Nicholas Daley Crew Neck Waffle

The same cloth as the rollneck, a different collar, and a different job. A crew neck in heavyweight waffle is what goes on over a tee and under everything else, and Daley’s version is detailed enough to be the outer layer on the days it needs to be. The raised grid traps air, so it insulates at a weight that never reads as a sweater. The pockets are set into the seams rather than patched onto the front, which keeps the body clean. The cuffs run long. Knitted in Portugal, it is the least demonstrative thing Daley makes and, on the evidence of our own wardrobes, the one we wear most.

Why we selected it

This is a plain answer to a plain question and we do not think there is more to it than that. It is warm, it is properly made, it goes under everything, and we wear it. We took it twice because a piece worn this often gets bought more than once.

Materials and construction

One hundred percent cotton waffle, knitted in Portugal. Ribbed cuffs with thumbholes, two front pockets, crew neck. Colour: Black.

Fit notes

Cut with room to go over a tee and under a jacket without bulking at the arm. Heavyweight cotton relaxes through the body over the first several wearings and comes back with washing. The thumbhole cuff means the sleeve is drafted long on purpose, so do not read the sleeve length as a size error.

Styling and care

Under everything, over a tee, with any trouser he cuts. Black waffle under one of his checks is a pairing that is hard to get wrong. Wash it cool and inside out, and dry it flat rather than hanging it, because a heavy cotton knit will grow on a hanger while it is wet. Our fabric care guidance covers the rest.

Related pieces

The Waffle Crew Neck in red and ivory is the same knit batik dyed, and the Waffle Crewneck in navy the panelled spring version. The Waffle Roll Neck in chocolate takes the same cloth to a rolled neck, and the Pleated Trouser in black is the trouser under all of them. There is more on the house on the Nicholas Daley designer page. Everything we carry from Nicholas Daley is listed together.