Short/Wide Neck or Double Chin? Here’s What to Wear
If your neck is more like a turtle’s than a swan’s, then you know the challenges that come with having a short or wide neck. Of course, aging doesn’t help either. A shrinking spine, extra weight, sagging skin, and a double chin can make an already short neck almost disappear, as well as make you look, generally, heavier overall.
Fortunately, there are several different types of necklines for tops that camouflage a short neck. Here are the ones to wear and steer clear of to elongate your neck.
Wear a V-neckline
If you want your neck to look longer and your body to look slimmer, you need to open your neckline. The more space you create around and below your neck, the longer your neck will appear to be. A V-neckline top is the best neckline for a short neck. The downward-pointing neckline is slenderizing because it draws the eye lower and away from your short/wide neck and/or double chin, giving the illusion that the neck is longer.
The deeper the V-neck, the more effective the illusion. Other similar necklines that can help elongate the neck include the sweetheart, scoop, square, keyhole, and strapless necklines.
Try an Open Shirt
You wouldn’t think that a shirt with a high collar would be flattering on a short/wide neck, but it is, so long as you unbutton your shirt and open it up. This creates the same V shape that is so flattering. The blue satin blouse, below, is a great example of that.
Opt for Off-the-Shoulder
Another great neckline choice for shorter necks is the off-the-shoulder neckline. This neckline creates a lot of space around your shoulders and neck, bringing the line of your neck down to your shoulders. This illusion works by making your neck appear to start much lower than it actually does. Just be sure not to clutter the area with chunky jewelry lest you negate the effect.
Avoid Turtlenecks
Do turtlenecks make you look fat? The whole point of a turtleneck is to draw focus to the neck, so if you have a short or wide neck, wearing a turtleneck can make it look even bigger. If you have a double chin, a turtleneck will only accentuate the extra skin, making you look even more jowly. If you want to wear a turtleneck, try a mock neck or a cowl neck instead, which are softer and sit lower down the neck.
The same goes for other high-neck tops like pussy-bow blouses, high ruffles around the neck, and even polo shirts, crewnecks, and boatneck tops. These will swallow up your neck and make your neck look squat.
Is there any solution? Try a soft, draped cowl neck turtleneck that sits away from your face. This is how to wear a turtleneck with a short neck!
-Jewelry-
Wear Stud Earrings
Earrings are an excellent way to draw attention higher and away from your neck. Cluster or stud earrings are best, as long dangly earrings will shorten the visual distance between your earrings and your chest, making your neck appear shorter and wider.
Wear Long Necklaces
Just as an open or long neckline will flatter a shorter neck, so will a long necklace. The vertical line of a long chain will give you an instant lengthening effect. Whether you wear a higher or closed-off neckline or an open neckline, pairing it with a long necklace will enhance the illusion of a longer neck.
Avoid Chokers
Of course, the very opposite of a long necklace is a choker. A choker is the worst type of necklace for those with a short, wide neck, as it sits in the middle, cutting your neck in two.
Steer Clear of Short Necklaces
Short statement necklaces are pretty, but they are typically big, chunky, and brief, and do not flatter a short neck. Instead, they emphasize it. If you want to wear a statement necklace, you can. Just pick one that hangs lower near your chest to draw the eye down.
Embellished necklines can help.
One of the more subtle ways to flatter a wide or short neck is to wear a dress or top detailing around the V-neck or open neckline. Embellishments like beading or embroidery, as well as crochet, can create interesting cutouts, such as a keyhole neckline, eliminating the need for jewelry and drawing the eye down to your lower neckline, thereby bringing balance to a squat neck. Just make sure the detailing isn’t too high up, as this can have the opposite effect.
– Accessories –
Avoid Stiff, High scarves.
Like chokers or turtlenecks, a scarf worn high on the neck will visually compress the look of a shorter neck. This doesn’t mean you can’t wear a scarf. You need to wear a softer, looser scarf that hangs down and away from your neck.
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Get the Right Hairstyle
The right hairstyle can also help make a difference when you have a short neck. When you increase the visual difference between the head and shoulders, you want to open up the neck area. A bob with an undercut that angles forward with tapered ends counteracts the look of a turtle with no jawline.
For shoulder-length hair, layers that start just below the chin will make your face and neck look narrower. Side-swept bangs can also make a short neck look longer. If you like to wear your hair long, try an updo or a ponytail.
Having a short/wide neck may feel limiting. Still, by creating a balancing act with your clothing necklines, jewelry, accessories, and hairstyle, you can make the illusion of a longer, more elegant neck and a slimmer body, too!
Style Tip: How to Determine if You Have a Short Neck?
Are you unsure if you have a short, wide neck? Wrap your hand around the base of your neck, then move it up to the front of your neck. How many fingers, not including your thumb, does it take to fill up the space between the base of your neck and under your chin? If you can fit your fingers into the space, you have an average-width neck. If you have extra space left over under your chin, you have a long neck.
If you can only get three fingers or fewer to fit into the space between the base of your neck and under your chin, then you have a short neck. Be sure to use your own hand when you try this. It will not work if you use someone else’s hand, as the proportions will be off.
