The Ultimate Sweater: Banana Republic Silk/Cotton/Cashmere -$69.50
In my search for the perfect v neck sweater I’ve stumbled across many different types of material. Cotton, pima cotton, supima cotton, lambswool, merino wool, Italian merino wool, cashmere, etc. I can’t even begin to wrap my head around all these choices. I thought you might be able to recommend one, pros/cons, what to avoid.
– Michael
Here’s the quick and dirty answer to Michael’s question. It has to be Banana Republic’s mainly silk blend. Bar none it’s the best sweater material I’ve ever come across, and to me it’s not even close.
Most men think of two types of material when they think of sweaters. Spongy, bulky, 100% cotton, or itchy and rough lambswool. Both can be the makeup for nice enough sweaters (see this option for all cotton, and this one for Lambswool) but when it comes to versatility, how it feels, and how it lays, it’s BR’s 75% silk, 20% cotton, and 5% cashmere that’s the magic formula.
These don’t feel anything like those cheesy silk shirts, or worse yet, those boxer shorts that made the rounds in the 90s. They’re smooth but not slippery. The knit is super fine, they lay extremely well, and the complete lack of bulk makes them incredibly easy to wear over a button up and under a blazer. Just because they aren’t thick doesn’t mean they aren’t strong. I’ve had a sweater vest from BR made of this material for 3 or 4 years and it looks and feels like new.
The material aside, some will take issue with the depth of the V on these sweaters. It’s pretty deep. But the reasonably trim body (which could be slimmed down a touch more) and the material more than make up for it. What’s difficult to overcome is the price. $70 is a lot. But again, this is a GAP Inc brand, so they’ll go on sale.
Back to the fabric. After these it’s a bit of a cluster for what works best when. Merino wool is certainly versatile, and a slim pima cotton is a great summer option. So to explain the rest as well as set some guidelines for what’s best at what time of year, see the 8-bit Nintento ICE HOCKEY inspired thickness & fabric matrix below:
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No, I’m not expecting all of you or even any of you to get the Nintendo Ice Hockey reference. And y’know? That’s more than okay. The graphi/matrix still stands.
Agreed, the silk blends at BR are definitely my favorite “dressy” sweater material, and the one I wear the most by far. But for a more casual/rugged look I prefer wool or cotton. I have a 100% cotton v-neck from Lands End Canvas that I love, but I pair it with jeans or chinos and leave the blazer out.
I have one of these and they’re pretty comfortable. Different type of sweater completely though to actual hefty knits like SNS Herning.
The BR silk blends are great for layering. I just wish the sides came in a bit more. The material is heavenly, though.
Ugh. Double post, sorry.
I forgot to add that when these go on clearance, they can be had for as little as ~$25 if the timing/coupons are right. I bought a couple mediums last season but ended up gifting them to my slightly heftier dad due to the sides. Will get them again this season for sure…
$25 is a crazy good price. Especially with the sizes at medium. I think the lowest I ever scored one of these was around $37. But that was with a sale + coupon… etc…
I’ve always stayed away from these, because it’s a blend of 3 different materials, and the neckline is a bit too deep for me. After reading this article, I’ll give it a second look.
Right now I have the BR 100% merino wool and 100% cashmere. As Glen said, both were bought around $30 when it was on clearance, no coupon even needed. Great for the cold winter, but I’ll need some v-necks for the summer. I’m thinking 100% cotton.
Great NES matrix too.
Agreed, I have been fortunate enough to pick up two of the BR silk blends at half price in black and heather gray and they are they are perfect over a button down. I am a little over 6 ft and slim and the small fits perfect for me. Only drawback, at least on my black one is that it sheds noticeably and will give your lint roller a workout if you wear over a button down. Honorable mention to J Crew merino.
I have been in a personal quest for the best V-neck for years, and after trying or buying nearly every brand (many at substantially higher prices) the BR one is still me favorite. This year, however, the cashmere blend at Uniqlo was a terrific value for the money. It’s not as ‘silky’ as the BR (there’s no silk in it) but the availability of more interesting colors like a textured heather and a royal made it a great buy at the $30 price point.
I always went with 2 skinny guys, one average guy, and one fat guy for my team