Up to One's Neck in Style

D&G, A/W 2010, Photo courtesy of nymag.com

December 1 , 2010 - As cold autumn and winter days settle in every year, I always welcome the opportunity to wear different versions of one of my favourite garments, the polo neck.

This item of clothing, known as a turtleneck in the US and as a skivvy in Australia, is not only convenient during colder weather but can also be very stylish and flattering for the male silhouette.

Fashion history has it that at around the turn of the twentieth century cyclists, hockey players, sailors and field workers began adopting polo necks to perform their jobs or sports outside.

Over time, these garments became acceptable casual wear for men, and started being produced in thinner fabrics and a variety of colours.

During the 1920s, the British playwright Noel Coward was renowned for wearing polo necks under blazers, turning them into a middle class fashion trend, and during World War II this garment became part of the official uniform of United States Navy...read more