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Crew neck or V neck? Are there rules? Which do you prefer?

Runcarla

Veteran

I believe that I 'should' be wearing V necks, because I have broad shoulders, a small bust relative to my size, and there is a wide space between my breasts. I think this is the recipe for conventional figure flattery. But....I have a preference for crew necks on sweaters and t-shirts. I think it is because I run cold, and want my chest covered for extra warmth.

When it comes to basics, when you are given a choice between crew neck or v-neck, which team do you bat for? Why do you choose what you pick?

General

46 replies

Latest reply was from DonnaF

tanstaafl

For basic tees I prefer scoop neck or v neck. My sweaters tend to be boat neck. I’ve never really thought about why. I do have some crew neck tops, but they have pleating or other details that make them not basics in my mind.

Style Fan

Veteran

I prefer scoop necks for my tees. I do have some v necks but I am moving away from them at this point in my style journey. I don't often wear crew necks. I never wear boat necks.
I find scoop necks to be the most flattering neckline for me. The scoop neck follows my jaw line and doesn't emphasize my bust. I also think my shoulders might look a tiny bit wider with a scoop neck. Or maybe that is wishful thinking.
Crew necks emphasize the size of my bust. Boat necks make my face look wide and I feel like I am being strangled (I can not stand anything too close to my neck because it is very sensitive).

Anonymous

I have always preferred crewneck. I can bend and move as much as I want and never have to worry about exposing myself.

Sal

Veteran

I prefer scoop or vee to crew - because of a shorter neck and broad shoulders and bust. I like a boat too.

I can wear crew but it has to be spot on with the sleeve length. My most unflattering is the mock turtle neck with out sleeves!!

I would have thought you could do a crew Carla - Janet showed once how playing around with short sleeve length can make a difference - which was a revelation to me. If I wear a crew I prefer a close fit on the shoulders - more tailored - then it works.

I own three basic tees now (cotton knit, short sleeves) so they are a small but essential part of my wardrobe.

The Cat

Veteran

I choose crew neck for myself. Crew neck harmonizes with my soft rounded lines (my jaw line, in particular) and looks and feels better against my long neck and long upper chest. I realized this at an early age, and it was later confirmed by stylists.

I do wear V-neck cardigans etc., but always with a more flattering inner layer. And when wearing a button-front shirt and leaving it open at the neck (this also constitutes a V-neck), I always wear a round necklace or a scarf for a softer look against my neck and face.

However, I think V-neck can look really great on others.

Joyce B

Veteran

I prefer V-neck because it is more flattering and also easier to come up with a good outfit, but I also have crew necks that I wear.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I prefer a crew neck because I have very littlebust and a crew neck is more flattering ,I do have some v necks but they tend to be very small v necks and like you because I feel the cold I tend to wear them more in the summer.

Summer

Veteran

I am a Rectangle/IT and find a scoop or v-neck to be the most flattering on me. I'm quite picky about the cut of the v, though - nothing too narrow or too low.
Crew-necks seem to make my top half look blocky and my jaw line rather heavy so I tend to avoid them.

Cee

Veteran

I love and wear both !

Most of the time with T-shirts I go with a crewneck ( I have a collection of around 20 ) and I have a couple of loose fitting knit crew sweaters to layer over them in cooler weather.

With V-necks I only wear solid knit loose fit sweaters layered over crewneck T-shirts, Oxford shirts, turtleneck skivvies and lightweight ribbed or cashmere t'necks.

I like how they look and feel on me and I have a long neck and broad shoulders and chest they suit.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

V-necks tend to look best on: shorter necks, larger busts, broader shoulders, longer hair.

I have an extremely long neck, a regular size bust, narrow square shoulders, and sport a pixie. The higher the neckline, the better. Turtlenecks are my best neckline - but to answer your question - CREW. No V-necks for me.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I wear all kinds, but my preference for flattery is a slightly deep V or a scoop neck that is not too deep or broad. I like boatnecks too. I will wear crew necks but I don't like them too high or tight. I like turtlenecks but they're not my best look -- they tend to emphasize my bust and my double chin.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I have contradictory physical traits as far as whether I “should” wear v-necks, but I prefer them over crew necks. For similar reasons as yours, I wear them to maintain a comfortable body temperature. The one exception is the gym, for reasons of modesty.

