What’s Your Best Neckline?
As in anything, once the rules are understood they can begin to be broken.
My #1 Rule = the face should be the focal point of every outfit. If some element in the construction of your neckline, or some accessory you add, is placed correctly in reference to your face, this is achieved.
Finding that correct placement (use either method):
- Measure from the hairline or bangs to chin. Starting at the chin, drop down that length to a point on the chest.
- Measure from the center of the widest point of the face to the chin. Beginning at the base of the neck, drop this measurement down to a point on the chest.
- Never before mentioned on this blog: adapt shorter necklines by widening them. In other words, the area of the open space inside your neckline ends up equaling the area of your face. Should I have considered teaching math as a profession?
Here we have a lovely model to demonstrate these principles for us:
And here’s something tricky: photographers know these things, as well as the fact that your best neckline shape is like the shape of your jaw, so a good one will have you turn your head in such a way as to alter the apparent line or proportion.
Look at my blog photo.
look at my photo where?
I did this test, Rebecca, and the spot on my chest was EXACTLY the same both ways - total psycho-out. I now know you are the super-all-knowingist-fashion-blogger-of-all-time.
And, btw, that “spot” is approx one inch below the top edge of my JNY cotton camisole with delicate lace trim…. peaking out of my 1/2 open button down shirt and ivory denim jacket combo. Not bad for not knowing the rules.
One caveat to your “adapt shorter necklines by widening them” - speaking as that curvy girl: necklines that are too shallow and wide still make me look matronly or as if I could be the center on the football team.
About 2 wks (?) ago, you gave us the tip for figuring out if the neckline on something would be too low w/o trying it on - I am so grateful. I love leaving stuff that won’t work on the rack and saving dressing room time!
So I guess we should all walk around with our heads turned the right way, huh?
Sorry, Dana. I meant the one up in the corner on this page. BTW, have you seen the one with the brown frame? Right now they are toggling back and forth, the black and the brown. I think the black looks a little like a TV screen, so I kinda prefer the brown.
Thanks for all your kind words and participation!
Hmm. My bangs got cut this week …
An additional thing I will say about v-necks, I find on me they give the illusion of a longer neck and a longer line in general. But perhaps it’s just because I’m so short to begin with …
That’s a brilliant tip — thanks Rebecca!
Wendy, I’ve been thinking about v-necks on you, and I can really see that being flattering with your face too, especially those with a gentle vertical curve, like your easter dress. I think what it does is approximate the outer lines of the silhouette and the outer lines of the face, with the added bonus of doing the vertical thing for height.
Which then brings up another question: If the neckline can be shortened and widened (not on every figure type, but to balance the face), can it also be narrowed and lengthened? I suppose it could be, like in a collared button-up shirt; then we just have to trust everybody to have the good sense to wear something under.
Interesting thoughts. It’s going to be interesting to see next week’s fashion lab. I believe dcrmom is a tall V. I have a notion to do some of the looks on myself, just to contrast the figure types, too. We’ll see.
Ah, the echo of my silhouette was something I really hadn’t considered!! Good thinking!
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[…] off, I love what dcrmom has done with these pictures: we see enough of her face that we can determine both the second balance point and the shape. Did you know that she took modeling classes as a […]
[…] What’s Your Best Neckline? If you’d like concrete advice about choosing clothing that really suits you, Rebecca’s great blog The Space Between My Peers is the place to go. Here, she talks about picking necklines that makes your face look Fabulous. […]