The V neck is the most useful shape in knitwear and also the most frequently botched. Too deep and it reads cheap. Too shallow and it loses the whole point. The neckline has to sit right over a collar without pulling, the shoulders have to actually sit on your shoulders, and the yarn has to be good enough that it still looks presentable after a few months of regular wear. That’s a short list of requirements that a surprising number of jumpers fail to meet.

We’ve been looking specifically at V necks that work as a layering piece over a shirt and tie, but also hold their own over a plain tee on the weekend. That crossover is where the real value is. A great V neck adds polish without effort, which is exactly what most wardrobes need more of. The ones we’ve picked here nail the fit, use yarns worth paying for, and will be in your rotation for years. That’s the only bar we care about.