Just chiming in to say the EF top, a gorgeous color, looks too big all over for your frame and droops in an unflattering way.

IMHO if your pristine white crops are 5-6 years old, you probably don't like them enough to keep them. Let them go. Find a pair of skinny white cropped pants that make your heart sing, and you're on your way to a happy summer with your wardrobe.

I agree with Suz's analysis. That interplay between neckline, shoulder line, and sleeve is a critical area for many of us. Unfortunately, it's an area that doesn't get much discussion as compared to topics like lengthening the leg line.

In my case, a high neckline requires a structured shoulder line and a slim sleeve with a high, narrow inset to counter the width of my shoulders. A drapey raglan sleeve on a boxy sweater only works for me if it is accompanied by a deep, narrow V neckline to give me the vertical structure I need to offset all that square boxiness. It takes a lot of trial and error to figure out the right combination of sleeve, neckline, and shoulder line, but it makes a huge difference to the overall proportions of an outfit.

Wow, a big lightbulb just went off with the concept of shoulder neck point (SNP). I went back and read some old blog posts and have been looking at some of my pics so I can understand the concept. I need to start thinking about this when I shop and dress.

Love the maxi dress!
Top 3 is a difficult one- as others have commented, it is too square, too voluminous, and the sleeve cut is giving you long skinny arm (something I also develop in that style of sleeve). One way I have found to salvage these tops is to wear a long sleeved, very fitted plain t-shirt underneath, ideally it peaks out at the bottom too. Somehow, implying that this is a deliberate layer over a very fitting under layer makes things work better (still not the best, but better).
When you have a long neck (something I share, with the arms), then neckline/shoulderline is very very important. It's the difference between gazelle and giraffe days! I'll be interested to hear what you discover about what works, as this is something I generally only recognise intuitively, I couldn't yet describe what I was looking for very well.

As a fellow member of the short hair/long neck/slender frame brigade I would echo everything Suz said as fascinating and perfect on the subject. I also agree with Chiara about layering something deliberately tight under the top to provide contrast. Alternatively, if you decide to keep the crops and have them shortened a bit, perhaps you could get your alterations person to narrow the top by a couple of inches each side, which would be a fairly simple job. I think the colour of the top looks great on you - and the maxi dress is fab!

With regard to what Suz said, I agree because I am the opposite - I have a short neck and a very square, angular strong shoulder line - basically anything that looks great on Angie's neck is going look awful on me. The top you are wearing in 3 would sit perfectly on my neck and shoulders. The way Suz explained it makes total sense to me and has always been my sense intuitively. Thus, I aim for lower necklines, Vs, and soft flat collars that lie down as opposed to pop or sit higher.

The maxi-dress is amazing on you! So jealous you can wear that look!

Thanks for all the affirmation, folks. Everything I know I learned from Angie and Claire.

So..another point I wanted to make here: I actually have very wide square shoulders for my size. My shoulders are about 39" around. (And I am only 5'4"). But the width is all across --- there is no depth to them. My shoulders are not broad, but square and delicate. This is relevant. It allows me to wear some necklines that might not work on someone with a sloped shoulder/ long neck/ short hair. (I.e. I can "get away" with a few options that wouldn't work on someone with a sloped line.) But it does not allow me to "get away" with others -- if something is too oversized and too loosey goosey in that area, it will swamp me.

Maybe it's similar for you.

Yes, I've noticed that you and I can wear some similar necklines. My shoulders and neck are truly at a right angle where they join, and they are broad and they are deep from front to back, and bulky (thanks, rock climbing). I have to consider both neck and shoulders to fit any neckline properly. I will break rules, of course - the Star Trek dress has a higher neckline than I usually wear, but it has enough V pattern that I think there's a little trompe l'oeil that helps.

That's right, Una -- patterns can definitely help!

