I regret to inform you that the summer clothing racks have been stripped bare (and yes, it’s still July), and it seems the cowl neck is making an unwelcome return. I understand your frustration; I share it wholeheartedly. This unflattering neckline, which I believed had faded into obscurity, is now resurfacing with a vengeance. A few years ago, the cowl made a brief and sporadic appearance, and I was relieved when it seemed to vanish again. But now, it appears we are facing a resurgence of cowl necks—a veritable cowl conspiracy, if you will.
It’s important to acknowledge that not all cowl necks are created equal, and I shouldn’t generalize too broadly. Designers want us to believe that there’s a cowl for every woman out there. The wide, bulky knit cowl is not the same as the softer, more casually draped versions found in finer knits. However, I must confess, I have yet to encounter a cowl neck that I find appealing.
As fashion-conscious women, we must band together to resist this trend and eliminate the cowl from our wardrobes for good. Seriously, who decided that women of all body types would look good in a cowl? Did designers like Marco or Jessica gather their teams and proclaim, “Let’s dress women like monks; it’ll be fabulous!”?
A Personal Journey
My disdain for cowl necks began in my teenage years, a tumultuous time of self-discovery and experimentation. During this phase, I tried on various identities and styles, only to quickly decide that a cowl neck was not one I wanted to associate with. When friends would ask for my opinion on their outfits while getting ready for a night out, I would often resort to stuffing my mouth with cookies to avoid appearing sympathetic to cowl necks.
You must understand, as a small-chested high schooler, I was bombarded with cowl necks everywhere I went. In 1983, every store I visited, from Foxmoor to Lerner, seemed to scream “Cowl!” I simply couldn’t grasp the appeal. There were cowl neck shirts, dresses, and especially sweaters, all in pastel hues and soft angora. (Let’s not even get started on angora!) Every time I tried one on, the cowl never draped correctly, and I wanted to be able to see my toes when I looked down—can you relate?
I often felt stifled by cowl necks and other turtlenecks, some of which zipped up at the back of the neck, making breathing a challenge. These items felt like a conspiracy against my wardrobe, forcing me into a style I despised. While going without a top would have been liberating, my fear of judgment kept me from taking that leap. In those days, online shopping was nonexistent, and I was stuck with the cookie-cutter selections in the mall.
My own mother, a known fan of cowl necks, inadvertently undermined my efforts to boycott them. She looked great in cowls and figured I would too, often buying me sweaters that I reluctantly wore to family dinners.
Beauty in Diversity
It’s not that I don’t think cowl necks look nice on others; they certainly do. My mother rocked them, and celebrities like Mia Thompson and Lila Harper made them look stunning. But perhaps that’s the crux of the matter: a woman needs a specific body type to truly pull off a cowl. How many of us fit that mold?
In moments of doubt, I wonder if I’m being too harsh on the cowl. Maybe it’s me who doesn’t understand its nuances. Perhaps I lack the skill to navigate the extra fabric that seems to gather right at my nonexistent chest. But I refuse to consider this a personal failing.
I recognize there are many necklines that suit me well, like halters and strapless styles. I’m certainly more open to different necklines than I was three decades ago. However, the overwhelming presence of cowl necks in stores suggests something sinister in the fashion world. Recently, I visited a local store where every single sweater was a cowl. Is New Hampshire the epicenter of this trend, or is it spreading?
A Call to Action
We can put a stop to this, ladies. I cannot return to the days when every woman around me dons a cowl. Soon, my eighth-grade students will be flaunting the latest cowls from Forever 21, convinced this is the height of fashion. I might even find my mother rummaging through her attic for her old cowl sweaters.
It’s simply too much to handle.
Further Reading
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Summary
The resurgence of cowl necks in fashion has sparked frustration among many women. This article discusses the author’s personal aversion to cowl necks, tracing it back to teenage years and the societal pressures of fitting into certain styles. Despite acknowledging that some women may pull off cowls successfully, the author advocates for a collective push against this neckline to reclaim personal style preferences.
Keyphrase: cowl neck aversion
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