The Classic V-Neck

Though largely forgotten today, the deep vee was once an elementary style in men's knitwear that prevailed for several decades in the post-war period. The long yoke not only properly accommodated a tie and shirt collar, but also aesthetically enhanced one's torso by emphasizing shoulder breadth, much like a tailored vest. As the casual revolution swept the United States in the 90s, however, the number of men wearing traditional coat and tie markedly declined, which presaged the demise of the classic v-neck. Moreover, ubiquitous climate control virtually eliminated knitwear's chief practicality in dress clothing: warmth through layering. Consequentially, merchants adapted to consumers' dramatic shift in taste by offering increasingly shallow vees, which did not require collared shirts underneath. Although the deep v-neck has disappeared, its close relative, the cardigan, has made a recent resurgence in youth fashion.