Cowl Necklines: 3 Ways to Style Cowl-Neck Tops and Dresses

A cowl neckline features loose fabric that drapes around the collarbone. Unlike the v-neck (which has a rounded collar and angled “V” at the center), or the crew neck (with its sloping, rounded neckline), the cowl neckline is more playful with its fabric and may vary its shape from outfit to outfit. A bias cut helps achieve the draped look of a cowl neck sweater or top, creating the look of a turtleneck with excess, loose fabric.

French fashion designer Madeleine Vionnet popularized this dress and top neckline style in the 1920s, naming it after the cowl, a monastic dress whose covering as a hood and collar gave a draped layering to the fabric. This look became a standard of women’s tops in the 1970s during the height of disco, and today supply chains still create various articles of clothing using this neckline style, including cowl neck pullovers, cowl neck camis, dresses, knit tops, tank tops, and more.

Whether you’re sporting a knit sweater, cardigan, short sleeves, or a sleeveless top with a cowl neckline, there are many ways to style your outfit:

1. 1. Try a long sleeve top with leggings. For a cozy, around-the-house outfit, try black joggers with a beige or gray long-sleeve cowl neck. On colder days, you can go with a long-sleeve cowl neck pullover.
2. 2. Wear a cowl neck hoodie. Cowl neck sweatshirts are bestsellers because of their versatility; try wearing a cowl neck hoodie over your t-shirts with a pair of nice jeans for a casual fall outfit to keep warm on cool, crisp days.
3. 3. Head to the office in a tunic top. For workplaces with casual dress codes, a cowl tunic top can pair well with dress pants. Add a long necklace to this more flowy top to accentuate its voluminous fabric.
4. 4. Stay warm with a knit cowl neck. Don a knit cowl neck during the wintertime to stay fashionable and warm. These tops come in a variety of materials and colors and can go with chinos, dress pants, and high-waisted pants for a chicer look.
5. 5. Get cozy in a poncho. A cowl neck poncho can make you feel like you’re wearing a large, enveloping blanket. Most have built-in armholes, and the poncho works great for colder weather. Put it over a button-up shirt, so you can take the poncho on and off as you like to vary up your outfit throughout the day.

Cowl necklines have more fabric to play with, so there are a few ways you can style this look:

1. 1. Let the neckline drape naturally. This is the simplest, no-fuss way to wear a cowl neckline. Let the fabric fall naturally and embrace the ease of this styling.
2. 2. Pull the fabric over your shoulders. If you pull the fabric of the cowl neck top taut over your shoulders, it can accentuate your neck and give you an elegant, cape-like trail of fabric dangling over your back.
3. 3. Wear the top also as a hood. If you have enough fabric to play with, you can also spin the cowl neck top into a hood, wrapping the material around your head to provide extra warmth, making a DIY hoodie.

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