Turtlenecks have gotten a bad rap. For whatever reason, more men are “afraid” of the the turtleneck shape than any other classic silhouette in menswear.

Ironically, when pulled off correctly, it can be one of the most chic and elegant pieces in a man’s wardrobe.

Redford, Newman, McQueen, Connery…the list goes on and on for style “icons” who were known to embrace a good turtle.

Here, four different styles for four different looks.

1. Chunky, Cozy & Manlier Than You’d Expect

Turtlenecks, in general, work better on the slim (and best on the tall and long-necked). On heavier guys they can draw a little too much attention to the neckline  - which usually isn’t a bigger guy’s best feature.

I like this one in particular because when I first came across it it looked like sh-t. I found it drooping off of a shirt hanger at the Hugo Boss outlet in my hometown and my boys all thought it was “wack”. Once I put it on though, their minds changed and it’s now one of my favorite sweaters.

Where I wore this: Knicks game.

Bonus Tip: Every once in a while its a good idea to try-on things that you wouldn’t regularly consider. Try-ons are free and sometimes you’ll be surprised at how flattering a piece can be. Take it a step further and bring a friend (whose opinion you can trust) and have him/her choose pieces for you to try-on. Stay open minded.

Bonus Tip II: A chunky knit turtleneck – especially in cashmere – is about as comfortable as it gets for late winter/early fall. It’s like wearing a fitted blanket (you know how sometimes when you’re a little chilly you just want to pull the blankets all the way up to your chin… yea).

Bonus Tip III: Put sweater on, then style hair – not the other way around.