Ask Angie: Neck Length - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: Neck Length

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Hi Angie!

I've been wondering lately about neck length and I see you bring it up from time to time. I know I don't have a long neck for sure, but is there some distinction between an "average" length neck, and a "short" neck? How can you tell? The hand trick with torso length was very helpful, because I figured out I don't have a long torso, just an "average" length one. It just seemed long due to my short legs. Is there some handy trick for neck length?

Thank you!

Body Type

14 replies

Latest reply was from Mac

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I wish there was, Ana!

At the risk of sounding obtuse, I eyeball it. I trust my eyes 100% (as long as I’m wearing my specs). I have an extremely long neck and you can see it straight away. That’s why turtle necks are my best neckline. Jean and Tanya have long necks too. Ditto on the necklines. I can see a shorter neck straight away as well. Cathy, Antje and Shiny spring to mind. There is no “more desired” neck length in my book. It’s just a question of what looks better on the neck that you have. Shorter necks look best in some necklines while longer necks look better in others.

I think that if you don’t know whether you have a long or short neck, you probably have a regular length neck.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Okay, that definitely makes sense, Angie! Sometimes you have to eyeball things, like with body type. You really just have to see the person (or I do) and see what shape their silhouette makes. Necks are the same. I think you're right, I guess my neck is average.

Maya

Veteran

I have a long neck, though not as long as Angie's (I'm also 4" shorter than her so that probably makes sense). Turtlenecks used to be my favorite neckline until my chest got too big for them (but I'm determined to make them work again with a little bit of layering). OTOH, my mom, who has a short neck, hated how she looked in turtlenecks.

Oh, I think that's also why I prefer shorter necklaces, that are close to choker length. Even when I didn't have a big chest, this was my preference.

I'm not sure how I know I have a long neck, other than people telling me I do, and looking good in turtlenecks (from the collarbone up).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yes! Maya has a long neck too. But I wear long necklaces just as well as short necklaces if the neckline is high.

Ana, look at my giraffe neck in the floral funnel neck dress in this post. Look at it in the white blouse. Very long! Now you know why I always pop my collar. I look best in neck coverage. Short necks are the opposite:

http://youlookfab.com/2009/03/.....oral-belt/

shiny

Veteran

Yep, my neck is shorter than average. I know, because even *petite* turtlenecks have too much material for me! Every now and then I will find the rare turtleneck that works - that isn't a mock (hate those) but a true t-neck that leaves a pinch of room between the top of it and my chin, instead of trying to swallow my chin. It's not my best look for sure, but sometimes you want a warm neck and flattery is secondary.

I look silly with a popped collar. I don't think short vs long necklaces make a difference. There is, however, a big challenge finding dangly earrings: many of them will brush my shoulders!!! My DD16 has a graceful, elegant long neck and she looks amazing in these super-long dangly earrings.

You know, I always thought I had a weak chin, but my DH this past week told me my chin is just fine - it's "average" - it's my neck that's too short. LOL.

shiny

Veteran

Speaking of dangly earrings... at the moment I am wearing medium-sized hoops - they come down about halfway between earlobe and neck. I have been thinking lately, when it comes to something dangly, that round, delicate earrings (like hoops) work better on me than long rectangular or pendant or chandelier shaped ones - which look amazing on DD16.

This thread made me realize it may have to do with my neck. Not just that the earrings aren't too long - the round shape may be in better harmony? Does that make sense?

Tanya

Veteran

Another member of the giraffe-neck club here While I know that turtlenecks and high collars look the best, I do not shy away from the deep v-s either. It is a part of my body that I decided to completely ignore in terms of what looks best on it. I will wear pretty much any neckline other than a very wide and deep scoop, since I do not have enough chest to fill that out. On the good side, it is supposed to be an advantage in my ballroom competition world, since it allows for nicer head lines.

Ana, I think you have a lovely average neck and can wear pretty much anything you want.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Ha, thanks Tanya!

I was thinking about it too, and I tend to gain weight around my face. I think my neck "seems" longer when I don't have any weight around under my chin, which I do have some now (although, even then I wouldn't consider it to be "long"). Maybe that's why I've been thinking about it lately.

Thanks for helping me figure it out everyone!

Maya

Veteran

Oh Shiny, you reminded me. Back when I was able to wear high necklines, my preferred accessory was always earrings. I was NEVER a necklace girl until I started having to wear low necklines (to distract a little from my chest and also to fill up all the empty space). The earrings I would wear were long and big. I had (still have) a pair that intentionally hit my shoulder. I wore them almost every day. Loved them. I would put my hair up in french twists and claw clips back then and they really showed my long neck off. I can't wear them now because they just don't work as well with short hair and I HAVE to wear necklaces now. Once I have on a headband, it would be way too much. And if I'm wearing my specs, forget it. There would just be far too much clutter. But I hang on to them in hopes that my high neckline experiment will work out and I can start wearing them again.

fathenry

Veteran

Good question. I don't know if I have a long or short neck, so it must be average. I was wondering, so this helps - thanks!

marianne

As someone with average/shorter neck, I have always been envious of long-necked people, because I love high collars I try to be fairly careful about my necklines. I do wear turtlenecks, but somehow I think they look better than the collars that cut my neck in half. I also don't like the look of choker necklaces on myself and I am not very fond of euro loop - it can look like it's choking me. I actually found a better knot recently on Imogen's blog.
I also think the outline of one's shoulders comes into play when finding good necklines.

Mac

Veteran

Funny that you mention chokers, Marianne. When I was in China, I had a gorgeous pearl choker made for myself but I never wear it because I really feel it just looks strange, visually cutting my long neck in half. Then I looked at 2 women who often Rocked the choker look: Grace Kelly and Jackie kennedy and noticed they were both short necked, square jawed beauties. The choker necklaces seem to visually soften their jaw and elongate their necks.

Now, I wear my choker wound around my wrist and it makes a gorgeous bracelet : )

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Mac, I wear a short chunky pearl necklace ALL the time and I have a very long neck. And I have a soft jaw line. You can even see it in the link I posted :0)

Mac

Veteran

Well, then... I guess there are no rules about this!