Convert to cowls
July 24th, 2008I adore cowl neck tops, but they are hard to find. Cowls can work for both busty and less endowed gals if the details are right. Here are a few guidelines:
- Wear a camisole if the cowl is low. It’s instantly work appropriate and wearable that way.
- Choose knits and wovens that drape. You’re after a cowl with maximum drape because they’re less bulky this way. Stay away from cowls in stiff fabrics unless they’re meticulously engineered (you’ll find these highly structured cowls in designer wear).
- Exploit the cowl’s vertical appeal. It elongates the neck and creates the illusion of height. Furthermore, if the edge of the cowl starts close to shoulder-neck-point, women with dainty shoulders and long necks are in business. (Yay! That’s me).
- Use them for visual interest. Cowls look great under jackets, cardigans or waistcoats, and on their own. Their ripple effect is attractive and punchy.
If you own cowl neck tops, tell me you love them too. If you don’t, start experimenting . It might take a while to find one that drapes the right way, but chances are high you’ll become a cowl convert too.
An assortment of Summer cowl neck tops. In cooler weather the neckline works just as well with longer sleeves and thicker fabrics, as long as there’s maximum drape-ability.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:46 am
I love cowl necks year round! Please tell where these are from. So pretty!
July 24th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I became a cowl convert after finding a black cowl knit top on sale this spring at AT. Thank you for increasing my confidence in wearing them. I hadn’t thought of wearing a cami under a low one.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:14 am
I have loved cowl neck tops for years (even wore one to my wedding!). I definitely love the way they look under blazers and cardigans.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:47 am
I love, love, love cowlnecks! I have even loved them ( and wrap tops) back in my teens when i knew pretty much nothing about figure flattery and how to dress myself and such.
I have quite a few of them, wear them often, and continue to build my collection.
This summer H&M had/has a very inexpensive sleeveless one that I got in three colors: cream, black and bluish pink. Last night I have just ordered that BR one pictured first in the bottom row, but in teal, since I already have a very similar claret one from their last years fall collection. Next on my list are cashmere cowls: a long black tunic that I have already spotted and some normal sweater in a pretty color that I am yet to find.
I am very glad that cowlnecks are sort of ‘in’ for the past year or so. I would have worn them anyway, but their current popularity makes more choices available.
I am yet to get a cowl in a woven fabric , but i haven’t really looked that hard.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:51 am
I adore cowl necks and own many, but only one for summer. I have long associated this style with cozy winter sweaters … but these tops are adorable. I’ll have to rethink!
July 24th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I used to have a couple, but since going to college, I haven’t been able to buy as many new clothes - so cowlneck shirts been pretty far down on my shopping list. I read this article (if you can call it that…im not actually sure what you do call it) a couple months ago, and it kind of turned me off from cowl necks.
http://www.thebestpageintheuni.....?u=fashion
Towards the bottom, there’s a blurb about cowlnecks, and after reading it, I can’t help but think about that every time I see one. I know it’s silly to completely disregard the style based on one bad review, as they do look nice on most people, but I just cant bring myself to even consider the style for me.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:04 am
I watched the Today show this morning where Ann Curry talks to Stacy London, co-host of TLC’s “What Not to Wear,” about the best places to shop online.
I found it interesting, here is the link:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/25816593/
July 24th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Love cowls necks. I am glad to see them around more again. I really like the 2 shown on the bottom left side. Are they Banana Republic? The bottom left looks like the one we saw there this week.
Eva
July 24th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Hahaha oh nooo Shell, now I won’t be able to get that out of my head, either! I have to admit that’s kind of funny. Anyhoo- I really like the purple one. It still has that cowl effect but it’s a bit more subtle (it actually looks like a roll in a way, vs. a drape), plus the colour is great.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:32 am
I have one that I love - a bright yellow sleeveless cowl from H&M. It makes me very happy. I’ve tried on lots of others that really didn’t work on my, though - the breasts often get in the way.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Jennell, click on the pictures to find out where the cowls are from.
Tanya, I LOVE Autumn and Winter Cowls. I purchased this yesterday (it’s more citron than yellow). The perfect length for Winter skirts. It drapes beautifully. It’s a wool blend but somehow I’ve not reacted to it. And it’s from Anthropologie which is odd because I never shop there. I was scouting for a client and happened upon this cowl and Bobs your uncle. Never leave a retail stone unturned.
http://www.anthropologie.com/a.....;color=gol
I think cowls are sort of always there. Never a huge trend and never non-existent. I like fashion like that too.
*Eyes rolling* ( at the so called article). It will take a lot more to scare me away from cowls!
July 24th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Angie, I love that cowl you got! Wish it came in other colors, that one is really bad on me.
That article is entertaining, but nothing more than that for me
July 24th, 2008 at 8:59 am
You are in luck, Tanya. The cowl comes in a murky teal blue too which was made for you.
I love the sound of Ana’s wedding dress with a cowl. Different!
July 24th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Love love love cowls and look forward to buying more for the fall. That article is beyond lame.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Angie, how long are the sleeves on the cowlneck you bought? Also, is it lightweight or midweight? I love that style of sweater, but if it’s too heavy, I wouldn’t be able to wear it for a long time. Also, is it strictly skirt length, or would it be okay with skinny jeans as well? Thank you!
