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Theneckline is the top edge or edges of agarment that surrounds theneck, especially from the front view. Neckline also refers to the overall visual line between all the layers of clothing and the neck andshoulders of a person, ignoring any unseenundergarments.[1]
For each garment worn above thewaist, the neckline is primarily astyle line and may be a boundary for further shaping of the upper edge of a garment with, for example, acollar,cowl,darts, orpleats. In that respect it is similar to thewaistline andhemline.
Necklines can be grouped into categories according to their shape and where they cut across the body.
Theboat neck, also called thebateau neckline orSabrina neckline, is a high, wide, slightly curved neckline that passes past the collarbones and hangs on both shoulders. It has one edge and is nearly linear. Theportrait neckline is a variation of this.
This neckline is circular and sits at the base of the throat, with arib knit band around the neck.[2]: 8 It is commonly called theT-shirt neckline. It's functionally interchangeable with thejewel neckline, thoughjewel tends to refer to a neckline that does not include the rib knit band.
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These are low necklines, in either V, U, or square shapes, that reveal some amount ofcleavage.Evening gowns often have low necklines. In some cases, such asElizabeth Hurley's famous black dress and theblue Prada dress of Lupita Nyong'o, these necklines will extend to the natural waistline.
One extreme example of a plunging neckline is thegreen Versace dress of Jennifer Lopez, which has a neckline that extends down past thenavel.
The funnel neckline, sometimes called the built-up neckline,[2]: 5 has fabric standing high and close to the neck, cut orknit in one piece with the torso rather than as an added collar.
TheHalter 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.[3] This style hides cleavage and exposes the collarbone.[3] The back is also generally exposed.
Yếm are a type of halter neck top. Jeanne Lanvin'sCyclone dress had a halter 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 orlace) along the top part, thus creating a second, higher neckline.[4][5] This neckline is often seen on traditional whitewedding dresses.
The jewel neckline is circular and sits near the base of the throat. It is sometimes used interchangeably with the termcrew neck, thoughjewel tends to refer to necklines that do not include the rib knit band.[2]: 4
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The keyhole neckline features a hole at the center, usually just below the collarbones. These are often similar to halter necklines, except that the converging diagonal lines meet in front of the neck, forming a "keyhole". The keyhole can be round, or wedge-shaped.[6]: 5
The off-the-shoulder neckline, sometimes called theCarmen neckline, is similar to boat necklines but is significantly lower, below the shoulders and collarbone. Usually it passesover the arms, but in thestrapless neckline style it may pass under the arms. The off-the-shoulder neckline reveals and accentuates the wearer's shoulders,[2]: 4 collarbone, and neck.
The off-the-shoulder trend dates back to theRegency andVictorian Era. They were the height of fashion in the early to mid-nineteenth century.Charles Frederick Worth, the father ofhaute couture, designed many elaborate dresses, many of which featured bodices with off-the-shoulder sleeves and were very popular with prominent figures likeEmpress Eugenie.[7] Then in 1960s, French actressBrigitte 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 the off-the-shoulder style trendy again, and as a result it is sometimes called the "Bardot" style.[citation needed]
These are asymmetrical linear necklines with one edge, which cut across the torso diagonally, usually from one shoulder to under the other arm.
These are high, close-fitting collars which wrap around the neck itself. They are most commonly used forjerseys andsweaters (also known as jumpers), and are often calledturtlenecks.[8] This is similar to the funnel neck, but is distinguished by the rib knit material used for the collar.[2]: 8
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.[6] It can be combined with a surplice neckline.[9]
Famous garments with portrait necklines includeJacqueline Bouvier Kennedy's wedding dress, and Princess Diana'srevenge andTravolta dresses.
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.
Examples of garments with scoop necklines includeKatharine Worsley's wedding dress andSarah Ferguson's wedding dress.
The slit neckline includes a narrow vertical opening, which is sometimes held together with abutton and loop or other type offastener.[2]: 4
These are characterized by three linear edges, with the bottom edge meeting the side edges atright 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,[6] and was popular for dresses in general in the 1870s.[10]
A special variant of this is theslot neckline, in which the side edges are very close (roughly the width of the collarbone points), forming a narrow slot.
Gomesi have square necklines.
The surplice neckline wraps to form a V-shaped neckline in the front or back.[2] These are similar to how abathrobe's neckline is formed by one side of the garment overlapping the other. For a dress, the lower layer is usuallysewn to the top layer just under the bust.
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.[2]: 5 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.[6]: 5
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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 atrapezoid. Deeper v-necks may reveal cleavage and are used in dresses.[5]
This style originated in the Middle East.[citation needed]
Types of v-neck tops include theAloha shirt,cache-cœur,ghillie shirt,poet shirt, andwonju.Sweater vests andscrubs often have V-necks.
Famous v-neck garments include theTarkhan dress,Princess Eugenie's wedding dress,Jaqueline Kennedy's apricot dress,Keira Knightley's green dress,Princess Louise of Wales' wedding dress, theRed Dress embroidery project, andMarilyn Monroe's white dress.
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The visual and physical shape of a neckline can be modified to create variants, or incorporate multiple necklines in a single outfit.
Layering can change the shape of a neckline. The layered items can includeneckwear (such as acollar,kerchief,scarf, ornecklace), or multipletops with different necklines.
Another method involves overlaying the original neckline with agauzy material such astulle orlace. This method can create an illusion neckline.
Necklines can be decorated along the edges withjewels, scallops,picots, orruffles.
The neckline can be a sharp edge of fabric or a more gentlecowl, and can also be accentuated by one or multiplepatterns in the fabric itself.
Removing elements can also change a neckline. For example, many neckline types have strapless variants, which do not havestraps but still maintain the other core elements of the neckline. The strapless sweetheart neckline, for instance, can create a more simplified heart shape without the added visual element of the straps. There are many variants ofstrapless dresses and tops (such as thetube top).
It is possible to modify the neckline of somewrap dresses simply by using a different wrapping method.
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The illusion neckline can be thought of as featuring two necklines: a strapless neckline, and a sheer panel of fabric (typically lace, tulle, organza, or other netted fabric), which attaches to the bodice (usually at the waistline), and extends upward, forming the second, higher neckline.
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