Do you ever wonder how to identify certain necklines or better yet, choose the most flattering for your face, neck and torso? Remember, having style is being honest with yourself about your features and knowing how to emphasize your assets and camouflage your flaws. Take a good look in the mirror or take a picture of yourself in a tube top or the equivalent and be objective. Do you have narrow shoulders or broad? A long neck or a short neck? Large or small chest?

Here are some basics to follow barring other characteristics such as boniness, scars, mottled skin or an aging neck. Most of us will have one of those to consider as well in the final analysis.

Short Neck: The best neckline for a short neck is anything that will elongate the neck. This would include v-necks, u-necks, scoop necks, open collars, cowls, asymmetrical, cross-overs, notch collars and strapless. Avoid: jewel or crew necks, turtle necks, mock turtles, boat-necks, and bateaus.

Long Neck: Rarely is it a problem to have a long neck but to minimize a proportionately long neck, wear turtlenecks, stand up collars, gathers near the neckline, ruffled collars, boat necks, bateaus, and crew necks. This person will look great in basic t-shirts. Avoid: Keyholes, plunging, deep v-necks, strapless, u-necks.

Narrow Shoulders: Any neckline that creates a horizontal line at or near the shoulders helps to draw the eye outward. Choose sweetheart or ballerina necklines, boat necks, off the shoulders, strapless, wide straps, and asymmetrical. Halter style necklines that are cut in at the shoulder will also draw the eye out to the shoulders and create the illusion of more width. Avoid: necklines that draw the eye to the center of the body like u-necks, crews, round necks and small cowl necks. Avoid scarves that bunch at the neck unless wearing a jacket with shaped shoulders.

Broad Shoulders: The object is to draw the eyes more toward the center of the body. People with broad shoulders can usually wear a variety of necklines including turtle necks, open collars, v-necks plunging, cross over, key-hole, cowls and asymmetrical. Avoid: boat necks, off the shoulder, strapless unless it dips between the breasts, halters, ballerina necks, bateaus and square necks.

Small Bust: Choose your neckline to flatter your neck and shoulders first, then from those options consider these points. A small bust will benefit from gathers, shirring, ruffles, horizontal stripes and plunging if close fitting. Avoid: deep cowls and any neckline which doesn’t allow movement without wearing a camisole.

Large Bust: Choose according to neck length and shoulder width first, then choose a neckline that will minimize a large chest. One of the most flattering necklines is a criss-cross or surplice like you see in wrap dresses. V-necks and open collars are good choices. Asymmetrical looks can be very flattering as well. Avoid: Strapless, decollete, spaghetti straps, and cowls.

Other considerations are features such as hair length and face shape but if those are in balance, then an objective view of yourself should get you the right results. Another consideration is that most of us are a combination of a couple of the above mentioned features so remember these are basic guidelines. If you have specific questions, I welcome comments and discussion.