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Knitwear for Formal Occasions

We are in December and the festive season is no longer on the horizon, it’s fully upon us. For many, the pace quickens at the end of the year, and calendars are filling up fast with family meals, work parties, and drinks with friends.

Considering the biting winter chill that comes hand in hand with these festivities, we know that for these occasions you’ll want a smart and stylish outfit that’s still comfortable, cosy, and warm. At Colhay’s, we have a number of styles that perfectly fit the bill for such situations.

In this article, we’ve outlined which pieces to choose if you’re looking for knitwear to wear for a more formal event as well as how to style them.

Cashmere Belmondo Rollneck:

A roll neck jumper exudes elegance and, by elongating the neck and body, creates a flattering silhouette on almost all body types. This truly is an all-rounder, formal enough for the festive events we’re referring to here in this article - even formal enough for some offices, too - and casual enough to be worn on a winter walk or weekend brunch.

This particular roll neck works perfectly with formal tailored jackets and trousers as a replacement for a traditional buttoned shirt.

Cashmere Belmondo Rollneck in Oatmeal:



With a collar of its own, this polo emulates the formality of a shirt without being an on-the-nose replica and for this reason, it’s another piece that works well under tailored clothing. This polo is made from 100% 2-ply cashmere of the highest quality and is warm and cosy, yet still light weight and comfortable, ideal for winter events where you want to feel relaxed and unrestricted.

Cashmere Polo Shirt in Navy:

Cashmere Ribbed Submariner Rollneck:

This roll neck jumper has the same sense of elegance as our Belmondo Rollneck mentioned above but is a thicker, heavy weight sweater. The ribbed stitch adds a little extra interest and texture, whilst still keeping its sophisticated feel. Again, this is a great piece to wear under a tailored jacket. If you’re looking for something to wear to an event where you’ll be switching between indoors and outdoors - a cocktail garden party, for example - this is what we’d recommend.

Cashmere Ribbed Submariner Rollneck in Dark Brown:


Our cashmere shirt cardigan can be worn in two ways for formal events. Firstly, as a shirt substitute. We only use the highest quality yarns for our knitwear and this shirt is no exception. Made from 100% Scottish cashmere, this is a joy to wear alone, supremely soft against the skin and incredibly warm. Alternatively, try wearing it as a cardigan where it will work as a jacket substitute over the top of your shirt.
Crew neck sweaters are classic pieces and a wardrobe staple for many men. You might want to wear this over a shirt for warmth, however, it works just as well on its own underneath a tailored jacket. In this instance, the close neckline gives the outfit a sense of formality ensuring you don’t look out of place. The oatmeal shade we’ve chosen is a muted tone that combines perfectly with other printed garments. If you’re looking to add a little interest to your outfit, try wearing with a checked jacket over the top and a gentleman’s square on the neck.

If you’re not a fan of roll necks or find them too restrictive, a mock neck is an excellent substitute. With a neckline that finishes half way up the neck, you’ll still benefit from the extra warmth, the classic look, and the elongation of the torso that comes with roll neck jumpers. Again, you can wear this sweater under tailoring or over a shirt for formal occasions.

Superfine Lambswool Mock Neck in Dark Brown:

Our final formal piece is our tennis cardigan which makes a wonderfully warm substitute for a waistcoat. For an alternative, warm and comfortable formal outfit, wear with tailored trousers, over a shirt and under a tailored jacket. The cardigan has long sleeves too, meaning you’ll still look sophisticated and refined should you want to take off your jacket whilst indoors.

Superfine Lambswool Tennis Cardigan in Burgundy:

At Colhay’s we know the importance of versatility in investment knitwear such as ours. Whilst this article focuses on knitwear worn in formal settings, it’s important to note that all of our garments can be worn as casual pieces too. When it comes to design, every choice we make is to ensure a style that’s fit for the modern man, yet also classic and timeless. None of our knitwear features bold patterns or colours, rather we choose muted tones that look stylish, don't demand attention and are essentially blank canvases for you to style however you feel inclined to. Made from the very finest of fibres and knitted by expert Scottish knitters, ours are heritage pieces that, with proper care, can be worn for decades in a variety of scenarios and handed down through generations.

If you have any questions about our knitwear, we’d be delighted to help. Please contact us here.

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