There’s something very special about a cowl neck dress or top, its secret lays in the draping. The purpose of a designed neckline is to frame your face, whilst delivering shaping to your neck, shoulders, and bust-line.
There is one neckline that I have found suits a variety of body-shapes – a cowl neck garment is a very flattering neckline. The cowl neckline shaping evolves from folds of fabric that have either a structured drape design or layers of excess fabric providing fluidity.
Whether it is voluminous layers upon layers of fabric converging into one another, or the simplicity of a few layers of fabric gently cascading about the body, its beauty to compliment all body shapes is a given.
It’s a design I find fascinating, take for example a woman with a large bust the layering of fabric in this area draws attention away from the size of your breasts as a focus point, a point of which I have noted for some women this is a problem, but instead of your bust being on show, the design feature of the cowl neck is now the ‘focus point’. This is because its design structure is supportive to your shape.
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A smaller bust as another example has the cowl neckline adding support in this area as more cleavage (not overtly) may be on display making the bust appear fuller. For those with a smaller bust you have the added advantage of being able to wear this style with a significantly lower back. Its swings and roundabouts when it comes to the bust area; however this style is one of fashion designs great illusions, in my opinion it’s the design that keeps on giving.
The tummy area can be a bone of contention with some women, and I know all too well about this particular area, especially during and after your body has experienced menopause. When things no longer fit as they used too in that area, there are days when your dress, skirt or trouser zipper slides up without a thought or concern, and other days when you wonder what happened whilst you were sleeping as you huff and puff, take in another deep breath, only to abandon that garment all together.
This is where a cowl neck top or dress with substantial draping is the one you reach out to for support and comfort. The fabric folds gently caress the tummy area from the neckline to waist. When draped fabric is spoken of historically it is often referenced to Grecian and Roman togas where layers of fabric were draped around the body, fastened with brooches or decorative rope and ribbon. Metres and metres of fabric layering upon the body, now let’s trim it down to modern day clothing in the form of a cowl garment, made in soft jersey fabric, concealing that which we do not want on display.
Your colour choice, patterned fabric, or plain fabric these key features now buoy up your personal style, this is where you bring your personality front and centre into the mix. In a patterned fabric the cowl may not be as obvious especially if the design patterning is big and bold. Choosing a colour that compliments your skin tone and hair makes the cowl an addition to your look as the eye travels around the body, moreso if it is a jewelled colour, the sharpness of colour jumps out first. A plain fabric takes on a new lease of life with this shape as it is all about the shape, the structure, the fit.
It’s such a diverse fashion design feature that cowl necks in dresses and tops are part of my wardrobe staple. Cowl neck tops look wonderful under jackets as it appears to be a loose fitting scarf, worn on their own they are in my opinion a very alluring style of dressing. I love how the design is not interested in your age, or body shape, its role is to compliment you whilst taking the thinking out of being self-conscious and allowing you to just ‘be’, enjoying how you look, dressing for yourself.
