BETH VOGUE | STAFF WRITER

Enjoying a quesadilla while sitting on Cougar Walk can easily turn lunchtime people watching into a catwalk for the latest styles. Boots, flannel, scarves and lots of American Apparel is likely to be seen, and stemming from that is something that has already been around for a few years, but now more than ever are V-neck shirts on guys.

What was once a classic shirt for women has not so slowly transferred over to the male population, and this trend has been lowering the neckline from its original little “V” point to scandalously low.

Hearing discussions from others, it seems that some of the student population is against this growing trend. Some say this is something guys should not be wearing, but if you’re one of those guys wearing a V-neck cut so deep it looks oddly similar to the top half of that controversial dress Jennifer Lopez wore to the Grammys in 2000, keep it up ventilated visionary.

Others may argue that guys can’t pull this look off because it’s either too feminine, too low-cut and man-cleavage is not appropriate in a God First environment, but take these as compliments.  Everyone knows the lower the V-neck on a guy, the more trustworthy he is to others because he is baring his soul to the world. Guys in V-necks do not have to wear their hearts on their sleeves because it can be seen in their bare chests.

Although others argue that V-necks make men appear more feminine, they actually increase manliness. Ever try to rip open a regular neck T-shirt? That’s tough.  But ripping open a v-neck is as easy as a warm knife cutting through soft butter, giving the appearance of strength and manliness to others, with less muscle strain in the process.

Wearing a V-neck not only shows others the confident and stylish guy within but it also shows others that you are smart. Being able to understand the good value of these precious shirts, especially in these hard economic times, others will look to you for what is hot and inexpensive.

Although some V-neck prices can run on the expensive side, for the most part they are quite affordable—and being able to have one in every color gives its wearer a freedom of expression.

Especially living in Southern California, having a V-neck around is helpful when adapting to the weather. V-necks are easy to layer or add a scarf to for when it hits a chilly 65 degrees, and they also provide a cool—and tan-able area for when it gets hot.  How else could you get that wonderful breeze while skateboarding to west campus? Certainly not by wearing a stuffy crewneck.

Being incredibly convertible, wearing a V-neck can spruce up an outfit fast.  Varying from the super casual I-just-threw-this-on-five-minutes-ago-when-I-woke-up look, to pairing it with a blazer and going for the dressier version, makes me wonder if the “v” in V-neck also stands for versatile.

There are a plethora of other reasons as to why v-necks are one of the great inventions.  The lower the better, chest-shaven or not, you cannot help but appreciate the confidence coming forth from out APU guys in these frontless shirts.

V is not just for vendetta anymore.