One of the wardrobe items that you’ll find in every woman’s closet, or at least almost every woman’s closet, is a dress. As the saying goes, “Every woman needs a little black dress.” Now whether in black or any other color, there’s a dress for any and every occasion – day dress, work dress, summer dress, party dress, evening gown… the list is endless. Not only are there dresses for every occasion, there are a myriad of dresses with varying lengths, cuts, fabrics and necklines to choose from. With all the options available, we’re giving you a quick guide on some of the more common neckline styles to help you with your next dress purchase.
Strapless Neckline
The strapless neckline is arguably one of the most popular styles, especially for evening dresses and formal gowns. It’s usually cut just above the bust and leaves your neckline, upper chest and arms completely bare. It’s the perfect style for those who want to show some skin and is best left outside of the everyday professional setting. There are different styles of strapless necklines, depending on the way it’s designed and cut. It can be cut straight across the body, or in a sweetheart style, resembling a heart shape, or even rounded. You can wear a fabulous pair of statement earrings or a bold necklace with your hair styled in an updo, when wearing a strapless dress.
Strappy V Neckline
As the name suggests, this neckline style features straps over the shoulders and a V-neck front. This cut is commonly seen on camisole and lingerie style dresses, which are among the big trends at the moment. It’s a very feminine style that looks especially great with soft, flowy dresses. It’s a type of neckline that also leaves the neck, upper chest and arms bare. Depending on how low the V-neck is, it’s a fabulous option if you aren’t afraid to show some cleavage.
Crew Neckline
The crew neckline has a rounded style that’s cut close to the neck, usually sitting right by the collarbones. It’s among the more conservative neckline options and can be seen with any length of sleeves or even sleeveless. Dresses with crew necklines are particularly appropriate for professional occasions and can be styled with a statement necklace that sits just as close to the neck. This style looks especially good if you have a long neck to accentuate.
Round Neckline
A round neckline is exactly that – round. As opposed to the crew style, the round neckline sits further from the neck and highlights the collarbones. It’s a common style for many sheath dresses that are well appropriate for the professional, office setting. Its simple cut can be designed with almost any skirt style whether pencil, A-line, flared, midi or long. It can also feature either a sleeveless, cap, short or long sleeve style. Feel free to wear almost any style and length of necklace with the round neckline or try a brooch as a fashionable alternative.
Boat Neckline
The boat neck, also known as a bateau neckline, has a wide cut that runs horizontally, close to a straight line and almost hits the shoulders, both at the front and at the back. It’s a style that is particularly suitable if you want to highlight your shoulders, as well as your collarbones. This style of neckline balances out wider hips and a smaller bust. It’s an elegant style that’s also nicknamed the Sabrina neckline, after the popular dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the movie Sabrina. It’s another style that can be designed as a sleeveless, cap, short or long sleeve dress.
V-Neckline (V-Neck Middle, V-Neck Deep)
The V-neckline is an angular cut that goes from the shoulders down to the middle of the chest. The vertical direction of this style elongates and creates a slimming effect. Depending on how daring your feeling, choose a V-neckline that ends either higher in the chest area, in the middle or a deep V-neckline that plunges lower to the bust. A dress with deep V-neckline is the perfect choice if you want to highlight your cleavage.
U-Neckline
The U-Neckline, otherwise known as a scoop neck, goes from the shoulders, down to the chest in a U-shape. It’s similar to the V-neckline but is rounded in style. The U-neck can come in varying depths and widths, with some style starting closer to the neck and others moving farther, towards the shoulders, giving a wider U-neckline. The variations give you options for occasions when you’re feeling conservative and want a moderately covered style or when you’d like to show more of your chest area.
Halter Neckline
The halter is a sleeveless style that narrowly begins by the neckline and forms an inverted V down to the arm hole. Somewhat of a sportier cut, halter style dresses can either have an open back or a closed back that is identical to the front. The halter neckline commonly features straps that tie at the back of the neck and allows you to show off your shoulder blades. Choose this style if you want to accentuate your arms and broad shoulders.
Asymmetric Neckline
The asymmetric neckline, also known as the one-shoulder or one-sided neckline, is a diagonal neckline that leaves one side bare. There are many variations to this style. Some dresses have a wide asymmetrical neckline that tapers towards the shoulder, others feature a thin spaghetti strap, and there are also others that are designed with a short sleeve or even a long sleeve. The countless interpretations of this uneven style make it fresh and modern, perfect for the fashion forward lady.
When choosing the right dress, consider the occasion, the style that will best accentuate your body type with the neckline that will frame your features and of course, your preference. With so many options, there are sure to be more than a few that are perfect for you.
Is there a specific dress you've been dreaming of but can't find it? That's why we're here. At Sumissura you can design your own dress online and customize it to your preference. Discover our wide selection of fabrics and details and create the dress you were destined to wear.