Chiara

I have a very long neck, with square-set shoulders, and look best in styles that are high or close to my neck (crew, turtle neck, narrow boat neck), or extremely long, narrow V shapes. Scoop necks or wider, relaxed necklines do my chest and shoulders no favours

jussie

Veteran

Hmm it’s interesting. I think crew or boat necks look better on me, even though I have a short neck....
any scoop or v tends to make my chest look wide and flat....
It’s all so personal isn’t it? Seems like it just comes down to trial and error sometimes.
It also depends a bit on the lower part of the top, and how that balances out the neckline.
So many variables....

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

V neck for me, all the way. It helps break up the expanse of my bust and creates a vertical line.

Staysfit

Veteran

So what if you have some of the criteria for a crew neck and some for a vee? Does that mean you can do both? I have short hair, a long neck, small chest for my height, and broader shoulders than hips, so I currently have more for the crew than the vee, but do the broad shoulders outweigh everything else in certain situations? Sometimes I hate the look of a crew, and other times I don’t, so now I am going to pay more attention to see if there are any rules as to why.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Staysfit, YES. Exactly. You have to take the variables one at a time, and it sounds like you're doing just that.

Jussie, your small bust and dainty shoulders prefer a higher neckline. Makes sense.

People with a large bust and long neck have "opposing" traits too. Often I prefer them in a V-neck, although they look fine in a higher neckline.

Chiara, HIGH FIVE.

Runcarla

Veteran

Thank you so much, Staysfit for your questions, and Angie, for clarification and wisdom. So maybe I AM on the right track! I have more variables that sort me towards a rounded neck than a V, but had thought the V was the way to go. Broad shoulders can be a fit issue as well meaning a bigger body to accomodate proper shoulder placement (can I tell you how much I love a dolman sleeve?). My favourite neck is turtleneck, but finding sleeveless versions for summer is near impossible. I also like ballet neck.

BrieN

Veteran

I wear V-necks because I check every box for that being my better look. But truly my style with no constraints would be a crew neck.

Toban

Veteran

I love v-necks and scoop necks, which work well with my short neck and torso and large chest, ask Angie describes above. My only crew and turtlenecks are in my cold weather exercise gear.

delurked

Veteran

I think I look better in a vneck or scoop, but I don’t like the neckline to be too low. A higher neck works for me on sleeveless.

Sal

Veteran

There are a few variables as well as the body shape one aren't there:

1) Hairstyle - if you have long hair around your neck it can make necklines work differently
2) Your own preferences - do you like to play up your curves or not
3) Modesty - lower necks can provide cleavage or bra flashes which may or may not be a problem
4) How you layer items - ie under a vee neck sweater I sometimes do like a crew neck...

Sundance

Member

I really like V-necks best but sometimes include a long scarf wrapped loosely. That helps keep the chill away in the winter but still seems to look better than a crew neck on me — short neck and broad shoulders.

Anonymous

I find most V necks too masculine for me, although in theory they should be my go-to. I also don't love showing the skin on my chest much anymore - it can look too wrinkly if I happen to be sitting with my arms folded and the v is too low. There is nothing less appealing than wrinkly loose cleavage skin - ugh. I prefer a wide scoop, not too deep.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm with those who say you need to judge against a number of variables. With a small wide spaced bust, long (ish) chest, long (ish) neck, short hair, and square but neat shoulder line, I far prefer a higher neckline -- turtleneck, narrow boat, envelope, crew or jewel, halter, Armani...or a collared shirt, or a narrow V (but these are so hard to find).

But when my hair was longer I could do a slightly wider V quite well. Short hair affects necklines more than anything else for me because it changes the visual proportions. Maybe because I am relatively short and short waisted.

cindysmith

Veteran

V-neck or scoop. I've apparently gotten very old and crotchety and can't stand anything touching the front of my neck. Probably ties in to my COPD because it makes me feel a bit suffocated sometimes to wear a crew neck?

Joy

Veteran

Small bust makes a crew neck or turtle neck my favorite. It seems to make the bust look larger and balance top and bottom. I reject a top that is a V neck.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

V necks are the best for me - round face, shortish neck, biggish bust. I can wear crews in the right color, slash necks are usually bad, and other necklines are judged on a case by case basis.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I have a longer neck and smaller bust and broad shoulders. I prefer a crew neck.
I do sometimes wear a V neck (I love wrap tops) but when I do I tend to fill in the V with a chunky necklace or a scarf. Otherwise I can look a bit scrawny.
Ditto for scoop necks.
I particularity like the look of V necks and scoop necks under jackets, so I like to wear them at times.

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