Mock Turtleneck
Garment — one of 28 in the glossary
A shortened turtleneck whose collar stands up around the neck but is not long enough to fold over. It gives the coverage and finished look of a turtleneck without the bulk under the chin, and it is common on performance base layers and corporate knit shirts. The standing collar is usually rib with spandex so it recovers rather than flopping. For decorating it behaves like a crew tee with a taller band: chest prints start lower than on a standard crew, and the collar itself is too small and too curved to decorate reliably.
A collar that stands but does not fold
A mock turtleneck's collar stands up around the neck and stops there. A full turtleneck's is long enough to fold back on itself, which is where the bulk under the chin comes from.
The mock gives most of the coverage and the finished look with far less bulk, which is why it works under a jacket and as a base layer.
Height varies — anything from about an inch to three. It is worth checking, because a tall mock behaves quite differently from a short one.
Why the collar needs recovery
The collar has to stretch over a head and then return, so it is almost always a rib knit, usually with spandex.
Without that recovery the collar flops after a few wears, which is the most common failure on a cheap mock neck.
Look for rib with elastane on the spec sheet rather than a plain jersey band.
Decorating it
It behaves like a crew tee with a taller neckband. The usable chest area starts lower, so a design positioned by the standard drop from the collar will sit low.
Position from the shoulder seam instead, as on any non-crew neckline.
The collar itself is too small and too curved to decorate reliably — it can be done on a tall mock with the right equipment, but it is not a default.
Common questions
- What is a mock turtleneck?
- A shortened turtleneck whose collar stands up around the neck but is not long enough to fold over, giving the coverage without the bulk under the chin.
- What is the difference between a mock neck and a turtleneck?
- Length of collar. A turtleneck folds back on itself; a mock neck stands and stops. The mock is less bulky and works better as a base layer.
- Why does my mock neck collar flop?
- Because it lacks recovery. A mock collar should be rib knit with elastane so it returns after stretching over a head; a plain jersey band will not hold its shape.
See also
Last reviewed