Vneck cardigans and where the v falls

ironkurtin

I love cashmere cardigans, and I've been looking and looking at one particular black v-neck. But I keep wondering if the v is too low. I generally like ones that come up closer to the neck so less of the shirt under shows. Then I wear a scarf.

Anyone like to wear lower v-necks, and what do you wear under them?

11 years ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from Alexandra

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think I only have one v-neck cotton sweater left. It is teal blue, and I have a matching scoop neck tee that I wear underneath. So tonal v plus scoop layered look. It is one of my work looks, from H&M. I wear this in the fall as a break from button down shirts, it's a bit body con and a nice color but otherwise very boring. But that just about sums up how I dress for work.

All of my deep v neck tees are sleepwear because they show too much boob. Even as sleepwear I sometimes awake to find half of my chest has popped out of the top!

11 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

So you wear a round-neck under? How deep is the sweater V?

11 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I prefer v-neck cardigans, because I usually wear a print top underneath and I want it to show. I would say the v is usually down around the sternum. I like v neck items generally because I have a short neck so they help to elongate.

11 years ago

Missey

Veteran

I personally don't mind a deeper V-neck. I think it looks a little sexy and dressier than a crew. I don't usually wear anything under mine, unless it is going to show some serious cleavage.

11 years ago

Anonymous

So, just to clarify, you're talking about a cardigan, right? I have a hard time with the V-necks, if I wear them open they just hang there like a waterfall cardigan (on the outside of my bust). I used to wear a higher necked tank under one and then a big scarf on top.

11 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I tend to wear my cardigans open a lot of the time so that changes the dynamics. Most of mine have a v low enough that I wouldn't be able to wear them alone (unless I got a different bra!). I think they can look good with higher crew necks, if the weather calls for it, and then a necklace or scarf. Or a lower scoop, with a midpoint halfway between your collarbone and bust point level. Alternately, one can create a v neck effect with a traditional crew neck cardigan by wearing it over a lower neckline top/cami but leaving the top few buttons above the bust point unbuttond.

I think the most flattering v neck, at least for the busty (which you are not, IK, I know) is that spot where a true wrap dress naturally falls when you tie it, the space in between your breasts where the bridge of your bra is. That's pretty cleavage-y for most of us for daytime so layering underneath becomes necessary.

11 years ago

Deb

Veteran

I love a V neckline so long as it isn't too shallow or excessively deep....they are ideal for petites like myself. Usually I save my V neck sweaters for mild weather so I can wear them with nothing underneath. I only have two V neck cardigans and I wear the black cashmere one open with a button down or a dress as it sits nicely when open. It also looks good done up, with nothing underneath. My silvery gray one looks better done up with a simple scoop neck top under it.
I don't think you'll go wrong with this staple in your wardrobe and if you care for your knit and launder it well, it will last for many years to come. Hopefully the one that you have found will give you the with or without something under option.

11 years ago

kkards

Veteran

I wear all kinds of vnecks,some higher,some lower, but I alsways wear some kind of a tank or tee underneath. Anthro has great reversible tanks that have a vneck and they come in lots of colors.

Anthropologie

Reversible Seamless Tank

$24.00

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11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think the kind of V that flatters depends on a bunch of body type variables, including length of neck, length of hair, width of shoulders, size of bust, and general frame size.

I only have one V neck cardigan (just purchased) and the V falls just below the sternum. I'll never wear it without something underneath, obviously. What goes under will likely be crew necks, button ups, and the occasional turtle neck. Like you, I may also use a scarf to fill in the space.

I also have one low V pullover. I find it tricky. I usually wear a crew neck shell underneath it. I would like to wear a tank and sometimes do so, but I'm not crazy about the proportions on me.

I think when you have a wider shoulder line plus a smaller bust -- and especially if you also have a long-ish neck (as I do) and short hair (as I do and you used to) there's a tendency for that chest area to look sort of ...I don't know....like a broad plain? That may be why we tend to reach for a scarf to fill it in a bit.

Heck, I just added a scarf today to a slightly looser CREW neck!! It was partly because it was #($*%* cold here. But it was also because it just looked like a weird open space there somehow with just the sweater. (Scratches head.)

Angie only wears Vs that cover the neck-shoulder point -- in other words, she is looking for a very NARROW V (the depth is usually correspondingly shorter with these). That's for a stand alone top, though, not a cardigan. I don't know if they make cardigans with a stance that high.

I think a small, narrow V looks great on me, too, and I really enjoy wearing it. But they're not easy to find.

11 years ago

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I like to wear my cardigans open. Usually over a dress.
Why is the depth of the V-neck an issue for you? The color of the shirt underneath? The amount of skin that shows? Something else entirely? That might guide your solution.

11 years ago

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