Black and Lacy

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Rollnecks or are they polo necks? I get a little confused because different people have different names for them but for the purpose of this post, I will call it a rollneck. You have to roll the neck down so a rollneck it is then. 

Anyway, I've had a hankering for a rollneck for some time now.  I had the perfect one years back but it's long gone. The fact that I've been thinking about them now is probably a sign that I'm getting on a bit as I've always thought rollnecks were worn by the older generation or the golfing fraternity but just recently those Landsend catalogues have been looking a whole lot more interesting and appealing ;o)  Anyway, I wanted a navy one and I didn't want it too tight round the neck and I didn't want it tight on the body either. It needed to be a "relaxed" fit. A lot like the one above actually. By the way, doesn't the blonde model look striking with the black jumper? Much more so than someone with darker hair. When I think of black dresses and black tops, I always think they go well on blondes - very Hitchcock heroine don't you think?

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Tippi Hedren (one of Hitchcock's "heroines")

I digress. Anyway, my first port of call - Marks & Sparks. I took a cashmere one and a lambswool one in to the changing rooms. The tightwad in me said, get the lambswool as this will be a one week wonder when I realise I don't really like rollnecks and they make me look all kind of Moonface. And yep, true to form the lambswool was too itchy and tight round the neck and I did look all kind of Moonface. The cashmere one was fractionally better (less itchy) but still tight around the neck. I left them both.

Next stop - Woolovers. I've read good reviews about them for basic knitwear so I thought I'd try. I ordered their unisex navy lambswool rollneck. Perfect fit and the neck was much better but still itchy.  I knew the lambswool was going to be itchy so I don't know what possessed me to order it. For your information, I ordered the size small but I think anyone who is long of torso and long of arm might struggle with it. The M&S ones are fractionally longer in the body but I did size up to a 12 (I normally take a 10) to get the relaxed fit I wanted.

Anyway, during this half term, I managed to get to a John Lewis and I tried on their cashmere rollnecks. I took in a navy one and a grey one and bought a .... black one. Like you do. I suddenly decided I needed a black one because I have it in my head that I want to wear it like this on a night out ...

John Lewis Rollneck, Press & Bastyan Dress, H&M Shoes

Sorry - some of you are going to feel a bit cheated on the black and lacy bit I promised you but hey, I give you black rollneck here and some lacy trim on my skirt - I delivered! The skirt is actually an old Press & Bastyan dress circa 2001 with the rollneck worn over it. This is my nod to the lace trend floating around currently without the need to spend any money. The Grumps even got a little excited at seeing me in the dress and exclaimed "I bought you that!" which is true but what was even more amazing was the fact that he actually remembered it. Most of my clothes are by the by for him - this dress he remembers. In the old(!!!) days, I might have worn a wrap or put a little cardigan with it but I'm no longer comfortable wearing the dress like this - the less I have on show, the better I feel. The jumper also covers up the bagel belly a treat and does a good job of keeping me warm. I hate sitting in arctic air conned restaurants freezing my assets off.  Goose pimples and chattering teeth are overrated.

And the details schmetails? The lace actually has a touch of black in it which might not be evident from the above picture but can you see now? Hence the pairing with the black jumper and shoes.

See the black touches in the lace?

Actually if you look at the silhouette, I could imagine a modern day Tippi wearing this.

Or I might choose to keep it simple for a mum's night out like this.

Primark bracelet, Zara Jeans, M&S Leopard Courts

The leopard heels are M&S which were ordered during their 20% off shoes promotion. Trying to find a pair of leopard heels is a bit like trying to find rollnecks - there is a pair out there for you. You've just got to keep trying till you find the right pair and you have the added problem of finding pairs where the spots are not too dissimilar on both the left and right shoes. For your information - I actually ordered two pairs so I could match up the best pair together - a tip I picked up from a reader's comment (thank you Deadlysims). I'm not sure these are the right ones yet but they are being "assessed". I tried a pair on in Dune whilst out shopping with the Grumps and I was quite amused when he said "there's too much toe cleavage on them". Seriously, he's picking up and learning such a lot from reading my blog. Girls take note to start making your Christmas wishlists on your blogs now!

And for the daytime, we can go extra casjjjj ...

Maison Scotch Chinos, Next Pumps

... with chinos and cheetah pumps which I am actually getting quite a lot of wear out of. I guess this is a laid back as it gets. Any more laid back and I would be horizontal. Someone said to me recently I was the most chilled out person they know. Really? Funny how people perceive you. Hmm.

Basically there are so many ways to wear a black roll neck - or if you can't do a roll neck, stick with a classic crew. To be honest, I didn't think I  would find a roll neck that I would feel comfortable wearing but find one I did. But trust it to have to be cashmere to reduce the itch factor! I wonder if the Grumps will remember he bought me it whenever I wear it. Somehow, I don't think so.

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Last Note :

• What do you think of rollnecks then? Stylish or fuddy duddy?