Neckline

Three neckline variations

The neckline is the top edge or edges of a garment that surrounds the neck, especially from the front view. Neckline also refers to the overall visual line between all the layers of clothing and the neck and shoulders of a person, ignoring any unseen undergarments.

For each garment worn above the waist, the neckline is primarily a style line and may be a boundary for further shaping of the upper edge of a garment with, for example, a collar, cowl, darts, or pleats. In that respect it is similar to the waistline and hemline.

Types

Styles of neckline

Necklines can be grouped into categories according to their shape and where they cut across the body.

Boat neck

Main article: Boat neck

The boat neck, also called the bateau neckline or Sabrina neckline, is a high, wide, slightly curved neckline that passes past the collabones and hangs on both shoulders. It has one edge and is nearly linear. One variation is the portrait neckline.

Crew neck

Main article: Crew neck

This neckline is circular and sits at the base of the throat. It is commonly called the T-shirt neckline. It's functionally interchangeable with the jewel neckline, though jewel tends to refer to a neckline that is lower and more relaxed to show the collarbones or neck jewelry.

Deep or plunging neckline

These are low necklines, in either V, U, or square shapes, that reveal some amount of cleavage. In some cases, these necklines will extend to the natural waistline.

Funnel neck

The funnel neckline has fabric standing high and close to the neck, cut or knit in one piece with the torso rather than as an added collar.

Halter neckline

Main article: Halterneck

Common variations on the halter top

The Halter neckline is linear, featuring a V-neck or scoop front neckline with straps which either tie behind the neck, or wrap around and connect at the nape of the neck. This style hides cleavage and exposes the collarbone. The back is also generally exposed.

Illusion neckline

The illusion neckline is a compromise between a low and high neckline. It combines a low, usually strapless, neckline with semi-transparent fabric (sheer fabric or lace) along the top part, thus creating a second, higher neckline. This neckline is often seen on traditional white wedding dresses.

Jewel neckline

The jewel neckline is circular and sits near the base of the throat. It is sometimes used interchangeably with the term crew neck, though jewel tends to refer to necklines that are lower and more relaxed to show the collarbones or neck jewelry.

Keyhole neckline

These are similar to halter necklines, but the converging diagonal lines meet in front of the neck, forming a "keyhole". More generally, these feature a central hole, usually just below the collarbones. Keyhole necklines are seen infrequently.

Off-the-shoulder

Off-the-shoulder top

The off-the-shoulder neckline, sometimes called the Carmen neckline, is similar to boat necklines but is significantly lower, below the shoulders and collarbone. Usually it passes over the arms, but in the strapless neckline style it may pass under the arms. The off-the-shoulder neckline reveals and accentuates the wearer's shoulders, collarbone, and neck.

The off-the-shoulder trend dates back to the Regency and Victorian Era. They were the height of fashion in the early to mid-nineteenth century. Charles Frederick Worth, the father of haute couture, designed many elaborate dresses, many of which featured bodices with off-the-shoulder sleeves and were very popular with prominent figures like Empress Eugenie. Then in 1960s, French actress Brigitte Bardot put her own twist on this style, wearing off-the-shoulder tops with everything from midi skirts to pants, reviving the style. The style icon made off-the-shoulder sexy and trendy again and off-the-shoulder style also became known as the "Bardot" style.

One-shoulder neckline

These are asymmetrical linear necklines with one edge, which cut across the torso diagonally, usually from one shoulder to under the other arm.

Polo neck

Main article: Polo neck

A folded turtleneck

These are high, close-fitting collars which wrap around the neck itself. They are most commonly used for jerseys and sweaters (also known as jumpers), and are often called turtlenecks.

Portrait neckline

A portrait neckline is a V-neck with the edges of the V placed out at the points of the shoulders rather than closer to the neck. It's similar to the off-the-shoulder neckline, but the straps are higher on the shoulder. It can be combined with a surplice neckline.

Scoop neck

Main article: Scoop neckline

These have a curved U-shape, with the arms of the U hanging on the shoulders. The depth of the U can vary, ranging from high to plunging.

Square neck

These are characterized by three linear edges, with the bottom edge meeting the side edges at right angles (or nearly right angles). The bottom edge cuts across the figure horizontally and the side edges pass over the shoulders. This neckline has been used in wedding dresses since at least the 1800s.

A special variant of this is the slot neckline, in which the side edges are very close (roughly the width of the collarbone points), forming a narrow slot.

Surplice neckline

A surplice neckline

These are similar to how a bathrobe's neckline is formed by one side of the garment overlapping the other. For a dress, the lower layer is usually sewn to the top layer just under the bust.

Sweetheart neckline

The sweetheart neckline has a curved bottom edge that is concave down and usually doubly scalloped, so that it resembles the top half of a heart. The side edges often converge on the neck, similar to halter necklines. Sweetheart necklines tend to accentuate the bosom of the wearer.

The strapless version of the sweetheart neckline is common in wedding dresses.

V-neck

The V-neck is formed by two diagonal lines from the shoulders that meet on the chest to create a V shape. The depth of the V can vary, ranging from high to plunging. The V may also be truncated by a small bottom edge, forming a trapezoid.

Deeper v-necks may reveal cleavage and are used in dresses.

This style originated in the Middle East.

Modifications

The shape of a necklines can be modified in many ways, such as by adding a collar or scarf, overlaying it with a gauzy material, or decorating the edges with scallops, picots or ruffles. The neckline can be a sharp edge of fabric or a more gentle cowl, and can also be accentuated one or multiple patterns in the fabric itself.

Ruffs were popular in the Elizabethan era.

Gallery

• 
  Boat neckline
• 
  Jewel or crew neckline
• 
  U or scoop neckline
• 
  V neckline
• 
  Square neckline
• 
  Waterfall or cowl neckline
• 
  Spaghetti neckline
• 
  Strapless neckline
• 
  Sweetheart neckline
• 
  Halter neckline

See also

• Bustline
• Hemline
• Low-rise (fashion)
• Princess line
• Top (clothing)

Further reading

• Crisp, Felix (1957) "Neckline or nothing". Pudney, John, ed. The Book of Leisure; pp. 75-82. London: Odhams Press

External links

• The dictionary definition of neckline at Wiktionary
• Media related to Necklines at Wikimedia Commons