What Is a Funnel Neck?

In fashion, a funnel neck is a type of upper torso garment. Similar to a turtleneck but with a much larger neck hole, this sort of top fades in and out of popularity. Manufactured in many styles and from many materials, a plethora of clothing designers have been known to produce such tops. Ranging in varieties from the fleece to the coat, jacket, sweater or jumper, these garments are known to be roomy. They are also generally warm.

Like a turtleneck, the funnel neck has a roll-style collar. The funnel collar is typically much higher and longer than most blouse collars. It also smoothly folds or rolls over itself one or more times as opposed to having traditionally rigid creases or flaps. A proper funnel style neck is an extension of the actual garment — not sewn as a separate extension of the neckline.

Called a funnel neck because of its funnel-like shape, the wearer dons the shirt like any other pullover shirt or blouse, by pulling it over the head. Unlike regular turtlenecks or collared shirts, however, the collar widens as it extends from the base of the neck, just like a funnel. It has the ability to keep someone warm without crowding the neck area or feeling stiff and rigid.

Outside of North America, a turtleneck or funnel neck may interchangeably also be called a polo neck, skivvy, or mock neck. Technically, a mock style neck differs in that the ends of the roll are sewn into the shirt near the collarbone; hence the “mock” title. The mock neck may also zip up or be left unfastened near the throat, while the neck roll remains stiff around the heck.

This neck may appear on a sweater, dress, jacket, coat, or any other sort of garment that covers or provides additional warmth for the upper torso. When a sweater, jumper, or dress has a funnel neck, the garment is typically made of wool. Velvet and polyester funnel neck sweaters are not as common, but they do exist. Rayon, cotton, fleece, and wool are popular materials for such coats and jackets.

While shirts with funnel style necks are often solid or patterned, they may or may not be adorned with additional accessories. Jackets with this style of neck generally have buttons or some other sort of fasteners. They may also be adorned with zippers, though it’s less common due to the rigidness of the zipper interfering with the fluidity of the rolling neck folds.