What To Wear With A Black Turtleneck and 10 Outfit Ideas for Inspo

There are few things more timeless than a black turtleneck. The classic wardrobe staple has graced closets around the globe and throughout the decades. But much like high-knee boots outfits, putting together a turtleneck outfit can be a bit tricky. For instance, how do you avoid ending up looking like the Rock or Steve Jobs? The easy answer: by knowing what to wear with a black turtleneck.

The garment is easy to style and super versatile. You can wear it with almost anything and it’s perfect for fall and winter. However, don’t take that to mean that it’s only appropriate for the colder seasons. When you encounter the word “turtleneck,” you might think of something knit and long-sleeved. That’s not exclusively the case, though, since this design can have half sleeves, short sleeves, or no sleeves. After all, the term refers to the neckline and not the length of the sleeve.

Again, though, it may be hard to create an outfit mood board if you need visuals as inspiration. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few items that you can wear to give your black turtlenecks an elevated look. Then, after that, we’ll give you 10 black turtleneck outfits as inspo for styling your garment.

What To Wear With A Black Turtleneck

Patterned Pants

Remember how we want to avoid looking like the Rock? Well, wearing light jeans with a certain cut is a sure way to ruin that plan. For that reason, patterned pants—ideally plaid—are great for styling turtlenecks. As a bonus, the different prints will add dimension to your outfit. (You’ll see another example of this later.)

Pleated Skirts

Speaking of adding dimension, pairing a pleated skirt with a black turtleneck is another fabulous way to achieve this goal. It’d be best to go for a skirt that has many small folds rather than a few large folds, since the latter may look a bit boxy.

An Updo

I know this seems a bit strange to put on here, but hear me out. When you wear a turtleneck, especially one with a chunky neckline, you’re shortening the length of your neck. Wearing an updo with your this style shirt helps open up your face and add those inches back. Otherwise, the sides of your neck would be lost in your luscious locks.

10 Black Turtleneck Outfits

With Minimal Accessories, Flare Pants, and a Ponytail

While patterned pants add dimension to your black turtleneck outfit, black pants make it ultra chic. Tuck in your shirt and go for bottoms that have flares to give your body more of an hourglass figure. While we’d suggest keeping the outfit all black and going with black shoes, you can also go with statement shoes like white or snakeskin booties.

Casual Black Turtleneck Outfit

When I think about casual outfits, my mind goes to jeans. Now, I’m aware that I said to steer clear of jeans, lest you resemble the Rock. However, there is a stylish way for you to wear jeans with a black turtleneck. Our suggestion? Go for distressed, loose, or high-rise jeans with flares at the bottom. And please, for the love of God, don’t tuck in your shirt.

With a Leather Skirt and a Pop of Color

There’s a lot to love about this outfit. First of all, the top has a great cutout at the chest that gives the illusion of a décolleté. Also, the leather skirt adds dimension in three ways. It’s a different material than the top, it has an asymmetrical hem, and it’s got two buttons that cinch at the front of the waist. Rest assured that a plain leather skirt will also do.

Winter Black Turtleneck Dress Outfit

Believe it or not, I have two black turtleneck dresses that I love to wear whenever there’s a chill in the air. They’re both long-sleeved. One is short, with the hem just above my knees, and designed with a cold shoulder. The other is a skin-tight, ribbed midi dress that has long sleeves and a belt at the waist. I style them with layered gold necklaces and a low, slicked-back bun to elongate my neck.

Aesthetic Black Turtleneck Outfit

A proper aesthetic outfit is all about the details. Here, Olivia Culpo demonstrates that she knows this tenet of fashion. The American model sports an ornate shirt with golden buttons along the inner seam of the long sleeve. She tucks the shirt into black denim pants, which she holds up with a thin belt that features a solid gold buckle. To further accessorize her black turtleneck outfit, Culpo carries a black purse with a gold chain and wears black patent leather boots. These shiny shoes add height and dimension to the outfit.

Go Full Parisian With the ‘Fit

Okay, so maybe the local Parisians don’t actually wear berets and pleated skirts. However, this is what most people associate with French and Parisian fashion. Here, the model adds a black beret—which offers a nice contrast to her pale skin. The dainty details are also worth calling out, including the belt, clutch, and watch. This would be a fabulous fall outfit since it also features stockings and knee-high boots.

Business Casual Black Turtleneck Outfit

Business casual is a look that you can wear to the office, an interview, or a business meeting. For those occasions, consider pairing a short-sleeved black turtleneck with khaki trousers. To add extra details, wear a black belt that has a gold buckle. Word to the wise: Try not to wear a silver buckle. It may clash with the warm tone of the light brown pants.

Go a Few Sizes Up

When you want to be comfy instead of snug or business casual, try sizing up. What we love about this particular ensemble is that you can wear it to the office or out with friends. The slacks give it that business chic edge while the boots help dress it down. The drop earrings are also a great touch for that nighttime outfit effect.

Athleisure Black Turtleneck Outfit

When you want to be extra comfy and you’re not worried about transitioning from night to day, athleisure is the way to go. We honestly can’t get enough of the Alo Soft Refine Turtleneck, which has built-in holes for your thumbs. Like any Alo garment, this shirt is ultra-soft and perfect for yoga, Pilates, workouts, and lounging.

Don’t Be Afraid of Layers

Throwing on the layers might make you feel like you’ll disappear behind your clothes. But trust us, this isn’t the case if you layer properly. As this model does here, you’ll want to wear a long black trench coat with a short black dress. This way, you’ll see a good amount of your leg and your outfit won’t swallow your body whole. Another thing that helps keep the form is wearing the coat over your shoulders instead of putting your arms through it.