With this guide, I’m going to make finding the Best Men’s V-Neck Sweaters a snap. Men’s fashion has come a long way in recent years. Rather than depending on fashion trends, men are starting to go back to the classics. And that’s what Muted is all about. Among the most classic of classics is the men’s v-neck sweater. In this guide, I show you everything you needed to know about the v-neck sweater and one of the biggest things was the sweater’s versatility.
Jump to the Best Men’s V-Neck Sweater buying guide.
The v-neck sweater can be layered with anything in your closet. It’ll go great with your blazer or suit, of course, a dress shirt and a tie as well as an oxford dress shirt. As far as bottoms go it’ll go with whatever you have in your essential wardrobe, including dark wash jeans, wool pants or men’s chinos. And shoes – white sneakers, chukkas, leather boots or derby brogues will also go great.
V-neck sweaters should be a part of every guy’s essential wardrobe. These sweaters are great for layering during those cool days and nights and allow you to take your standard wardrobe and increase the number of options available. One of my favorite outfits is a clean navy blazer, white dress shirt, striped tie, with a pair of jeans and white sneakers.
Why should you buy a v-neck instead of a crew neck
I’ve never worn crewnecks. I just never like the way they looked on me (short neck) and I never liked the way they felt, especially with a button down underneath. V-necks were always the best of both worlds. They look great as well as feel great. I can dress them up with a broadcloth dress shirt and a tie or down with a plaid or gingham shirt. My V-Neck is one of my favorite pieces in my arsenal.
V-Neck Do’s and Dont’s
Do
- Store neatly folded rather than hanging
- Limit washes and dry cleaning because sweaters will fade and wear thin
- Wear them with tie, with Oxford Button Down Dress Shirts, with Suits, with a Blazer, with Trench Coats, with Wool Trousers, with Dark Wash Jeans, with White Sneakers, with Derby Brogue Dress Shoes, and with Leather Dress Boots.
Don’t
- Clip loose threads. You’ll be starting something you might not be able to finish
- Throw away pilling sweaters. These can be refurbished
- Lay your dress collar on top of the sweater
- Wear logos – keep it clean, wear over a t-shirt, wear over Polo Shirts, wear them without a shirt underneath
V-Neck Sweater Fabrics
V-neck sweaters come in a multitude of fabrics. It would be difficult to cover them all here so we’ll take a look at the most popular.
Cashmere
A Cashmere sweater is probably the softest and as a result the most expensive fabric. Cashmere is made from the soft fleecy part of a goat’s coat. The coat develops when the goat is exposed to cold temperatures. The harsher the winter the more you get. When the winter breaks and the goat sheds, this undercoat is combed out and spun into cashmere. The result is a fabric that is very soft to the touch and has none of the itchy qualities of wool. The great thing about Cashmere is that it still provides the warmth of standard wool. Sweaters made out of cashmere will need to be dry cleaned.
Merino Wool
Probably the most popular fabric for v-neck sweaters is merino wool. This wool is made from the Merino Sheep which is known for its incredible softness, and breathability when compared to the classic itchy types of wool. Key benefits of merino wool include natural anti-bacterial properties, lightweight because of the fine fibers of the wool, and maintenance. I would suggest dry cleaning any wool products, but you could get away with washing a merino wool sweater and drying flat in a pinch.
Cotton & Cotton Blends
Cotton is very common in most clothing products and offers a less expensive alternative to its wool counterparts. If not 100% cotton, most v-necks will be blended with cashmere, silk, or polyester. The blended sweater will contain about 15-20% of the secondary fabric. The great thing about cotton and cotton blends is they come in lots of colors, can be washed at home, and as I stated previously are inexpensive. Be careful of sweaters using low-quality cotton which will cause pilling and wear out quickly.
V-Neck Colors You Should Buy
Depending on the fabric you get v-neck sweaters come in a multitude of colors. In our 33-piece wardrobe capsule guide, we talk about staying with neutral colors to provide a greater ability to mix and match. Our top choices are Navy and Black, and if you’re still looking to fill out your wardrobe add charcoal and light grey, and then a light beige v-neck in that order.
How should a V-Neck Fit?
