Off The Shoulder Tops

The Neckline of the Moment

Off The Shoulder Tops

The off the shoulder top is having its second act, this time without the ruffles. Shoulders became the interesting part of the body once necklines stopped competing with statement earrings and oversized collars. This edit runs from knits through asymmetric cuts to the plain bardot top that started it.

Off-shoulder knits

The off shoulder knit is the reason the neckline came back at all. Warmth everywhere except the shoulders is a strange and effective trick, and it makes a plain sweater read as a going out top.

One shoulder and asymmetric

One shoulder is the sharper cousin, and it has taken over evening dressing because it does the work of a statement neckline without any hardware. Asymmetry reads considered even on a plain jersey.

Off-shoulder tops and blouses

The bardot top is the version that goes out at night and gets worn with everything. Bare shoulders above a high waist is the oldest proportion trick in the book and still the most reliable.

Our honest take

Off the shoulder is a fit question disguised as a style question, because a neckline that slides all evening is worse than no neckline at all. Look for elastic that grips or boning that holds, and try raising your arms before you buy. If you take one thing away, the top should stay put when you reach for a glass.

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