From left to right, Rachel Comey, Jill Stuart, Altuzarra & Alexander Wang. Photos: Imaxtree

Growing up, turtlenecks were a winter wardrobe affliction—a parental stipulation that was almost always uncomfortable and hot. So imagine our surprise when these pesky neck ringers started popping up on fall’s runways, sending a torturous off-season message: We’re Back. Cathy Horyn named the style one of this season’s five must-haves, and J.Crew’s littered their catalog with colorful versions. And now, based on the spring runways we’ve seen thus far, the turtleneck appears to be in it for the long haul.  But the question is, will you still want to wear them when the sun comes back? A handful of New York’s darling’s included turtlenecks in their shows, some girly, some androgynous, and others meant for a sort of refined hipster. Alexander Wang’s interpretation was ultra-violet  with Aztec detailing while Joseph Altuzarra’s chartreuse croptop looked destined for Lara Croft in Tomb Raver.  Rachel Comey was beach-bound on an alternative vacation—her intarsia knit was paired with a bikini bottom and sand-friendly straw accessories. Jill Stuart’s was the most girly. Her rainbow color blocked option, peeping out from underneath a gold lurex jacket with hotpants , but with shorts that short it’s probably just best to conceal your neck. Maybe that’s what this trend is all about—an antidote to summer’s uncontrollable amount of beige? In that case, job well done.