Turtlenecks and crewnecks are timeless winter staples that can be styled in a variety of ways throughout the season. While many love the cozy warmth of a high turtleneck—especially during colder months—others may find it less comfortable. Wondering which style suits you best? At SANVT, we’re breaking down the differences between these iconic sweater silhouettes.
Knitted sweaters in winter
Crew neck sweater: versatile and adaptive
Made from 100% Super Geelong Merino Wool - The Merino Crew Neck Sweater from SANVT.
Knitted sweaters with a crew neckline have the great advantage that they can be styled in many different ways. Whether styled casual or elegant - the choice is yours. Therefore crew neck sweaters are on the one hand suitable for everyday wear, such as for occasions like walks in the park. On the other hand they can also be styled chic for example with a white shirt underneath at the office - the possibilities are endless and can be adapted to suit your personal style.
Casual outfit ideas for everyday wear
In a café, at the weekend or on relaxed restaurant outings with the family: a knitted sweater with a crew neckline is perfect for these occasions. To round off a casual look for such occasions, combine the sweater with a pair of jeans or a wider cut chino.
Crew-neck knitted sweater in business casual
If you work in offices where the dress code is “business casual” or “smart casual” or even “business attire”, knitted sweaters with a crew neckline are the perfect fashion companion for a cold winter. The only requirement: avoid knitted sweaters in bright colors or with large patterns or prints. Instead, opt for knitwear in subtle colors such as dark blue, grey or black.
To make the chic look even more pronounced, the sweater can easily be pulled over a white shirt, with the collar pulled back out a little and smoothed out neatly.
Elegant and timeless: the rollneck sweater
What was once Steve Jobs' trademark has now become an iconic must-have that no winter wardrobe should be without. Compared to the crew neck sweater, rollnecks give a slim, flattering silhouette that visually elongates the neck and emphasizes proportions. However, the high collar is not only more elegant in terms of style, but also provides additional warmth on cold days. The rollneck virtually replaces a scarf and is therefore practical when the outfit needs to be put together quickly. But now to the occasions when a rollneck sweater is suitable:
All-black outfit in the creative industry
Merino Rollneck made with 100% Australian Super Geelong Merino Wool. GRS-certified and handmade in Portugal.
Whether Andy Warhol, David Bowie or James Dean: rollnecks are often associated with intellectuals, creatives and style icons and therefore radiate a special elegance. For this reason, rollnecks are a frequently seen item of clothing in advertising or PR agencies. To combine minimalism and elegance, so-called “all-black” looks are ideal.
As the name suggests, only black items of clothing are used here. Start with black jeans, chino or cargo pants. Then add a rollneck sweater, also in black, of course. To make the outfit a little more stylish or interesting, you can work with accessories. For example, combine the outfit with a cool black belt, a beanie or jewellery, for example. You have an outfit that is minimalist, casual and elegant at the same time.
Casual elegance in everyday life
Rollnecks don't always have to be chic or elegant. On the contrary: the rollneck can also be combined in so many ways that it adapts stylishly to the occasion. If you would like to wear the sweater to a relaxed dinner with friends or a visit to a museum, then it is only important which trousers you combine with the rollneck. For these occasions, it's best to choose fabric trousers, such as wide-cut chinos or jeans. This will show off your rollneck sweater in style without looking stuffy.
For more outfit and styling ideas, check out this blog post.
Comparison of crew neckline vs. rollneck sweater
Now that you've got an overview of the advantages of both knitted sweater styles and outfit ideas, it's time to make up your own mind. We think it's not that easy. Whether crew neck or rollneck - both knitted sweaters are ideal for your winter wardrobe. What the knitwear pieces have in common is that they are versatile. With our styling ideas, the sweaters can be combined in different ways for both everyday and business wear, making them suitable for any occasion. In terms of comfort and warmth, the rollneck sweater has the advantage that the collar provides additional warmth on cold days. However, if you find the collar annoying, you can replace it with a scarf and you have the same effect.
Layering ideas with knitted jumpers
Merino Rollneck in Grey from SANVT combined with the Perfect Crew Neck Sweatshirt in Dark Green.
But who actually said that the two sweater styles can't be worn together in a layering look? Layering garments is particularly suitable on colder days in the transitional period or even in winter. For the first layer, you can choose a white T-shirt, over which you then put on the warming rollneck sweater. Finally, put on a sweater with a crew neckline. If you are not a fand of fan of rollnecks, you can of course replace it with a different garment for layering - for example a longsleeve t-shirt.
The color coordination of the individual layers of clothing is important for the layering look. You can't go wrong with muted colors such as dark blue, green, black, grey or even white or beige. If you do want your outfit to be a little more colorful, make sure that only one piece is in a bright color. The perfect layering look for winter walks or après-ski events is ready.
The new merino knitwear collection at SANVT
SANVT stands for sustainable day-to-day essentials that will be loyal companions in your closet for many years thanks to their timeless design and high quality. SANVT thus dispenses with fashion trends and offers a year-round collection. Thanks to our small team, we have the opportunity to incorporate customer feedback into the development of new essentials or new colors.
This year, our Perfect Rollneck Sweater and the Perfect Sweater with a crew neck line from our knitwear collection underwent a reinterpretation. While the cut and fit of the knitted items remained the same, the material of the sweaters was reinterpreted. While the material mix of our knitwear items previously consisted of 100% recycled and GRS-certified materials, we wanted to do even more justice to the origin of our brand name “SANVT” with the reinterpretation. The result: two new sweaters made from 100% extra-fine merino wool. The Australian Super Geelong merino wool, which is known for its ultra-fine fibers and is reminiscent of cashmere, results in an unmistakably comfortable feel. This has enabled us to continue to meet our standards of comfort and quality without compromising on sustainability.
To guarantee animal welfare, all SANVT knitted sweaters are “mulesing-free” - which means that the wool for the knitwear comes from sheep that have not been subjected to the painful process of mulesing. Mulesing involves removing skin from around the sheep's tail to prevent parasite infestation. For more information about the benefits of merino wool and comparisons to other wool types, read here.