The v neck cardigan is one of those pieces that looks simple until you see a bad one, and then you cannot unsee it. Cheap yarn that pills after three wears. A neckline that gapes. Ribbing that loses its shape before the season is out. The category has a middling reputation and most of it is deserved. What we have been looking for are the ones that sit differently. The kind you can wear over a shirt and tie and look like you meant it, or layer under a heavier coat without adding bulk where you do not want it. Merino is the obvious choice for weight and recovery, but we have also included some lambswool options that bring a bit more texture and character. The fit through the shoulder is what we looked at hardest. Get that right and everything else falls into place. These are cardigans that earn a permanent place in the rotation rather than disappearing quietly into the back of the wardrobe.