Pre-Ramble: I just ordered a couple of new turtlenecks online. I already have quite a few in my closet… Ok, you could choke a horse with the number of turtlenecks I have, and frankly, I take a lot of flack for it. The common perception is that turtlenecks go arm-in-arm with polar fleece, sturdy shoes, and pursed lips. (On that note, as a mother of two teenage girls, I’d like to see a line of prom wear that incorporates these elements.) While you won’t see me hanging with the Girls Next Door, it’s not like I’m understudy to The Church Lady either. It is high time I stuck my neck out in defense of the perpetually stylish, highly versatile wardrobe choice.

First of all, turtlenecks come in a variety of colors and textures and, as shown on Daisy at right, the neckline frames the face nicely. Like a second skin, the turtleneck is super comfortable and very low maintenance. Nina Garcia would surely endorse the classic turtleneck as appropriate wear from Broadway to the Iditarod; Audrey Hepburn made the style coquettish in the 1957 film “Funny Face,” and in the sub-zero temperatures of northern climates, turtlenecks are just plain necessary (necks get cold). I’m guessing Janet Jackson would have welcomed the extra coverage in her “girls-gone-wild” Superbowl XXXVIII halftime performance.

Known as a turtle neck in the US, a polo neck in the UK, or a skivvy in Australia, the garment in question is defined as “an article of clothing – usually a sweater – with a close-fitting, round, high collar that folds over and covers the neck.” No one knows exactly where the style originated, however according to the experts at wikipedia, fishermen and menial laborers began adopting “polo necks” as work wear at the turn of the century. (All you fact checkers out there, just settle down! This isn’t a presidential debate. I’m just trying to make a point, and like the candidates, I don’t care if it’s accurate.)

Fashion historians suggest that over time, polo necks became acceptable casual wear, primarily for men and by the mid 20th century, came to be viewed as an “anti-tie, smart form of dress for fashion conscious mainstream Americans who rejected formal wear.” Feminists turned the polo neck into a unisex item and soon the style became de rigor among teenage girls - ”especially in a lightweight form that emphasized aspects of their figures.” (Eyes up here, boys…) By the late 1950s the “tight polo neck” had been adopted as part of the preppie style among students and as a counter-culture option for left-wing bohemians and intellectuals (see Daisy above). Today, no longer a fad or political statement, the look, and its variant, the “mock” turtleneck, has become a “standard wardrobe item for both sexes and an icon of popular fashion and culture.”

So, There!: I repeat, the once prudish turtleneck is now an icon of popular fashion and culture. (I feel so vindicated.)

And Another Thing: (Caution: psychobabble ahead) In addition to being a pretty amazing piece of clothing, the turtleneck can also represent a state of being. Discovering and embracing your “stuff” is key to an effective approach to creative thinking and living. When you are able to identify essential aspects of your personality, whatever they are, they become powerful and pivotal pieces of information. It’s a matter of personal “brand identity” – accurate self-knowledge can serve as a secure and consistent platform, a pushing-off-point that frees you to move ahead.

The Take-Away: Know thyself. The authentic person is in a state of readiness; nimble and able to receive, consider and respond to people, events, ideas, and other random information and cues that come their way.

In the words of has-been comedian, Dana Carvey, “Well isn’t that special!”