Polo neck
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A '''polo neck''' ([[United Kingdom|UK]]) or '''turtle neck''' ([[United States|US]]) or '''skivvy''' ([[Australia]]) is a garment—usually a sweater—with a close-fitting, round, and high [[collar (clothing)|collar]] that folds over and covers the [[neck]]. It can also refer to type of [[neckline]], the style of collar itself, or be used as an [[adjective]] ("polo necked").
A simple variant, the mock polo neck (or mock turtle neck) resembles the polo neck with the soft fold at its top and the way it stands up around the neck, but both ends of the tube forming the collar are sewn to the neckline. This is mainly used to achieve the appearance of a polo neck where the fabric would fray, roll, or otherwise behave badly unless sewn. The mock polo neck clings to the neck smoothly, is easy to manufacture, and works well with a zip closure.
== History ==
[[Image:Englewood 1908 soccer team.jpg|thumb|right|175px|[[Englewood, Chicago|Englewood]] soccer team, December 1908.<ref>{{citation|first = Robert|last = Pruter|title = IHSA - Illinois H.S.toric: Early Days of Soccer|url = http://www.ihsa.org/initiatives/hstoric/soccer_early.htm|accessdate = 2007-07-07}}</ref>]]
Turtlenecks gain their name from being similar to the (extendable) neck of a turtle, and are one of the many types of polo necks.
The polo neck sweater, like most sweaters, first emerged in the 1890s as an article of [[sportswear]]. Originally a thick [[woollen]] garment, lighter versions were designed for those who found coarser wool uncomfortable against their skin. These lighter polo necks would remain popular with [[soccer]], [[field hockey|hockey]] and [[golf]] players of both sexes until the 1920s, with soccer team uniforms for [[goalkeeper]]s continuing to feature polo necks as late as the 1950s in the [[United Kingdom|UK]].{{Fact|date=July 2007}} It was also worn for some [[equestrianism|equestrian]] activities, though no evidence exists for its use in [[polo]], which might otherwise explain its name.
== Casual wear ==
[[Image:Casual Turtleneck2.JPG|thumb|right|175px| Man wearing one of many casual turtlenecks.]]
Seamen and menial workers began adopting polo necks as work wear at the turn of the century. <!-- The latter use at sea also led to its adoption by [[Royal Navy]]. --> Over time polo necks would also become acceptable [[casual wear]], though still usually for men only. It was in this stage that a range of light polo necks in a variety of colours began to be designed. Their adoption by [[Noel Coward]] in the 1920s turned them into a brief middle class fashion trend. Again, it was the [[feminism|feminists]] who turned these into a unisex item.
Absorbed into mainstream American fashion by the mid 20th century, the polo neck came to be viewed as an anti-tie, a smart form of dress for those who rejected [[formal wear]]. Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] and scientist [[Carl Sagan]] were among those often seen in polo necks.
== Women's wear ==
[[Image:Polo neck.JPG|thumb|right|175px|Woman in a black polo neck.]]
[[Image:SPatHome.jpg|right|thumb|175px|Mannequin in a white polo neck]]
Later its increasing acceptability as women's wear saw it become a [[fad]] amongst teenage girls, especially in a lightweight form that emphasised aspects of their figures. It was not long before (Hollywood) was also exploiting this image as part of the [[sweater girl]] look.
By the late 1950s the "tight polo neck" had been adopted as part of the [[preppie]] style amongst students, a style emphasising neatness, tidiness and grooming. This would become an important aspect of the polo necks image in the [[United States|US]]. The look would filter through to Britain and Europe in a watered down version.
In contrast, [[France]] saw the black polo neck adopted by [[left wing]] [[bohemianism|bohemians]] and [[intellectuals]], and by the late 1950s their counterparts in the [[United States]] and [[UK|Britain]] had also adopted the fashion.
This trend continued into the 1960s and 1970s, with the white polo neck being briefly adopted as a corresponding item for mainstream feminists. The polo neck was generally seen as a unisex and [[classless]] garment and wearing one remained a [[political statement]] in many circles. However, the polo neck in all its forms soon became a standard wardrobe item for both sexes during this period.
In Britain, clothes shops generally only stock polo necks in the women's section. Some men still wear polo necks, but is considered old-fashioned for men to wear them. They remain very popular amongst women.
<!-- By the 1980s it was largely out of fashion, though continued to be regarded as a staple item. However the 1990s saw its return to the [[catwalk]], and it was soon to regain its place as a popular fashion item, particularly in America and on the Continent. -->
== See also ==
* [[Lacoste (company)]]
* [[Beatnik]]
* [[Polo Ralph Lauren]]
* [[Polo shirt]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Clothing}}
[[Category:Necklines]]
[[Category:Sweaters]]
[[de:Rollkragenpullover]]
[[fr:Col roulé]]
[[ja:タートルネック]]
[[pl:Golf (ubiór)]]
[[sv:Turtleneck]]