Are you man enough to pull off a rollneck?
The rollneck: a seemingly innocent piece of kit that has, of late, had so many gentlemen all across the planet completely divided. Of course, the rollneck isn’t exactly a groundbreaking piece of design that’s only just been launched, but having been haunted (in a good way) by the piece for years, we thought it was finally time to get to grips with exactly what it takes to pull one off. There’s no doubting that this is one of fashion’s trickiest items to wear: do you accessorise it or do you keep it simple? Do you go for a bulky knit or do you wear a more streamlined, fitted version? There are two ends of the spectrum here: you can either look so good that people will double-take thinking that Steve McQueen or a young Michael Caine just walked past them; or you’ll get it so wrong that you’ll look suspiciously like Simon Cowell on a bad day.
The rollneck is perhaps as tricky as it is to wear because it was originally intended as a purely functional piece of clothing as an under layer, which is how many people still see it. We don’t want to cause offence, and we understand that the beauty of fashion is that it’s completely subjective, but we can’t help thinking that those gentlemen who stick their noses up at the rollneck are slightly too… stuck in their old ways.
Sir Mick Jagger in 1967 by Getty Images
Yes, a rollneck may have been forced upon your 10-year-old self by your mother whenever there was a snow day at school, but don’t let those connotations with this item put you off. We truly believe that if he wants to, every gentleman can pull a rollneck off. The first stage in this achingly simple (but highly important to get right) process is by choosing the style that you think will best suit you. Are you looking for something chunky to channel the above demonstrated on the incredibly stylish Mick Jagger? Or are you looking for something that you can subtly slide on underneath a blazer so that you can channel your Steve McQueen in Bullitt?
Steve McQueen in Bullitt
Whichever you go for, pick wisely. Cheap looks cheap and expensive is a waste of time and money, so make sure that you find the happy medium: something that’s going to tick all of the boxes without making you sweat profusely due to its polyester nature. What you choose will most likely depend on your body shape and exactly what you’re looking to add to your wardrobe. A chunky knit is the perfect thing if you’re looking for a bit more bulk (and a functional piece for winter), and the slimline version is the perfect weekday uniform and a fantastic modern take on the suit.
Sir Michael Caine in 1966 by Getty Images
So are you man enough? It definitely takes a certain kind of confidence to pull off something like a rollneck – it’s not the same thing as slipping on a t-shirt or a sweatshirt. It takes time, effort and thought. Don’t expect to get it right straight away and make sure you experiment with different looks: will you wear a black one underneath a camel overcoat? Or are you going to go grey for your next meeting and pair it with your suit? We certainly can’t tell you what to wear, but we can nudge you in the right direction.
As far as we’re concerned, every gentleman has the ability to pull off a brilliantly crafted rollneck, as long as he takes the time over it. Our final word: keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate things by trying to add too many other accessories or items into the mix. The best type of outfit is one that looks like it hasn’t been over-thought, one that looks like it’s come naturally to the wearer. So, gentlemen, aspire to be that guy who looks so at ease with himself that he could easily be mistaken for Steve McQueen – in the best possible way.
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