Written by Rakelle Maurici in Tips & Advice on the 26th October 2015

As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter - it’s time to bring out the knitwear and embrace all that winter can throw at us. You can work knitwear into both formal and informal-wear whether under a suit or with boots and jeans - here is our low down.

Roll Neck 

The stigma of the roll neck has now well and truly shifted and it’s a popular stylish knitwear choice among men of all ages. Like most knitwear this is a style that works just as well with formalwear and casualwear outfits. A chunky knit roll neck for example looks great with dark jeans and Chelsea boots. A roll neck is sophisticated so you can also swap it for your usual shirt and tie and still look smart and well-dressed in the work place. Think about colours; navy, camel and grey work well and also black dependent on the colour of your suit.

Crew Neck 

The most popular and common choice of knitwear is the crew neck. In our opinion there isn’t anything a crew neck doesn’t sit well with - it’s a staple to add to your wardrobe if you haven’t already. You can simply just throw these over a shirt and tie combo or just a t-shirt (Keep the colours simple if you want to look sleeker and smarter). Throughout the day play around with maroon, green and camel colours to add depth and texture. If teaming with a tie take note that a crew neck won’t display much of the tie and the focus is mainly on the knot.

V Neck 

Similar to the crew neck this is a basic jumper but it gives more exposure and focus on your choice of tie. With this in mind, it does work best with a tie than without - something worth noting when deciding on the look you want. Since your shirt and tie choice will be the focal point of your outfit, colour choice is important. Consider nothing too bold or bright if your shirt and tie are full of colour. Alternatively if you keep your tie and shirt fairly muted, a bold sweater can be a great way to add a pop of personality and fun to your outfit.

Shawl Collar 

Whether chunky and for your weekend wear or to wear with a shirt and tie; a shawl collar is sophisticated and a practical way to keep your neck warm all day. It’s also a smart style so it can be worn without a jacket, which makes it a great choice for the office. When it comes to colour, think about your choice of tie and shirt - keep the colours fairly neutral and muted if you want the look to remain smarter and sleeker. Worn with a flannel or oxford shirt and a knitted or woven tie gives the outfit texture and dimension. If you’re wanting to incorporate this style into casual weekend wear, choose a sweater which is chunkier, with texture in the knit to wear with dark washed jeans and boots.

Cardigan 

Cardigans are a great way to layer an outfit, not just something your grandad would wear. If worn in the right way you can look stylish. Options include Merino to lamb’s wool and they can be chunky or lightweight, longline or shawl collared. When it comes to styling, these work well over shirts (whether short or long sleeved) with jeans for a clean casual look. For office wear simply wear over a shirt and tie combo, although this can often look too casual if worn without a jacket - so maybe choose a simple lightweight cardigan colour which can be worn closed with a blazer over the top. Just remember to keep the colours and patterns minimal and sophisticated.

A look at men's cardigans, roll neck jumpers and more in this guide to the Top 5 Autumn/Winter 2015 Knitwear Styles.