July 24th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I’ve got to disagree. I love how they look but I’m busty and they definitely don’t work on my body. It’s like my boobs are a shelf that the design is on…or something…and if I turn to the side it looks even weirder because the cowl falls off my boobs instead of sitting on my body. Does that make any sense?
July 24th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Oh my, I didn’t mean to offend/annoy anyone with the reference to the article. I feel I need to add the disclaimer: “Link does not reflect the views of the poster”.
Just to clarify on the “article” - I only called it that b/c I have no idea what it actually is called. Essay, blog, story? Like I said, I have no idea what you actually call it, so article just kinda popped out. Obviously though, it’s just meant to entertain, not to be taken seriously. It certainly has no journalistic value to it! I know it’s rather juvenile humor, but I’m only 22, so I still think it’s a bit funny.
Like I said, I don’t think cowl neck shirts look that bad - it’s just a visual I can’t seem to get out of my head now, and I wouldn’t be able to wear a cowl neck shirt w/o thinking about it every time I put it on! I’d just rather stick to a style that doesn’t traumatize me.
July 24th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Love cowl necks, and own the sleeveless cowl neck top from H&M others talked about (in black, pink, and coral), it’s a summer staple for me. I often wear it with a belt, which makes it look less casual. They might still have it in the store (I bought the pink one just a week ago in SF.)
Shell, what a sexist reference to vaginas in that stupid article. I hope you can put that behind you and start enjoying cowl necks again
July 24th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Okay, I’m going to argue the minority view once again! I can’t look at myself in a cowlneck without seeing many, many superfluous chins. Or a bib. And now I’ll be thinking “giant vagina” as well. Nope. Not gonna do it. Give me a nice sleek turtleneck any day. (And, for the record, I have a *very* long neck.)
July 24th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
haha–I’m with NancyF
July 24th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I am rather drawn to this look (assuming I can ever revert to the innocent days before I read the “giant vagina” comment ). Do you have tips on better/worse styles for the somewhat busty? I find that cowls often look a lot better on me fromm the front than the side.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
The sleeves on that cowl are elbow length, Ana. Gorgeous. Strictly for skirts though, as it’s quite short. I’d say it’s mid weight. I don’t wear heavy weight knitwear so I guess it’s not heavy!
Turtle necks ( polo necks as I call them) look great on long necks, NancyF. I wear them all the time.
July 24th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Yay I’m glad to hear cowl necks are stylish. I love them. I have a sleeveless black tunic length cowl neck that I wear when I just don’t feel like putting any thought into my outfit. It always makes me feel pretty and feminine.
July 24th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Oh dear. Angie, the links from the pictures don’t seem to be working, and I’d love to find out where these beautiful tops all came from.
The man who wrote that (occasionally hilarious, but still) article seems to have only one thing on his mind. Giant vagina, indeed. Ha.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Linda, good point. I don’t think one should get too caught up with what a cowl looks like from the side. It’s no different to wearing a bulky scarf.
Bustier gals are looking for really good drape. The drapier the cowl, the smoother the effect. Hope that makes sense.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:05 am
I have bought two in the past and neither one of them drape right on me. I am not well endowed and I feel like they hide what little I do have, even if I wear a water bra. I have tried wearing them multiple times and always end up feeling uncomfortable. I have given up on cowl necks.
July 25th, 2008 at 5:57 am
It does Kelly. The cowl you’re describing sounds too low. Opt for a higher one. The links do appear to be working Elizabeth B. Perhaps you can try again.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:16 am
For the bustier girls: I found a pretty 3/4 sleeve cowl neck sweater at Martin + Osa that might work. On the model, the sweater seems to fit smoothly, and the cowl is not too oversized. Hopefully this will work for some. Here is the link:
http://www.martinandosa.com/we.....=1020_9332
July 25th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I love the few cowl neck tops I have. I actually have a formal gown with a drapy cowl-like neck as well.
In reference to the “article” Shell posted (and no, I’m not mad at Shell or anybody else), I find it rather ironic and entertaining that the author manages to spend the whole blog entry bitching about how awful women dress, calling them bitches, and he manages to prove himself a bitch in the process. He’s always ranting about double standards, and then the idiot says if you wear a shirt proclaiming how hot you are you’re an insecure bitch. Oh, and by the way the only one hot enough to wear a shirt like that is him. Ha! Why doesn’t he just wear a big flashing sign that says BITCH! Now I’ll wear my cowl necks just to spite Maddox who thinks he’s the center of the universe.
July 26th, 2008 at 4:50 am
Cowls are great for busty gals. They help to balance me out!
July 27th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Can girls with wide shoulders pull off the cowl neck?
I love the cowl neck look but I don’t buy anything with it because I think it makes my shoulders look wide…
August 4th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
You can wear a cowl with broad shoulders, they can look great - just make it a lower cowl that creates more of a V neckline appearance.
Also, cowls harmonise well with people who have a slight chin, as the softness of the fabric works with the softer chin.