The History of NecklinesBy – Sunny Anders

Background Information

- Everything women wore from 1500 BC until around the mid 60s was dictated by men.

- That includes necklines.

- The amount of cleavage / collar bones that were shown was up to their husbands and the customs / rules of where they lived.

- If too much cleavage was shown women were often considered prostitutes or not marriage material.

- Children essentially wore the same necklines as their parents until around the mid 60s.

What's a neckline?

- The edge of a woman's garment at or below the neck.

- Also refers to the overall line between all the layers of clothing and the neck and shoulders of a person, ignoring the unseen undergarments.

- Most neckline's names are a just a description of the shape they look like.

Different Kinds of Necklines

• 1 Crew Neckline

• 2 Jewel Neckline

• 3 U neckline

• 4 Square Neckline

• 5 V neckline

• 6 Boat Neckline / Bateau

• 7 Scoop neckline

• 8 Collared neckline

• 9 Gathered neckline

• 10 Strapless Neckline

• 11 Cowl neckline

• 12 Diamond neckline

• 13 Keyhole neckline

• 14 Sweet heart neckline

• 15 Off shoulder neckline

• 16 Halter neckline

• 17 Ruffled neckline

• 18 Florentine neckline

• 19 Halter neckline with straps

• 20 Envelop neckline

• 21 Strap neckline

• 22 Decollete neckline

• 23 One shoulder neckline

• 24 Paperbag neckline

• 25 Queen Elizabeth neckline

• 26 Court neckline

• 27 Horse shoe neckline

• 28 Racerback neckline

• 29 Queen Ann Neckline

• 30 Wide square neckline

• 31 Mitered square Neckline

• 32 Scallop neckline

• 35 Slash Neckline / Slit neckline

• 36 Asymmetrical neckline

• 37 Illusion neckline

• 38 Cardigan Neckline

• 40 Yoke Neckline

• 41 Banded Neckline

• 42 Bib neckline

Different Kinds of Necklines Cont.

U

V

Square

Boat / Bateau

Different Kinds of Necklines Cont.

Crew

Off the shoulder

One Shoulder

Keyhole

Egyptian

- Wide.

- Left the breast bare.

- Their focus was on their Usekh or Wesekh(necklaces) rather than the neck itself.

Greek Roman

- U or V shaped.

c- U shaped.

Renaissance Baroque

- Low necklines were popular until the end of Queen Elizabeth’s reign.

- Necklines were high and accompanied with ruffs during Alexander MacQueen's time.

- Flowing lace collars.

- Deep.

Rococo Empire

- Low / Square / Oval / Plunging.

- More modern styles.

- Low / Round / Square / Higher.

- Smaller ruffs.

- Romantic – Small collar / V shaped neckline / (Often lacey.)

Crinoline Bustle

- High / No attached collars.

- Piping.

- High and Square / Low and Round / V.

- Low cut in front / High in the back of the bodice.

- Off the shoulder.

Edwardian 1920s

- Sailor Collar.

- Ended at the base of the throat or lower.

- Round / V / Bateau / Cowl / Oval.

1930s 1940s

- High / Cowl / V neck.

- Boxy / Square were very prominent.

- Slit / Sweetheart / Keyhole / Shirred / Cross Front (Wrap) / V.

1950s 1960s

- Scooped / Halter V neck / Boat-neck / Square / Sweetheart.

- Cowl Back / Boat / Bateau / Funnel / Rounded / Jewel / Square / Sweetheart / Plunging

1970s 1980s

- Halter / High / Pussy Bow Collar / Chelsea Collar / Plunging.

- Turtleneck – Men and women

- V neck / Halter.

- Crew neck – Both genders.

1990s 2000s

- Plunging / Scoop / V.

- Unisex. - V / Scoop/ Crewneck.

2010s

- V.

- Off the shoulder.

- Criss Cross.

- Plunging.

5 Question Quiz -

1. What are 2 of the 8 primary necklines I touched on?

2. Who focused their necklines on necklaces rather than the actual neck?

3. When did necklines become more unisex?

4. What's one way necklines are named?

5. In what era did more modern necklines start appearing?

Bibliography

Sharmin Shoukhat https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310597643_Now_and_

ThenThe_Neckline_History_of_Women BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology; October 28, 2016.

Joy of Clothes https://www.joyofclothes.com/style-advice/clothing-guides/necklines/advice_and_ideas_for_the_most_popular_necklines.php 2019.

Marie Claire https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/reports/timeline-of-dress-codes-men-telling-women-what-to-wear-295043 "A Comprehensive Timeline of Men Telling Women What To Wear"; September 9, 2016.

The Shift https://www.renttherunway.com/theshift/types-of-necklines "The Ultimate Guide to Different Types of Necklines"; 2019.

Jane Austen's World https://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/tag/necklines-in-regency-gowns/ "Jane Austen's World"; December 2018.

Bing Pictures