If you don’t get the right fit on a v-neck sweater you can start looking sloppy really quick. For the length, you want to make sure the bottom hem just falls below your waistband or overlaps. Any longer looks odd. If I’m wearing a belt one of the things I like to do is the J. Crew tuck, where you tuck in just the front of your sweater. As with a suit jacket you want to make sure the shoulder seams sit right at the end of your shoulders.
The sleeves should end right at the base of your thumb/wrist. The great thing about sweaters is if your sleeves are running a little long you can cuff the sleeves without taking too much away from your look. The body of your sweater should be comfortable without being too constraining. If you’re getting folds or billowing in the body then it’s time to size down.
5 Of The Best Mens V-Neck Sweaters
The brands below are some of my favorite for V-Necks around. They’re all extremely reputable and provide you a great product regardless of your price point.
1. John Smedley V-Neck Sweaters ($250)
The John Smedley Merino Wool V-neck Sweaters are made from extra-fine merino wool in a lightweight knit. The brand offers an Italian fit collection as well as a standard fit. The Italian fit is a slightly shorter and slender contemporary version of the standard. Sizes for this V-neck sweater are a bit limited as they are currently only available in small, medium, and large, but should your size fall into that area, you will be treated with a multitude of colors to choose from.
2. Filippa K Fine Merino Wool V-Neck Sweater ($165)
A well-designed V-neck sweater maintains a remarkably clean design and that is exactly what you will get with a Filippa-K Fine Marino V-neck Sweater. The Marino wool allows the sweater to move easily and be adaptable to multiple seasons and this particular sweater comes ready to wear in sizes ranging from x-small to xx-large. Colors are not as significant as some of the previous brands, but my favorites would have to be the dark spruce, black, and grey melange. These will work well with most of my essential wardrobe options.
3. J. Crew V-Neck Sweaters ($70+)
Comprised of Marino wool, the J. Crew V-neck Sweater is flexible, breathable, and water-resistant. J. Crews merino wool works well in warmer weather but also is an excellent source of warmth in colder temperatures. This multi-season V-neck comes in sizes from x-small to x-large. My favorite colors are navy, black, heather charcoal, and camel.
4. Brooks Brothers Merino Wool V-Neck Sweater ($60)
With sizes ranging from small to xx-large, most men will find that the Brooks Brothers Merino Wool V-Neck Sweater is fashionable as well as comfortable to wear. Colors come in both muted greys and blues as well as bold red. But for our purposes stick to the navy and grey. The ultra-soft merino wool adds to the luxurious feel of the sweater and we would expect nothing less from a trusted name like Brooks Brothers.
5. H&M V-Neck Merino Wool Sweater ($50)
Fashion and durability are vital for a quality-made sweater and the H&M V-neck Wool Sweater has both in spades for a great price. This stylish sweater is available in both bold and pastel hues but stick to the dark grey, black or dark blue. Additional features include ribbing for maximum durability at the neckline, cuffs, and hem, so it’s sure to last you through many seasons.
Men’s Outfit Ideas for V-Neck Sweaters
These are four of my favorite v-neck sweater outfit ideas. I’ve paired the sweaters with dress shirts, jeans, chinos, wool pants, and blazers. You should find something from casual to business casual.
1. Navy Blazer: J. Crew Navy Blazer
2. Shirt: Todd Snyder Hamilton Blue Solid Pima Twill Shirt
3. Sweater: J. Crew Merino Wool Sweater Navy
4. Chinos: Uniqlo Uniqlo Flat Front Chinos Navy
5. Sneakers: Oliver Cabell Low 1 Sneakers
6. Belt: J. Crew Classic Leather Belt
1. Trench: American Trench Navy
2. Sweater: J. Crew Navy V-Neck Sweater
3. Shirt: Taylor Stitch Everyday Oxford Blue
4. Chinos: J. Crew 484 Stretch Chinos Navy
5. Boots: Red Wing 2954 Heritage Work Cooper Moc Toe Boot
1. Bomber: Norse Projects Ryan Poplin Navy
2. Sweater: J crew Everyday cashmere V-neck sweater Oatmeal
3. Shirt: Alex Mill Overdyed White Oxford
4. Jeans: Rogue Territory Standard Issue
5. Sneakers: Common Project Achilles Lows
