]Have you ever noticed that certain tops look better on you, but you don’t really know why? There’s a good chance it’s because you either have or have not picked the best neckline for your face shape. You might be asking yourself, does that really make a difference? The answer is yes, it does! Let me explain why.
First we need to start with finding your face shape. I will give you some general guidelines on how to decide on your face shape, but here are a few websites that will help you determine it in more detail:
How to Find Your Face Shape on Real Simple
How to Determine Your Face Shape in 3 Easy Steps on Byrdie
There are six major face shapes: Oval, Square, Round, Oblong, Heart and Diamond. We’ll walk through each face shape first and then we’ll cover which is the best neckline for your face shape and which necklines to avoid.
Oval Face Shape
Oval faces are longer than they are wide. Typically have a softly rounded jawline and chin. The forehead is the widest part of the face This means you are one of the lucky ones that can wear nearly any neckline. Because the oval face is so balanced, you can wear both delicate and bold pieces.
Famous Oval Faces: Rhianna and Charlize Theron
Square Face Shape
Your face is roughly as long as it is wide and your forehead and jawline are also roughly the same width. Your chin is less pointed than other face shapes and your jawline is squared. Many people with a square face have a strong jawline with more angular features. The goal is to choose a neckline that’s going to soften these.
Famous Square Faces: Angelina Jolie and Olivia Wilde
Round Face Shape:
The cheekbones are the widest part of a round face and the forehead and jawline are about the same width. It is similar to a square face shape but with a rounded jawline. The goal here is to add length and structure, creating a more balanced look.
Famous Round Faces: Selena Gomez and Mila Kunis
Oblong Face Shape:
The rectangle face shape is a variation of the square face shape. This oblong face shape is longer than it is wide—the forehead, cheeks, and jawline are generally around the same width. Here, you’ll want to create width and break up the vertical length.
Famous Oblong Faces: Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Garner
Heart Face Shape:
Heart-shaped faces typically have a delicate, narrow chin, like the point of a heart (hence its name). People with this face shape will often have a widow’s peak hairline. The cheekbones are the widest part of this face shape. You’ll want to soften the angles of your face and balance the proportions.
Famous Heart Faces: Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow
Diamond Face Shape:
The diamond face shape is a variation of the heart shape. A pointy chin and high cheekbones define this face shape. Similar to the heart face shape, your forehead is wider than your jawline. The difference is the tapered hairline when you pull back your hair.
Famous Diamond Faces: Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez
What is the Best Neckline for your Face Shape?
The Best Necklines for Oval Faces
Oval face shapes are the easiest face shapes to style – you can pretty much wear any neckline with an oval face shape. Scoop necklines work great for oval face shapes because you want to make your jawline more prominent and a scoop neckline will help do just that, as will a V-neck. A neckline that is wider than your face will make it appear wider than it is. You want to do that because it will balance it out with the longer length of your face. Boatnecks (also called sabrina necklines) will help make your face appear wider. This is also the one face shapes that can really rock a turtleneck.
While oval face shapes can wear pretty much anything, the one thing to avoid are extreme deep necklines as they tend to elongate the face even more.
The Best Necklines for Square Faces
Long necklines like round crew or scoop necklines reduced the sharpness of angular structure in square faces. The curve of round necklines oppose the angle of the jaw, giving the face a more natural, non-boxy look. Sweetheart necklines also works well with square faces because it provides curves on your figure that draw attention to your décolletage area and your neck with look longer. You will also want jewelry with more curved edges as that will provide the same effect.
You want to avoid square neck, high turtleneck and other angular necklines. These will bring a look of rigidity to your face by placing more attention on your neckline.
The Best Necklines for Round Faces
For round faces, you want to create angles to balance out your round jawline. Wider necklines are one way to make your face seem more balanced. Square or V-necks can make a round face also seem longer than it is. Sweetheart, V-neck and Queen Anne necklines create angles and balance your round jawline.
You want to avoid rounded necklines with crew or bateau necklines. You also want to avoid turtlenecks and high necklines. They draw attention to your round face and will actually make your face look bigger.
The Best Necklines for Oblong/Rectangular Faces
You want to widen your face with necklines that end close to the neck. Boatnecks (or sabrina necklines) are perfect because they add horizontal lines to the top of the body, which creates the illusion of a wider face and shoulders. They help balance the longer proportions. Off-the-shoulder and one-shoulder tops are also perfect necklines for an oblong face because, again, they add width to your upper body and make your face appear shorter and more proportional.
Avoid plunging necklines or anything two deep or vertical (like V-necks) that can elongate your face. You want necklines that create width so think horizontal lines and broader looks.
The Best Necklines for Heart Faces
V-necklines are one of the best ways to elongate the face and make your jawline shape more prominent. They also minimizes the width of the forehead and elongate the face even more. You want to try narrower necklines to make your face appear more narrow than it is. High neck and turtlenecks will also create the illusion of a shorter face.
Avoid necklines that make your face appear wider or longer. This would include halter necks, high boatnecks or tend to make your forehead appear wider than it actually is.
The Best Necklines for Diamond Faces
Diamond shaped faces are similar to heart shaped faces in that they are both wider at the forehead and narrower at the chin. A diamond face shaped has a little less of a pointy chin. Because of that slight difference, some broader styles will work for diamond faces such as off-the-shoulder and boatneck styles. These can make the face look more balanced.
Drop earrings can balance out the upper and lower parts of the face. Chokers and short, round necklaces can be more flattering that v-shaped designs.
You want to avoid necklines that are too narrow or vertical as they can draw attention to the forehead or chin.
If you’d like more of these kinds of style tips, make sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter, “The Silhouette”. Click to subscribe!
Also, check out another one of my blog posts, my WGN-TV segment on “How to Wear Four Fashion Trends Over 50”