We laughed, we danced, we wore sequins (or not) and drank more than was probably necessary. Now, the holidays and New Year’s Eve (arguably the best part of winter) are behind us, but there’s still quite a stretch of winter left to get through. At this point in the season, what felt cozy and soothing to slip into—looking at you, turtlenecks and cardigans—might now begin to elicit groans of “not again.” Despite some feelings of distaste towards knitwear, the old turtleneck isn’t quite done just yet.
In fact, the simple staple can offer an easy new look with just a few buttons from your closet’s stash of too-thin-for-winter shirts. We’re talking about the equally humble button-down, which can serve as a mid-season savior. The street style scene has quickly adopted the multi-layered look, from Caroline Daur to Julie Pelipas piling on the tops.
Take a cue from the runways, where Victoria Beckham masters the one-two punch of a neutral-hued shirt with a pointed collar, set atop a creamy knit. She also added a blazer for a decidedly ’70s flair. Keep it in the same color family, with soft buttercup yellows, lush ivory and smooth beige for the ultra-effortless and polished look. Or, turn to The Row, master of all things minimal, and crisp it up like so: an icy blue cotton shirt matched with a black turtleneck in a sharp, contrasting combo that feels utterly divine.
Take liberty with the sleeves (roll them!) and the collar (why not fluff it up?). If you’re feeling even more daring, embracing patterns is always welcomed—from featherlight mesh knits in swirled prints and geometric shapes to thicker, ribbed styles with classic stripes. And if it clashes a little bit? Well, whoever said that was a bad thing to begin with.
The Turtlenecks
The Button-Downs