Introduction

Roll neck jumpers have endured a bit of a rough ride over past years, with nasty connotations of Bond villains, fuddy-duddy geography teachers and pretentious, tortured-soul poets immediately springing to mind.

However, the style underwent a mini renaissance during AW12 – developing into a key knitwear trend and cementing its place within many style-conscious gents’ wardrobes – and it only looks set to build on this popularity during AW13 after designers such as Tom Ford, Topman Design and Lanvin featured them prominently within their collections.

Several writers here at FashionBeans have also been singing the praises of the roll neck jumper throughout 2013. Matt Allinson, in particular, is a fan, including them in his Experimenting With Layering article way back in January and then recently adding them to his own personal Christmas wish list.

So leave all past associations and stereotypes behind as we examine how the roll neck trend has evolved for AW13…

The Roll Neck: AW13

After browsing the AW13 collections showcased at fashion weeks across the globe, four distinct ways of styling the roll neck came to the fore ? each of them suitable for different scenarios and likely to resonate with different types of men.

Look 1: Chunky Knit Roll Necks

At the slightly more casual end of the roll neck spectrum are chunky knits. This aesthetic will probably appeal to the largest target audience as it retains a classic appeal which is slightly less adventurous and fashion forward than some of the looks that follow. Yet it is important not to confuse classic with boring or safe.

One of the biggest supporters of the chunky knit roll neck was Topman Design, whose collection theme centred on rugged texture, exploration and adventure. Featuring examples in striking whites/creams, they were paired with parkas, cropped pea coats, biker jackets, wide-legged trousers and hiking boots for an outdoorsy feel.