Guide to Neckline Styles
Every neckline, including the ones discussed can come in different styles. As the necklines need to be carefully chosen for your build so too do the stylelines that accompany them. These styles can be attached at different places e.g. the neck, décolleté line or both.
The golden rule here is the more space you have, the more details, volume, bulk and fuss you can take. That means if you have a long and thin neck with a long décolleté line and a small bust then you can (and you really should!) add details to these areas in order to create either female curves, visually shorten its length or add volume to balance your proportion. So, the less you have, the more you can, which means if you have a short and wide neck with a short décolleté and big bust you should stay clear of any bulk and volume in these areas. Instead work with what you have - a good cleavage - and keep the focus there.
Shirt Collars
There are so many choices and these are especially important when choosing shirts for work since you won't always have the leverage and scope to balance them out (e.g. accessories) since you need to keep styling professional.
No collars
Best for women with a short or wide neck.
Flat collars
Best for women with a short or wide neck.
Small collars
Best for women with a short or wide neck.
High collars
Great for women with normal, thin or long necks.
High and wide collars
Best for women with long and thin necks.
Patterns in collars
Best for women with normal, long or thin necks.
Ruffles
Ruffles are great at adding volume and bulk wherever they are placed but it is important that this doesn't turn into overkill. Details need space to shine and if you don't have this the overall effect can look crowded and overpower your look.
Near the neck
For ruffles near the neck the same rule goes as for when choosing your collar e.g: frills around a short neck
décolleté line
Ruffles in your décolleté line are best for women with a regular, long or thin neck. Ideally it's better to have a normal to long décolleté line but if you are short in your décolleté you can get away with it when you are small busted.
Neckties
These can come in bigger or smalle¬r sizes, they can sit higher up or lower on your neck – and often the strap will continue into your décolleté or bust line.
In general neckties are best on women with a long, thin or regular neck and a normal or long décolleté line - short décolleté lines will only work if you have a smaller bust.
Women with a short, wide neck and short décolleté should stay clear of this option. Also, if you do have a big bust, don't wear neckties which are long enough to reach the bust area.
Lapels
The rules for lapels are almost the same as those for collars and neckties. Since they can be mainly found on clothes which don't require any further cover up e.g. coats, jackets and suits, one needs to pay especial attention to what works and what doesn't. Also, keep in mind that you wear clothes underneath these garments so there is already additional volume in these areas.
Wide Lapels
In general the wider and bigger the lapels, the longer and thinner your neck should be with a normal to long décolleté line. If you have a smaller bust the décolleté lines can be well shorter.
Narrow Lapels
The smaller or narrower the lapels the more space you need in your décolleté line or in your bust. Your necklines can be quite flexible.
High Lapels
The higher the lapels are, the more important it is that you have a normal, long or thin neck.
Low Lapels
The lower the lapels are the more importance you have to pay to the size of your bust. If you have a normal to big bust this style adds too much fuss around the bust area, which unbalances your shape, and will look out of proportion with the rest of the body.