Let’s talk about V-neck sweaters for a second. More specifically, let’s talk about how undeniably rad they are these days—cotton ones in particular, but we’ll get to that in a second. Not V-neck T-shirts, mind you, but we’ll get to that, too.
I understand if you’re blanching a bit at the thought of a V-neck anything. In recent (and even not-so-recent) years, the collar style has developed a bit of reputation, and not an especially positive one. Most of the menswear-crowd tsk-tsking centered around V-neck tees, but V-neck sweaters weren’t immune from the association. For the most part, they were a little too form-fitting and a little too boring—not unlike their T-shirt relatives, which, to be abundantly clear, still aren’t for us. Right now, though, remarkable, reputation-rehabilitating stuff is happening in the V-neck sweater space which is a) no longer boring and b) brimming with looser, loucher, and more intriguing variants than any of its knit counterparts.
I’ve been wearing them nonstop during the final fall-like weeks of summer: to dinner, to the bodega, to a couple of events. They look expectedly killer over a button-up or a crewneck tee, but the galaxy-brain swerve I’ve landed on more recently is even simpler: wearing them in lieu of a shirt altogether. No buffer, fibers on nips, letting that shit rip. It feels like I’m breaking a rule that shouldn’t exist in the first place, which is always fun, and they’re fast supplanting every other knit in my rotation.
In terms of silhouette, I like them a little baggy and not too cropped, but the fabric content is crucial. I mostly stick with pure cotton or cotton blends—sensitive skin and all that—but I’ve added marginally heftier wools to the mix, too, so long as the knit is loose enough to allow for airflow. (If I’m rocking a tighter knit, I’ll keep it baggy and not too bulky.) You’re here for some options, though, so enough with the pontificating: Let’s get down to business.
Five V-Neck Sweaters to Take You to Victory
The Platonic-Ideal Pick: Noah Ribbed Organic Cotton Sweater
A shaker stitch, like the one employed here, will loosen up nicely with wear, and that cotton is primed to get preposterously soft over time—which means that this will stay in your rotation for years.
The Budget Pick: Uniqlo C Relaxed V-Neck Sweater
Getting this much sweater for $50 feels a little like stealing, but it’s very much not. Plus, the proportions are absolutely dialed, as are the four interchangeable colors.
The Substitute-Tee Pick: Barena V-Neck Sweater
If you’ve worn a black T-shirt with literally anything recently and thought it looked pretty good, simply swap the tee for this Italian-made beauty know and don’t give the rest of your outfit a second though. It’ll still look good—really good.
The California Livin’ Pick: Banana Republic Point Sur Cotton V-Neck Sweater
Simply pretend that this is a crewneck sweatshirt, wear it as such, and let it do the rest of the lifting for you. Between that wide ribbing, loose weave, and faded blue hue, it’s doing a lot of lifting.
The Blanket-Soft Pick: Buck Mason California Cashmere V-Neck
Great news for anyone looking to bring the idea into winter: Buck Mason sourced a knockout year-round cashmere yarn that’s light enough to wear right now, soft enough to wear sans undershirt, and hefty enough to really shine in a few months, when it get chilly.
The Preppy Goth Pick: Gap CashSoft Varsity Cable Knit Sweater
Yes, this is technically a women’s sweater—but it’s also a great sweater, period. That neckline might expose a bit of décolletage, but just because it’s about to get colder doesn’t mean you need to abandon your summer ideals. (FYI: It is still a women’s sweater, so check the size chart carefully.)
The Stealthy, Wealthy Pick: The Row Corbin Ribbed Cotton Sweater
If there’s a single cotton V-neck sweater that can live up to a price tag north of $1,000, it’s this minimal jaw-dropper from The Row, which, I assure you, is going to look great with jeans, khakis, trousers, and basically everything else you already own.
The Goldilocks Crop Pick: Visvim Selmer Wool and Linen-Blend Sweater
Between the ribbing, cropped-but-baggy silhouette, and the funky seafoam-green color, I’ve lost actual sleep over this sweater. (This is a commentary on both myself and the sweater.)
The Pleasantly Freaky Pick: Camiel Fortgens Frankenstein V-Neck Sweater
The drama on this one is in the inside-out, slightly disheveled, all-around subtle detailing—which means that it’s the rare flashy(ish) headliner that’s also insanely easy to style.
