This season, the lightweight V-neck design has drawn attention in the fashion world. At Tod’s in Milan, it was styled over a crisp, contrasting button-down, while at Sandy Liang in New York, it was worn by itself in a soft pastel.
The retail round-up shows the silhouette’s presence at almost every level of the market, from Miu Miu wool cardigan and Falconeri’s cashmere to PVCS, Gap’s CashSoft, and a JCPenney Marilyn Monroe pullover.
Indian Knitwear
For Indian knitwear, the V-neck is not a new trend, as it has long been the safe choice in men’s and women’s sweaters. Monte Carlo showcases this with various V-neck options, including a men’s V-neck sleeveless sweater and a women’s black full-sleeve V-neck cardigan.
Nykaa Fashion lists several V-neck options, including a striped black V-neck and a self-design maroon V-neck for men. The sleeveless versions are notable, as they deliver the Tod’s layering look without the bulk.
Different Angles
Other brands are working with the V-neck shape from different angles. 98 Degree North offers a men’s merino wool blend V-neck pullover in maroon, while Crimsoune Club gives it a style push with a brown colourblocked V-neck sweater for men.
Among women’s labels, Globus has a maroon full-sleeve self-design V-neck cardigan, and Nykaa’s own label Twenty Dresses lists a navy solid V-neck cardigan with buttoned sleeves.
The pieces reviewed lean towards maroon, navy, brown, and black, which is sensible winter dressing but a long way from Sandy Liang’s soft pastel. A brand that fills the gap with a pastel V-neck, aimed at wearing alone, would be saying something new in the category.
The retail case for the V-neck is stronger than the fashion case, as a lightweight cotton or cotton-blend sweater layers easily and works through most of the Indian winter without feeling too warm.
The runways have rediscovered a shape that Indian knitwear never abandoned. The trade question is whether the labels that own the category will treat the attention as a prompt to update it, with softer color, lighter fabrics, and a clearer point of view.