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Style Guide: What to Wear With V-Neck Shirts?

By Yuni Martinez, Special to California Business Journal

Even though we’re saying goodbye to summer, don’t pack away your V-neck t-shirts yet. This ultimate men’s wardrobe staple will also serve you well in the fall.

A V-neck tee is perfect for layering and creating multiple versatile outfits for both work and leisure.

The key to looking good in a V-neck is choosing the right fit and color as well as opting for a not-too-deep neckline (we see you, Jersey Shore fans).

So, what should you wear with your V-neck t-shirts?

Layer with a patterned button-down shirt

Wear your monochrome V-neck tee with a bold, bright, and eye-catching button-down shirt. This outfit will help you stand out and bring joy and brightness even on moody fall days.

While you can wear any V-neck color, a white, grey, navy, or other neutral shade will make the tee more versatile. The minimalist V-neck from Fresh Clean Tees will mix and match with many outfits and quickly become your go-to, so make sure to check out freshcleantees.com/products/navy-v-neck.

When it comes to prints, we recommend focusing on seasonal colors such as burgundy, mustard yellow, deep purple, chocolate, and others.

A flannel shirt will do the trick if you prefer a more conservative style too.

Wear under a puffer or utility vest

We love the combination of a short-sleeved V-neck and a warm, cozy vest to protect you from lower temperatures.

Puffer vests are familiar to most and are ideal for the days when it’s too warm to wear a jacket but too cold to go with just a shirt. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different colors, e.g., wear your grey V-neck under a mustard puffer or a navy V-neck under a maroon one.

The utility vest, while not new, is relatively recent to fashion as, until now, it was an exclusively practical garment. It usually has a boxy cut and many pockets (think your uncle’s fishing vest). Yes, this vest is not for everyone, but don’t write it off until you try.

Pair with a casual blazer

Unless your office has a strict dress code, you can easily replace a stiff button-down shirt with a comfortable V-neck tee.

This outfit delivers on all fronts! The t-shirt allows you to move freely yet still looks put-together. Always choose a tailored V-neck (though that’s most of them) and stick to classic colors such as black, navy, maroon, or white.

Your best choice for bottoms is chinos, wool trousers, or classic tailored jeans.

Wear it with a denim jacket

Denim is a timeless classic and paired with your white V-neck, it will help you look like one of the Hollywood bad boys from the 60s.

While blue denim is the most familiar choice for both jackets and trousers, don’t be afraid to shake the status quo and wear any other color.

And yes, you can wear denim on denim, but if that’s too much, you can never go wrong with khaki bottoms, chinos, cargo pants, and even wool trousers.

Stay warm with a cardigan.

You’ll want a nice knit to keep you cozy and warm when the days get cooler. Layer your cardigan on top of your V-neck.

You have a lot of space to experiment here with colors and fits. We love a classic cardigan with a neutral V-neck, but if you’re into the latest trends, a chunky knit and a colorful tee will get you both warm and noticed.