Teal occupies that sweet spot on the spectrum between blue and green that allows it to read as a colour, rather than a statement, which is precisely why it works so hard in knitwear. Done right, a teal jumper has enough depth to it that you don’t look like you bought it at a craft fair, but enough warmth that it won’t suck the life out of your face. Teals that are worth owning tend towards the peacock or bottle end of the scale rather than anything too pale or pastel coloured, because beige teals veer into mint territory and miss out on what makes wearing teal fun in the first place.
It’s a garment where fabric behaviour is more important than a lot of people give it credit for. Merino, or a merino blend, will hold it’s shape and colour after countless wears, while something cotton or a more synthetic blend will often look nicer on the rail than it does after the third wash. Speaking of which, gauge is something to pay attention to too.
Fine gauge will lay flat under your coat, and layer under a shirt collar nicely, but a big, chunky knit wants to be the focus of your outfit worn with a plain tee underneath and not a lot else vying for attention above the neck. Like most articles of clothing, once you’ve got it in your wardrobe you’ll find it more versatile than you’d expect.
Teal plays nice with camel, chocolate brown and stone, all colours that let it speak for itself, but if you’re tempted to pair it with black bear in mind that it can lessen the teal and mute it slightly. This makes it ideal to save for the evening when you’re going for that exact effect. Ditto denim; your standard blue denim is really hard to colour coordinate against, but a mid wash or dark wash pairs easily with teal for as close to a foolproof combination as you’ll find. If you’re worried about wearing a bold colour on top try going for a roll neck or crew neck teal sweater under a neutral coloured blazer. You’ll introduce some colour at your collar without overpowering the bottom half of your outfit.
In terms of occasions, think colder months and think versatile. It can work for an office that leans towards blacks and greys, it’s warm enough for weekend errands when you don’t want to wear a coat to do all the heavy lifting and it’s easy to spruce up with some tailored trousers and boots if you find yourself in an evening where you don’t need to be formal, but should look like you tried. As far as wrong goes, stay away from acrylic novelty knits sold on colour alone. Teal done right comes in a cut that works with your shoulders (as oppose to stretching awkwardly across them), a collar that lies flat against your neck instead of curling upwards, and a deep enough colour that it won’t fade under artificial light.
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