Sorry, Crewneck Tees—In 2026, Everyone With Taste Will Be Layering Sweaters Like This and This

For the last handful of winters, one easy layering outfit has reigned supreme, not for special occasions or formal events, but for every day. It was centered on two wardrobe staples: white crewneck T-shirts and cashmere sweaters, which you would layer to give your sweaters more depth and intention. It’s a trick as old as time, with Gwyneth Paltrow, for example, utilizing it in her ’90s street style, but it became especially present in modern-day fashion after Matthieu Blazy included a look featuring it in his sophomore spring/summer 2023 collection for Bottega Veneta. (If you recall, the model also wore tights as pants, another trend that took off in the weeks that followed.) The white T-shirt styling technique quickly spread due to its ease of recreation and cool look, and it stayed at the top of our bag of fashion tricks until just recently, when another layering began popping up, ready to take over.

Here it is: Instead of layering a crewneck T-shirt under your sweaters, try layering a thin turtleneck underneath, in the casual, cozy way you’d likely see in reruns of any ’80s sitcom. Turtleneck-under-sweater outfits are starting to take over my Instagram and Pinterest feeds as we approach winter 2026, and while I might not have been responsive to it last year, suddenly, this trick is starting to feel alarmingly chic.

Get the look: White turtleneck + Black sweater + Black belt + Black trousers

Get the look: White turtleneck + Fair Isle sweater + Black midi skirt + Knee-high boots

The first time I saw this styling method and felt spurred to copy it was on London-based creator Marilyn Nwawulor-Kazemaks, who is always ahead of trends and has the kind of everyday style that makes you hit the little save button on every Instagram post. In the span of one carousel post, she wore two different turtleneck-under-sweater outfits, one with an all-black ensemble, and another with a Fair Isle sweater and midi skirt. By seeing it two ways, I started to understand the versatility of this hack. It works in every scenario for winter, a season that can be tricky to dress for. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also quite practical, especially when temperatures really start to dip.

Get the look: White turtleneck + Gray V-neck sweater + White pants + Tote bag +Silk scarf