It’s a sweater that goes by many names. Known as a turtleneck here in the States and Canada, across the pond in Britain, it's called a polo neck or rollneck. And in Australia? A skivvy. But it's all the same creeping neckline that suddenly gives you leading man energy. There's an understated elegance to this sturdy, textural knit. And that means wearing one right now tells the world, “I know what's up.”

Do you need a little confidence to pull them off? Sure. You can wear them on their own, but they also make such easy work of layering that all you really need to wear them is a jacket—a black denim trucker, a plaid sport coat or even a long overcoat. Pull one on and you'll instantly feel dressed up without feeling overdressed—that's the power they have. And the best part? Designers of every stripe have embraced them, so there are options available at investment-level to wallet-friendly prices. Here are a few of our favorites.