Cowl neck is a draped neckline with the folds of the top edge of the neckline of the garment falling around the neckline (front and/or back). The neckline effortlessly accentuates your face and the best of your body with the soft way the cowl folds frames the face and drape across the body
Once upon a time, the term “cowl” was used to represent the loose hood on a monk’s brown habit. Today it is a very popular neckline in women’s clothing and even men’s clothing.
Cutting fabric on the bias is how a cowl neckline gets its stretchability and drape. (What is a bias cut – this is fabric cut at a 45 degree angle to its weave).
This neckline used to be mostly confined to evening wear gowns and blouses made in expensive drapey fabrics like silk, satin but nowadays this neckline is very common in all kinds of clothing. Today, even sportswear and casual tops sport this neckline. You see a lot of knit cowl neck dresses too.
The best thing about this neckline is that it adds a little dramatic element to any casual clothing. And it is very insulating and comforting – which is why many sweaters today have this neckline.
Different types of Cowl necklines
Basically a cowl neckline is one which drapes around the neck and the different types of this neckline depend on the depth of the drapes and also the plunge of the drape.
As per the depth of the fabric folds cowl neck styles can be a deep cowl, a medium cowl or a soft cowl. According to the plunge of the cowl it can be a deep plunge cowl or a closed cowl.
The cowl can be a part of the garment (in one with the garment) or made by sewing an extra fabric around the neckline. When it is one with the garment, it is usually cut on the bias on the fabric.
Even when it is a seperate fabric, that piece is cut on the bias. This is done because the drape of the fabric increases when it is cut on the bias.
The best fabrics suitable for cowl neckline are rayon, silk, crepe, soft knits.
Cowl neckline styles
Soft Cowl
Deep plunging Dress
Sweater Cowl
Back Cowl
Plunge Cowl
Office chic Cowl
Leather cowl
Who should’nt wear a cowl neck?
A short person with a short neck shouldn’t wear a cowl neck. If I have double chin I would avoid cowl neck.
If you are top-heavy, the voluminous cowl neckline should be avoided. It will just add more weight to the upper part of your body.
Who can wear a cowl neck?
For a pear shaped body a cowl draws attention upwards, and balances the wider hip area. Wear a fitted bottom with a flowing cowl.
If an apple shaped body wears a medium cowl, the attention is drawn to the cowl and not to the problem areas of belly.
Which cowl neckline suits you?
The suitability of a cowl neckline depends on the depth of the cowl and the thickness of the cowl. A soft cowl neck top or dress suits almost everyone. This medium cowl neck is flattering for all body shapes.
And by the same coin, a voluminous cowl could be the life saver for a small busted lady.
The fabric used to make the cowl neck is a big factor in the way the folds of the cowl fall. You should choose a soft and flowing fabric to sew the cowl, rather than a stiff heavy weight fabric, for that soft folds which fall like a scarf with a great draping style.
If you want to make the pattern and sew a cowl neckline you can checkout the post : How to make cowl neck top
