Plenty for accountants.
Anyway, I digress. Even when living in Canada, I knew good and well that while our countries share a lexicon, the meaning of those words differs. But I was still surprised to learn that Ms. Freeman was critiquing the turtleneck sweater—something I really like on men.
Granted, Tom Cruise (in the image Freeman provides) has given turtlenecks a bad name lately, what with their links to scary acting and megalomaniacal life-saving excursions. And what we call the “mock turtleneck” is truly a horror (think Steve Jobs)—it’s as if the owner shrunk something woolen in the wash but chose to wear the garment as if its fit on the neck were intentional.
But the true turtleneck sweater, if it’s not too tight, too sheer, or too reverend (the white turtleneck is a fashion faux pas for me), can be very attractive and dignified on men. Think Samuel Beckett! Think fishermen!
Now here’s where I’ll need a little more translation help: Ms. Freeman closes by suggesting that men should simply wear a jumper. To me, a jumper is a crew-neck sweater, and, as such, looks irredeemably goofy unless worn with a collared shirt or—wait for it—a turtleneck.
Any thoughts on this turtleneck turmoil?
Today’s photo, an image of some gorgeous hand-dyed yarn from Uruguay, comes from Purl SoHo’s website. All this thinking about sweaters has me yearning to knit!
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