• Topman Turquoise Roll Neck Jumper
• Richard James Hyde Navy Prince Of Wales Check Wool Suit
• Allsaints Monument Case
• Ask The Missus Cardinal Brogue Lace Chocolate Suede

Look 4: Fine Knit Roll Necks Under Shirts

Taking the previous look one step further, many designers chose to layer thin roll necks under both shirts (top button unfastened) AND suits. Contrary to belief, this is not a groundbreaking AW13 look; Hermes, Prada and Kenzo utilised this three-tiered approach within last year’s AW12 collections, and all were extremely well received.

For AW13, the biggest designer proponent was Lanvin. Nearly every single look contained a fine knit roll neck in some capacity, with the majority featuring thin, black roll necks worn beneath shirts and suits/blazers.

Lanvin also incorporated other brighter hues such as white, mustard and jade green to help inject a welcome shot of colour:

Get the Look

Although the majority of the Lanvin outfits contained too many rolls at the neck line for my liking – making them appear ‘bunched’ – pairing a fine gauge roll neck with some sharp tailoring and shirting creates a slick and daring aesthetic that offers the perfect way to make a formal statement.

Coloured roll necks can work well here, but a muted tone such as black, grey or white is much more subtle and understated. With this in mind, we have opted for a dark grey version from Reiss.

Worn under a classic white shirt and charcoal grey suit, the look remains at the forefront of fashion and offers an edgier feel than a traditional shirt and tie combination would. Finish with some monk-strap shoes:

• Burton 24 Hour Tailored Fit White Stripe Shirt
• Reiss 1971 Thomas Long Sleeve Polo Neck Top Grey
• Topman Charcoal Skinny Suit
• Loake Monk Strap Shoes

Modern Lookbook Inspiration

As you can see below, the roll neck’s popularity extends beyond the runway this season. Playing a huge part in high street and mid-priced designer campaigns and lookbooks, the piece is both accessible and wearable by men of all ages: