Somehow I’ve gone this long without owning a black turtleneck! I generally felt they were too fancy or too formfitting or too…something. But I’m finally on board, and today I’m sharing 12 outfits with a black turtleneck!
I personally like a thin, ribbed turtleneck because the ribbed texture is more visually interesting. And in a weird way, I feel ribbing somehow magically makes it easier to dress down compared to a solid black turtleneck, while elevating outfits at the same time! You can wear this to work, in casual outfits, and even in athleisure outfits. It’s so versatile (and it got me over the “too fancy” hangup I had).
Unfortunately the exact turtleneck I’m wearing is nearly out of stock. The good news is that a black turtleneck is a wardrobe basic, so there are similar options, like this and this.
Here are 12 outfits with a black turtleneck!
SIZING: I’m 5’6″ and usually S/M or 6 in clothes and 8.5 to 9 in shoes.
12 Outfits With a Black Turtleneck
Let’s go through each outfit and talk about why each works and the key points for why it works.
1. Work: Plaid Pants + Black Boots
Never know what to wear with those printed pants? This is when a basic like a black turtleneck comes in clutch! Top it off with black pointed toe boots to keep the look sharp and polished.
These exact pants are out of stock but there’s a similar comfy, easy-to-move-in pair HERE.
Pointed toe booties like these are go-tos for dressy outfits. They work every single time and instantly sharpen up and polish looks. There’s a pair HERE and HERE.
What Makes This Work:
- Black in the printed pants creates cohesion with a black top.
- Fully tucking in the top to defines your waist in wide leg pants.
- Adding pointed toe shoes (or square toes) sharpens up the look, elongates your leg line in wide leg pants, and keeps you from looking swallowed up or overwhelmed in wide leg pants.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Pants: Old Navy (similar)
Earrings: Amazon (exact—wearing 30mm)
Necklace: Nordstrom (nearly identical—but way more affordable!)
2. Casual: Straight Leg Jeans + Black Boots
I love how a black turtleneck looks so polished with jeans, while not actually being dressy. Top it off with casual boots!
Top it off with your favorite coat. My olive puffer is really warm and serves kind of as the winter version of a utility jacket! Find it HERE. I wear it in size L. Size M fits but is a tad snug with bulky sweaters, so I prefer L.
I added black boots that are elevated casual, so they’re not as dressy as the pointed toe boots, giving this a casual yet polished vibe. Find a similar, water-resistant boot HERE.
What Makes This Work:
- Black boots “bookend” with the black top creating cohesion and balance on the top and bottom halves to make it look more pulled together.
- The turtleneck is long on me, so I prefer it with a full tuck.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Jeans: J.Crew Factory (exact)
Earrings: Amazon (exact—wearing 30mm)
Necklace: Nordstrom (nearly identical—but way more affordable!)
3. Elevated Casual or Work: Dark Wash Straight Leg Jeans + Printed Blazer + Black Pointed Toe Boots or Loafers
Instead of pairing a black turtleneck with printed pants, pair it with a printed blazer! This is one of my favorite outfits with a black turtleneck. It’s the perfect balance of sophisticated but not ultra dressy.
These jeans look tailored and are thick but are really stretchy. I’ve been liking them a lot for elevated looks lately! Find them HERE. I’m wearing size 27 as they run large because they are so stretchy.
My blazer is super-duper old, but you can find one of my current favorites HERE.
What Makes This Work:
- Dark wash jeans easily dress outfits up.
- Straight leg jeans are more fitted than baggier styles, countering the excess fabric from a longer, relaxed blazer.
- The printed piece has black in it, creating cohesion with the black turtleneck.
- Black boots bookend with the black turtleneck creating balance between the top and bottom halves.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Jeans: J.Crew Factory (exact)
Blazer: (similar)
Earrings: Amazon (exact—wearing 30mm)
Necklace: Nordstrom (nearly identical—but way more affordable!)
4. Elevated Casual or Work: Ecru or White Wide Leg Jeans + Cognac Moto Jacket + Black Pointed Toe Boots
Gotta love the mix of neutrals! These pants are from my favorite brand Wit & Wisdom, which are known for their comfortable jeans and pants. They’re soft, STRETCHY, and they have a stretchy waistband for extra comfort! LOVEEEEEEEEEE. These corduroy ones are sold out, but there’s a similar pair HERE.
I topped off this outfit with a cognac moto jacket to bring in a rich color and give the outfit more dimension. You can go for a black jacket instead!
What Makes This Work:
- Fully tucking in the top to define your waist in wide leg pants.
- Adding pointed toe shoes (or square toes) to sharpen up the look, elongate your leg line in wide leg pants, and keep you from looking swallowed up or overwhelmed in wide leg pants.
Top: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Jacket: Nordstrom (similar)
Jeans: Nordstrom (similar)
Earrings: Amazon (exact—wearing 30mm)
Necklace: Nordstrom (nearly identical—but way more affordable!)
5. Casual: Black Jeans + Casual Vest + Lifestyle Sneakers
Like I mentioned, you can do casual outfits with a black turtleneck, and here’s another! You can wear this outfit with or without the puffer vest. But of course, the vest makes the outfit look more interesting!
These jeans are the Target wide leg jeans that I’ve shared before. While the leg area is soft, the waistband has no stretch or give. So, they’re good if you like your jeans to hold you in more and remain structured looking throughout the day. They’re really affordable too, at $30! Find them in several colors HERE. I’m wearing size 6.