And in my daughter I have a perfect example of a true IT to whom I can compare myself. Her shoulders are both square AND broad or deep. So even though if you measure us across the front or back, the measurement is basically the same -- she cannot wear tops that I wear. And tops that work for her to do not work for me. She has a short neck, shoulder length hair, and a small bust. She is a fraction of an inch taller than me -- and needs to wear a size large sometimes in tops! Whereas I wear an XS. Go figure.

Suz, that's interesting so I just took out my measuring tape and checked. At the moment I measure 37.5 inches in circumference around my shoulders, assuming I am measuring correctly, and I would also say that if I turn sideways I am very narrow, so I am mostly width not depth. I am essentially 5'9" tall. I never realized this, but at my current weight which is at the high end of my range, my hip measurement wearing jeans, and my shoulder measurement is identical. Oh, relief! My waist is not the same as the other two!

I am not sure if my shoulders slope. It looks like they do in some pics and not others so I may just have really bad posture.

Getting back on track, I'm not sure how height plays into all this, but assuming my shoulders don't slope, it would seem we have very similar builds in terms of the type of neck and shoulder lines that we can pull off.

Una and I share the same straight shoulders and broad, deep line if we turn sideways-- except my shoulders are positioned on a 5'7" frame and Una is much more petite, like Suz. Una's choices, however, would all work for me.

I suspect that our intense focus on vertical proportions blinds us to the role that horizontal proportions can also play in our clothing choices. Outside of reducing (or increasing) the circumference of the body or hip area, most of us are stymied at figuring out horizontal proportions, to say nothing of depth proportions. I've learned the hard way that my relatively small-volume but wide-spaced, girls can make me look like Dolly Parton if the armhole is placed too low or too far on the arm. With a high, narrow armhole, I magically shed 20 pounds on my upper body.

Gaylene these proportion pearls should be in another thread where they will be easier for everyone to find. I'm going to start one and I hope you will be willing to contribute your wisdom again in case people aren't looking at this post because it's a WIW.

Gaylene, you are so right. The horizontal is important, too, and we seldom factor it in. Yet it really matters.

You and Staysfit are Una's and my "big sisters." Ha!!

Staysfit, I agree with you; we will wear similar style well. LUCKY you to be so tall -- lots of things will work on you that won't work so well on shortie me. Everything will appear more "square" on me vs. elongated and hence elegant on you. But in terms of necklines, I think we are very similar.

And if you see an item on me that you really like, you can pretty much guarantee it will also work on you. Unless the length of the arms or legs is an issue. Note that I usually have to shorten sleeves on jackets (not always, but often) and I also have to hem my pants (always, unless worn cuffed) and often my skirts. So if you're ever curious, you can always ask!

When I am in shopping mode, I look very carefully at WIWs and K/Rs by people who share my body type even if they don't completely share my style. Those that share both are of course a bonus!

People I watch assiduously for this specific purpose (among others, of course!) Angie; Karie; Sveta (more of an hourglass but has some similarities). Also Viva. Ceit (when she's around). All are taller than I am. But what fits and looks good on them will (with some exceptions) tend to fit and look good on me in my own size. And the necklines and overall shapes that flatter them will probably flatter me also, again, with some modifications for specific figure issues.

J. Crew tends to give you a terrific fit. It also works well on me as a rule. But -- get this -- I happen to know that Gaylene is also a J. Crew fan! Go figure. (I think she likes the knits, which give in the right places -- the sleeve/ shoulder).

Suz, once again, this is a very helpful suggestion. My big purchasing phase is over now. I have what I think of as a good core wardrobe and I can leisurely work on refinement. Learning about what makes the EF shirt awkward compared to the rest of my choices has been a perfect way to kick start this new phase of my closet/wardrobe development. I think some careful observation of what works on other people with similar proportions will be a perfect complement and help tremendously when I go to make any further purchases.

This forum has been tremendously helpful. I learn something new every time I browse.

ETA: Oh, so sorry! I just realized that I posted on the wrong thread! I "fixed" that by copying and pasting onto the other thread, so I'm just going to delete the rest of this text! Think it's time for me to go to bed!