THE FINE ART OF CHOOSING YOUR NECKLINE
The neckline frames your face and is probably the feature you’ll most concentrate on when selecting your dress. It’s the part of your dress that gives your face some wow! Because there are almost as many neckline options as sleeve variations, think of mixing both components as an opportunity to really create that one-of-a-kind dress. Front and back bodices though aren’t always identical. For instance, the front could have a Sabrina neckline, the back a deep V; whereas another gown could have a scoop in front as well as back.
Clockwise: Photo 1: Halter Neckline (photo: Stephanie Williams Photography). Photo 2: Sweetheart Neckline (photo by John T Photo) Photo 3: Square Neckline (photo Lirette Photography) Photo 4: Scoop Neckline////Photo 5: Turtleneck Neckline (photo: Pixamage) Photo 6: V-neckline (photo: Samantha Brancato)
Right to left-Photo 1: Asymmetrical neckline (Photo by Studio 7teen) Photo 2: Bateau or Sabrina Neckline (Photo by Henley Photography) Photo3: Cowl Neckline (Photo by Aura Obrien)
All dresses by Amy Jo Tatum
STYLES
All dresses by Amy Jo Tatum
Turtleneck-Once a classic,
the high neck or turtleneck can be a plain band of dress fabric or lace. Especially popular in the Edwardian gown
craze of the 70s when cotton ‘granny gowns’ reappeared.
Mandarin-Like the high neck
collar only it’s notched in front
Cowl-draped either as an
attached piece or integrated into the pattern.
Lots of retro styles of the 1930s use this effect.
Jewel-Aka crew neck, round
and higher neckline. Not seen too much
these days except in an overbodice of all-over lace.
Bateau or Sabrina-Straight across the neckline
Scoop-Low rounded neckline
V or U-These necklines point down just
like the letters they are named after.
Off-the-Shoulder-Neckline
extends horizontally across and sits below the shoulders.
Portrait-Wide band that
extends from shoulder to shoulder
Square-One of my personal
favorites, conveying a real open look, square necks look great on long and
A-line silhouettes.
Halter-Straps either wrap around
the neck or neckline is high with deep armholes.
Strap-Usually holds up a strapless
bodice.
Asymmetrical-Neckline falls
diagonally-one side strapless the other either with sleeve or sleeveless.
Queen Anne-High neckline curving
into a sweetheart around the décolletage area
Sweetheart-Plunges into an open
heart shape.
Keyhole-Open tear-drop.
Strapless-Either cut straight
across or sweetheart shaped, the strapless is held up by boning inside the
bodice.