How to Style a Crew Neck Sweater: Fashion for Short Men
The crew neck sweater might seem like the ubiquitous garment that every man has at least one of in their wardrobe, but it wasn’t always the universal piece of clothing it is today. In fact, the crew neck was created in the 1930s as an undergarment for football players who were experiencing chafing under their uniforms, followed by the adoption by the U.S. Navy due to its versatility, to where it is today — one of the most popular men’s garments on the planet.
But just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it can’t pop; here are some tips on how to wear crew neck sweaters, especially for men of shorter stature.
How a Crew Neck Sweater Should Fit Short Men
When it comes to a great crew neck sweater, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure the best fit possible, which in turn means it will always look fashionable and pulled-together, even when you grab it off the hanger and get on with things.
1. The sweater's neck itself shouldn’t be so wide that it exposes another shirt worn underneath, with the exception of layering it over a collared shirt. It should fit close, right around where the neck meets the body, but not so tight as to feel like it is choking you.
2. The seam should sit right on top of your shoulders — it shouldn’t droop down onto your arm, or be so stretched that the material strains to fit.
3. The overall fit should sit close enough to the body to show your shape, but not skin tight — a bit of movement is fine, especially if you prefer to wear your crew neck sweater over another piece, instead of as the bottom layer.
4. The sweater sleeves should fit your arms — no baggy material, and not stretched tight. You should be able to move and bend your arms comfortably without any pulling or stretching.
5. Speaking of sleeves, they should end right at the wrist — too short or too long will give the impression that you are wearing clothing that doesn’t fit, which won’t project the confident and effortless style you’re looking for as a short man.
6. Finally, the crew neck sweater should fall right across your hips. Make sure it isn’t so short that it rides up, and isn’t so long that it will look like it’s swimming on you. It should feel snug enough across your hips to stay in place while you’re moving around, while at the same time not be so tight as to be uncomfortable.
Casual vs. Professional: How to Wear a Crew Neck Sweater
Because they are so universal, crew neck sweaters can be dressed up or down, and can be easily worn in a variety of situations. First, of course, is the casual look, which is a go-to staple for many short men. In this case, you can wear a well-fitted crew neck sweater on its own, pairing it with a great pair of jeans, and be ready to walk out the door. Style doesn’t have to take a lot of time or thought, and just having the right pieces, that fit correctly, can make getting dressed to head out for the day something that can be done with almost no thought at all.
That said, crew neck sweaters can also be worn layered. For those who prefer an undershirt under everything, make sure your crew neck sweater is well-fit enough to not show the shirt underneath. As long as it’s not popping out of the collar or along the waist, it makes for a great top layer.
Crew necks can also be dressed up a bit, for more professional situations. This is where pairing them with a button-down shirt should be your go-to style. For this, you’ll want to wear the button-down shirt underneath the crew neck sweater, with the collar coming out, neatly folded. You can wear the collar buttoned up completely for the most professional version of this look, or you can keep the top button undone for a style that falls between the casual and professional spectrum. For the professional look, a great pair of chinos is your best bet to pair with your crew neck sweater.
Layering is also where you can play with color and pattern a bit. In general, you don’t want to mix patterns — if your button-down shirt, for example, has a pattern, you won’t want a patterned sweater as well. Instead, choose a solid in a complimentary color that will enhance the pattern, rather than clash with it.
As an aside, there are two ways you can roll up your sleeves when pairing a crew neck sweater with a button-up shirt. First, pull the sleeve of the button-down out a bit, and then roll it over the top of the sweater sleeve, creating a cuff-like effect. In this case, you’ll only want to roll it once, so it is more of a style choice to show off the pattern or color combination.
The second way to roll up your sleeves is to first push the crew neck sweater’s sleeve up to about your mid bicep. Carefully roll your button-up shirt’s sleeves to just above the elbow, with the gap between to show the color and pattern of the button-up. You want the two to look cohesive, not sloppy and just pushed up.
The Ash & Erie Collection of Crew Neck Sweaters for Short Men
Now that you know how a crew neck sweater should fit, and how to wear it to get the most out of your new wardrobe pieces, here are a few great options designed specifically for short men, so you never have to worry about whether or not the piece will actually fit.
The Fog Grey Knit Sweater is an exceptionally soft go-to option that every short man should have in his closet. It looks great alone, but is neutral enough to be paired with nearly any color or pattern. It is made from 100% cotton, so it is soft and comfortable, with a great fit that is easy to wear.
The Deep Navy Knit Sweater is made from 100% cotton and can be equally worn alone or paired with other shirts to create a layered look. It is a deep blue color that will compliment most men. It is dark enough to serve as a neutral but can add a bit of visual interest to any style.
The Charcoal Crew Neck Sweater is the proverbial “little black dress” for men. It is a solid color, made from extra fine Merino wool, and is incredibly soft to the touch. It is very layer-friendly, as either the topmost or bottom layer, and is designed to be both comfortable and stylish.
Crew neck sweaters for short men are a closet staple, and everyone should have more than a few options, especially for those cooler Spring and Fall nights, or when you want to take an outfit from ordinary to stylish without any effort at all. And having crew neck sweaters specifically designed with your build in mind just makes finding the right pieces all that much easier.