The quarter zip has had a quiet decade of dominance. It sits in a gap that most knitwear can’t fill, too relaxed to be a formal jumper, too considered to be a hoodie, and useful in a way that very few single garments manage across the full range of occasions a man actually faces in a week. Over a shirt collar for a smart lunch, under a jacket for the office, on its own for a weekend. It works because it doesn’t try too hard, which is the whole point.
The fabric is the thing to get right. Merino wool is the standard for a reason. It regulates temperature, it doesn’t itch, it looks good after a wash, and it lasts. Cashmere is softer and more expensive and worth it at the top end. Cotton is fine for warmer months but loses the versatility that makes the quarter zip worth buying in the first place. Anything with a significant synthetic content will pill, lose its shape, and feel wrong within a season.
Here are the ones worth owning across every price point.
Gazman Merino Quarter Zip
From $129 AUD
Gazman is the most underrated menswear brand in Australia for men who just want things to fit properly and last a few years without spending a fortune. Their merino quarter zip comes in a reliable range of neutrals, navy, charcoal, stone, and the construction is clean enough to layer under a jacket without looking like knitwear has forced its way into the outfit. For anyone who wants a solid entry point without overthinking it, this is the one.
Country Road Merino Quarter Zip
From $149 AUD
Country Road has been doing merino basics well for long enough that the product is largely sorted. The quarter zip sits slightly slimmer than the Gazman, works better on a leaner frame, and comes in seasonal colourways alongside the core range. Worth buying in two colours when they run the sale.
Mango Wool Quarter Zip
From $89 AUD
Mango doesn’t get enough credit for the quality it delivers at this price. The wool quarter zip is well cut, sits clean at the collar, and comes in enough considered colourways that it reads as more expensive than it is. Good first quarter zip for anyone who isn’t sure how much they’ll wear one.
Rodd and Gunn Merino Quarter Zip
From $249 AUD
The reliable middle ground. Rodd and Gunn’s merino knitwear has a slightly heavier hand than most fast fashion alternatives, which gives it better structure and better longevity. The collar sits properly, the zip hardware feels solid, and the range of colours is restrained enough that nothing looks like a mistake. The Hudson Half-Zip at $198 and the Quail Rise at $298 are both worth considering alongside the standard merino quarter zip depending on how heavy a knit you’re after.
Polo Ralph Lauren Classic Quarter Zip
From $180 AUD
Ralph Lauren’s Polo quarter zip is the Ivy League standard and has been for decades. The cable-knit wool and cashmere blend version is the one to get if the budget allows, though the standard cotton version is a reliable everyday piece on its own terms. The pony logo is small enough that it reads as a quality marker rather than a branding exercise, and the cut suits most builds. Available through Ralph Lauren directly and at David Jones.
John Smedley Tapton Merino Quarter Zip
From $480 AUD
John Smedley has been making fine merino knitwear in Derbyshire since 1784, and the Tapton is the quarter zip they do best. The knit is fine gauge rather than chunky, which makes it the most versatile piece on this list for layering under tailoring. It sits close to the body without being tight, the collar is clean and minimal, and it comes in the kind of quiet colourways, oatmeal, navy, slate, dark green, that don’t date. Available through John Smedley online and at selected stockists in Australia.
Brunello Cucinelli Cashmere Quarter Zip
From $2,500 AUD
If the budget is not a consideration. Brunello Cucinelli makes the standard-setting cashmere quarter zip, cut in Solomeo with a softness and drape that nothing at a lower price point fully replicates. The colours are restrained and seasonal, the construction is impeccable, and the piece will last longer than most other garments in the wardrobe. It is not a practical purchase for most people. For those it is practical for, there is nothing better.
The quarter zip works in a collar-out or collar-in configuration depending on the shirt underneath. A button-down oxford collar sitting over the quarter zip collar is the classic Ivy League move and the easiest to pull off. A plain crew-neck t-shirt underneath with the quarter zip on top is the casual version. Under a blazer or sport coat it reads as a considered alternative to a shirt and tie that works in almost every smart casual environment.
Keep the trousers simple. Chinos, well-fitting jeans, or tailored trousers depending on the occasion. The quarter zip does enough on its own without competing with anything below the waist.