Choosing a neckline
V-Neck vs Crew Neck: Which Cashmere Sweater?
Decide it at the collar. A crew neck is a closed ring at the base of the neck, so a shirt collar sits on top of it. A V-neck opens below the collarbone, so the collar drops inside and stays put. Button your shirts to the top, or wear a tie? Buy the V-neck. Mostly a T-shirt, an open collar or nothing underneath? Buy the crew. Want both, depending on the day? The quarter zip changes shape.
The one difference that matters: what happens to a collar
Both sweaters are the same fibre, the same workshop and the same price. The only difference is the neckline, and what it changes is where your shirt collar sits.
A crew neck is a closed ring of rib at the base of the neck. A shirt collar cannot pass through it, so it sits outside. Ours is cut so the band lies flat over a collar, but the points still have nowhere to go but out. Add a tie and the knot gets squeezed between two layers. That is why men who wear ties rarely pick a crew.
A V-neck is an open notch that meets below the collarbone. The collar falls inside, the points tuck under, and a tie knot has room. The flip side: with nothing inside it, the V looks empty. Add a jacket and the knot, collar and lapels all compete for the same space. More on that in Wearing a Sweater Under a Blazer or Suit.
Layering under a jacket or coat
A tailored jacket already makes a V with its lapels. A crew under it adds one clean line across the bottom. A V-neck adds a second, narrower V inside the first, plus a collar if you wear one. Not wrong, just busier. If you want one sweater for under a sport coat, make it the crew. Check the chest and sleeve against the jacket first, as How to Wear a Sport Coat with a Sweater explains.
Under an overcoat, coverage matters most. The coat closes high, so the question is how much neck is left bare. The crew covers more. The V leaves a gap you will probably fill with a scarf.
Over a T-shirt, or against the skin
This is how most men wear a sweater most days. For which tee or collar suits which neckline, see What to Wear Under a Sweater.
- Crew over a T-shirt: the band covers the tee's neckline. Nothing to think about.
- V-neck over a crew-neck T-shirt: the round neckline cuts across the V. This is the pairing that most often goes wrong.
- V-neck over nothing: a bare triangle. Some men like it. Most find it looks like a sweater missing its shirt.
- Crew over nothing: works well, which makes the crew the safer single buy.
Fit plays a part too. A crew band sits at a fixed height, so on a short neck or broad shoulders it can look like it is riding up. The V opens the neckline downwards and makes the neck look longer. If a crew has ever looked crowded at your neck, the V fixes that.
The third option: the quarter zip
Crew and V-neck are fixed shapes. The quarter zip is the only one of the three that adjusts.
Its collar is a funnel neck: a standing collar with a zip down the front. Zipped up, it is the warmest of the three at the neck. Half open, it reads as a shallow V. Fully open, it lies flat like a wide crew. One sweater, three shapes, chosen each morning.
The trade-offs: it comes in one free size and one colour, and the standing collar is the worst of the three under a sport coat. It costs $120, against $155 for the other two. More on the neckline in Funnel Neck Sweaters for Men.
Side by side
Open full size- Price
- $155 both
- Sizes
- S–2XL both
- Colourways
- 14 vs 13
| Crew Neck | V-Neck | Quarter Zip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neckline | Round, closes at the collarbone | V, opens below the collarbone | Standing collar with a zip |
| Shirt collar | Sits on top | Tucks inside | Covered when zipped |
| With a tie | Knot gets crowded | Best choice | Not suited |
| Over a T-shirt | Hides the tee | Tee shows and clashes | Works |
| On its own | Works | Looks bare | Best of the three |
| Under a sport coat | Cleanest look | Busier, a V inside a V | Bulky at the neck |
| Under an overcoat | Covers more neck | Needs a scarf | Warmest zipped |
| Adjustable | No | No | Yes |
| Colours | 14 | 13 | 1 |
| Sizes | S–2XL | S–2XL | One free size |
| Price | $155 | $155 | $120 |
What is identical
Beyond the neckline, nothing changes. The Men's Crew Neck Cashmere Sweater and the Men's V-Neck Cashmere Sweater are the same 100% Grade A Himalayan cashmere at 12–16 micron, knitted in the same Pokhara workshop, in the same sizes, at the same $155. The colours match too, except Sand, which is crew only: 14 colours against 13.
So there is no cheaper one, no warmer fibre and no better-made version. Choose on how you will wear it.
Both may pill a little in the first few wears, then settle. Does Cashmere Pill? And What Stops It explains why.
If you still cannot decide
Buy the crew. Its advantage shows every day. The V-neck's only shows on the days you wear a collar. If that is most days, you already know it is the V.
Want more warmth at the throat than either gives you? That is the funnel neck.
The three sweaters. Same fibre, same workshop, same care. Free worldwide shipping on orders over $100.
Pick a size, see every colour and add to your bag on each style page: Men's Crew Neck Cashmere Sweater, Men's V-Neck Cashmere Sweater and Men's Quarter Zip Cashmere Sweater. Buying for someone else? See Cashmere Gifts for Men.
Common questions
Is a V-neck or a crew neck sweater better for men?
Decide it at the collar. A crew neck closes at the base of the neck, so a shirt collar sits on top of it. A V-neck opens below the collarbone, so the collar tucks inside. If you button shirts to the top, buy the V-neck. If you mostly wear a T-shirt or nothing under it, buy the crew.
Can you wear a V-neck sweater without a shirt underneath?
You can, but it is where a V-neck looks weakest. The opening is made to frame a collar, so on its own it can look unfinished. If you usually wear knitwear against the skin, the crew is the better buy at the same price.
Which is warmer, a V-neck or a crew neck?
The crew, because it covers the collarbone where the V leaves a gap. A funnel neck zipped to the top is warmer than both.
Can you wear a crew neck sweater with a collared shirt?
Yes, and many men do. Ours is cut so the band sits flat over a shirt collar. The collar still sits outside the sweater, though, so a tie under a crew gets crowded.
What should you wear under a V-neck sweater?
A collared shirt with enough structure to hold its shape in the opening. Avoid a crew-neck T-shirt: its round neckline cuts across the V.
Is there an option other than a V-neck and a crew neck?
Yes, a quarter zip funnel neck. Zipped up it is a standing collar, half open a shallow V, fully open a wide crew. It is $120, in one free size and one colour.