Quarter-Zip vs Crew Neck vs V-Neck: Which Jumper Should You Buy?
The neckline decides the outfit
Quarter-zip, crew neck, or V-neck? The neckline is the single biggest decision when buying a jumper — it changes what you can layer with it, how formal it reads, and whether it suits your build. Here's an honest breakdown so you buy the right one first time.
Quarter-zip: the versatile modern choice
Best for: smart-casual wardrobes, layering, men who want one jumper that does everything.
The quarter-zip's stand collar frames the face and works open over a shirt or zipped over a tee. It's the most adaptable neckline: dress it up with tailoring, dress it down with jeans. Right now it's also the neckline with the most momentum behind it in the UK — the 'quarter-zip renaissance' is real, with retailers reporting searches up several hundred percent on last year.
Watch out for: cheap zips and limp collars. A metal zip and ribbed stand collar hold their shape; cheaper plastic zips on soft collars tend not to. The Highbury Nordic quarter-zip uses a metal quarter-zip with a structured stand collar.
Crew neck: the timeless default
Best for: minimal wardrobes, layering under jackets, men who prefer a clean neckline.
The crew neck is the safest jumper neckline there is. It sits neatly under coats and blazers and never draws attention to itself. If you own one jumper, a crew neck in navy or grey is the rational choice.
Watch out for: it can read plain. Choose texture — cable knit or a subtle pattern — to stop it looking like a blank.
V-neck: the shirt-and-tie partner
Best for: wearing over collared shirts and ties, formal offices.
The V-neck exists for one job: showing a shirt collar and tie. Outside that job, it's the least versatile of the three — it looks unfinished over a bare neck or a tee. The V-neck remains a steady, specialist choice — its natural habitat is the formal office.
Watch out for: deep Vs stretch and sag. A shallow, ribbed V-neck keeps its shape.
Premium vs high street: what actually differs?
Shoppers often compare the big names — Ralph Lauren, M&S, Next, Zara — so here's what the price difference usually buys:
- Under £30 (high street basics): lighter knits and simpler finishes — a fair way to try the style before committing.
- £40–£70 (the sweet spot): structured collars, metal zips, textured knits that hold shape. This is where our quarter-zip range sits — £59 with free tracked UK delivery and 30-day returns.
- £100+ (designer): finer fabrics and finishing, though much of the premium is the name on the label.
Our view: past a certain point, extra money buys the label more than the knit. Fit and fabric matter more than the price tag.