This vest is a really fun recent addition to my wardrobe. It’s corduroy and is less puffy than a puffer vest but keeps you plenty warm. I love this! Comes in several colorways and is only $35, HERE. I’m wearing size S.
What Makes This Work:
- Fully tucking in the top defines your waist in wide leg pants.
- Sleek, low profile lifestyle sneakers elongate the leg line making a casual outfit look modern and stylish.
- The vest is shorter, elongating the leg line and keeping me from looking overwhelmed with wider bottoms.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Jeans: Target (exact)
Vest: Amazon (exact—wearing size S)
Earrings: Amazon (exact—wearing 30mm)
Necklace: Nordstrom (nearly identical—but way more affordable!)
6. Work: Black Faux Leather Pants + Leopard Print Shoes
Dress up a black turtleneck with black faux leather pants! You can do this outfit with regular black pants, but the texture of faux leather makes the outfit looks so much more interesting, elevated, and stylish.
These pants are comfortable with some stretch, and they’re affordable! Find a very similar, updated pair in straight, petite, plus, and tall options HERE.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Pants: Old Navy (similar)
Earrings: Amazon (exact—wearing 30mm)
Necklace: Nordstrom (nearly identical—but way more affordable!)
7. Casual: Ecru Jeans + Denim Jacket + Lifestyle Sneakers
This is similar to outfit #4, but a casual version. It’s an outfit with a black turtleneck that you can log away for spring!
I’m wearing the ecru version of the wide leg Target jeans, and I cut them to bring them up to a truer ankle length. (See my guideline for proper lengths of pants, HERE). These jeans come in several colors, HERE. I’m wearing size 6.
I topped it off with a denim jacket and lifestyle sneakers. I love this denim jacket as it’s sturdy and structured but stretchy! It is ever-so-slightly oversized, which gives you a nice, relaxed look. Find it HERE. I’m wearing size S.
What Makes This Work:
- Jeans at the right length.
- Sleek, low profile lifestyle sneakers that elongate the leg line making a casual outfit look modern and stylish.
- A denim jacket creates a more dynamic color palette and adds some structure. You can definitely wear this outfit sans denim jacket, but if you need another layer, a denim jacket is a great option for the reasons listed.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Jeans: Target (exact—wearing size 6)
Jacket: Kohl’s (exact—wearing size S)
Earrings: Amazon (exact—wearing 30mm)
Necklace: Nordstrom (nearly identical—but way more affordable!)
8. Casual: Burgundy or Dark Green Corduroys + Black Vest + Lifestyle Sneakers or Black Boots
If you’d like to break away from outfits with a black turtleneck that involve jeans, go for colored corduroys! Black goes really well with burgundy and dark green. If you need another layer, add a puffer vest.
A vest like the one above works really well in casual outfits AND in athleisure making it a versatile item to have in your closet.
9. Work: Maroon or Dark Green Corduroys + Blazer + Mary Janes or Dressy Boots or Loafers
Here’s a work version of the previous outfit. Trade the lifestyle sneakers for black flats or the pointed toe dressy boots we talked about earlier. If you need a layer, add a black blazer. Easy!
Shop the Outfits:
Top: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Vest: Nordstrom (similar)
Blazer: Kohl’s (similar)
Corduroy Pants: Kohl’s (similar)
Mary Jane Flats: Old Navy (similar)
Boots: Kohl’s (similar—water repellent!)
Earrings: Amazon (exact—wearing 30mm)
Necklace: Nordstrom (nearly identical—but way more affordable!)
10. Work: Teal Pants or Maroon Pants + Leopard Print Pumps
For dressier outfits with a black turtleneck, trade the corduroys for dress pants! Here I’m wearing teal pants, which work beautifully. My pants are super old and are no longer available.
11. Dressy or Work: Black Printed Skirt + Tall Black Boots
Pair your black turtleneck with a printed skirt! I’ve had this skirt for a while, and I usually style it for summer (see it in a summer look HERE), but it also works so well with a black turtleneck! This skirt has an elastic waistband and flowy fit, making it super duper comfortable! Find it HERE. I’m wearing size S.
What Makes This Work:
- The turtleneck is fairly fitted, which helps it tuck nicely into a flowy skirt.
- The skirt has black in it, creating cohesion with a black top.
- The boots have a slim and sleek profile and pointed toe, adding sharpness and polish.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Skirt: Kohl’s (exact—wearing size S)
Earrings: Amazon (exact—wearing 30mm)
Necklace: Nordstrom (nearly identical—but way more affordable!)
12. Athleisure: Flare Leggings + Casual Vest + Lifestyle Sneakers
Last but not least, athleisure! Like I mentioned before, a ribbed turtleneck somehow dresses down more easily than a smooth one. It can even be worn in athleisure, like I’m doing here!
I paired it with fleece-lined flare leggings, which are SO COZY and comfortable, by the way! They come in two lengths, 29″ and 32″, several colors HERE. I’m wearing size M in 32″.
What Makes This Work:
- Flare leggings, as opposed to skinny, balance out a super-fitted and formfitting top.
- Lifestyle sneakers are stylish and sleek. Athletic sneakers with black accents would work, too!
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Leggings: Amazon (exact—wearing size M in 32″)
Vest: Nordstrom (similar)
Shoes: Nordstrom (similar—I wear size 8.5)
Earrings: Amazon (exact—wearing 30mm)
Necklace: Nordstrom (nearly identical—but way more affordable!)
These are 12 outfits with a black turtleneck that you can try! Try using these formulas to create outfits on your own!
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