Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

Style Debate: V-neck sweaters are dipping too deep

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Above: Camel Cotton Cashmere Sweater by L.E.C. and White Shirt by Banana Republic.  Navy Silk Cotton Cashmere Sweater by Banana Republic and White Shirt by Target Merona.  Grey Merino Sweater by J. Crew FACTORY and White Shirt by Nordstrom

The case against deeper v-necks:  It’s understandable that jacket button stances have dropped now that hardly anyone is wearing 3-buttons anymore, but the V-Neck sweater line doesn’t need to follow.   That much depth can cause the collar to wrinkle up and slop all over the place.  Not good.  We’re getting awfully close to showing a third button (see the B.R. in the center) and even Lands’ End Canvas has lowered the depth of their V-necks this year.  It’s like a race to the navel.  If this doesn’t turn around soon and start heading north, we’ll all be wearing knit mankinis with sleeves.

The case for deeper v-necks:  C’mon now.  Live a little.  Sure deep V-necks are higher fashion, but with sweaters you’re always going to be wearing a shirt underneath.  Some think a deeper V slims down your torso.  It also makes you look a little less buttoned up.  If you’re worried about your shirt collar jumping out and doing that 70s fly-away thing, get yourself a pair of Wurkin Stiffs and it’ll stay in place all day.

Have you noticed that sweater V-necks have been going lower and lower?  Are you liking the trend or hating it?  Pick a side and make your case in the comments section.

Comments

  2. I like the shorter v-neck (which I only wear with ties), since it shows just my tie knot and a peek at the blade of the tie. It’s a classy and put-together look in my opinion. But if you do go for deeper v-necks, you can keep your collar in check by wearing a button-down collar. Or if you’re buttoned all the way up and wearing a tie, a button-down collar, tab collar, or collar pin (Rugby Ralph Lauren has one for $10) will all keep your points in check.

  3. Aren’t they just trying to get on equal footing with their cardigan brethren? I guess I’m in the middle. Don’t want it to look like I’m carrying the sweater on my shoulders, but I also want the tie/shirt to breathe a little.

  4. I think I’m going to go against the grain here. I like a little bit of a deeper v. Not too deep but I find that with a shallow v it’ll end up covering part of my tie knot, which I don’t care for. Even if it doesn’t I still like a little bit of the tie showing below the knot. It makes it feel less busy to me. As long as they don’t go cardigan low, I’m down with a deeper v.

  5. If you’re wearing a tie, deeper v can be forgiven. Sans tie, go shallow or we’re seeing too much shirt (hopefully shirt and not chest).

  6. I suspect an industry scam. Wool costs have risen so they build sweaters with a larger hole and less wool and call it fashionable. It’s like how cereal boxes got thinner but stayed the same price. These deep Vs always look sloppy.

  7. Doh, I just bought three BR silk cashmere v necks at their latest sale. My wallet tells me I have to go with ”acceptable”.

  9. Most cardigans make a deeper V than any of these sweaters. Does that mean that cardigans are innately wrong? I think a V which is a little bit deeper is not a problem, although I do agree that it can look better with a tie. The main thing is that sweater season is here and I, for one, am psyched.

  12. If you’re in shape, the either V-neck will work. If you’re out of shape, you shouldn’t be wearing cashmere, thin sweaters–stick to the chunky sweaters.

  13. I like it to be low enough that it exposes less than an inch of my tie below the knot.  that BR sweater looks a little lower than they used to be – I have several BR sweaters from the last two years. 

  14. I just got 3 of the BR silk cashmere sweaters, and I really like them.  I don’t really feel like the V is too deep, but it might be that my traps pull up the V higher than on other people who don’t lift weights the way I do.

  15. I don’t really have a problem with the deep v-neck, but I think the regular v-neck is just fine. Why fix something that isn’t broken?

  16. Ugh.  Hate deep V’s, particularly as a really skinny guy.

    I made a post a while ago asking where I could find some -very- shallow V necks.  Any suggestions?

  19. I’m on the side deeper v-necks. The shallow ones have their place and
    I’ll wear both but like others I like to show (and see) more
    of the tie. They also let the tie billow out a little more, or lift out
    a bit more if you’re wearing a collar pin. This goes for sweater-vests
    too.

    The deeper v-necks really aren’t anything new nor an industry scam. Just
    look at old movies or old pictures from the 20s or 30s. They had deep
    v-necks back then. Take a look at this picture with Donald O’Connor,
    Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly when they were filming “Singin’ in the
    Rain” (made in the 50s but set in the 20s). Their v-necks are as low as
    the the ones in the picture above.

    http://tinyurl.com/3p59jdt

  20. Well let’s get something settled first, a deep v is not okay if it isn’t a sweater over a shirt. Deep v tee shirts? Neverrrrr.

  22. I actually bought that cashmere v from BR and had to return for a crew neck because it was just unwieldy.  The deepness wasn’t particularly a problem but because it’s just so big overall, my collar could never stay in