Necklines are another concern for a lot of brides. In watching, 'Say Yes to the Dress' last Friday night, one bride was terribly confused about which neckline was which...and I have to say, I too was a bit confused. So, with that in mind, I decided to expand my series on wedding dresses for one more week and see if I can take some of the guess work out of necklines.
We learned during our 'Mother's Day' dress trying experimental extravaganza that a neckline can make, or break, a dress...and that different necklines look better on some brides more so than others. We quickly discovered that while every gorgeous dress from 'Here Comes the Bride' that our Missy Meagan tried on looked fabulous on her, the neckline that by far took our breath away was the 'Sweetheart' neckline. Now, I'm not saying the others weren't pretty, they just didn't make the statement that the 'Sweetheart' neckline did on our Meagan.
So, armed with this information, I'm going to take each of the most popular necklines, one-by-one, and define them so you have an idea of what makes each different from another. And, oh my goodness, we have so many to get through...let's not waste any more time. So without further ado...
Let's start with Meagan's favorite...
The 'Sweetheart' neckline...
The 'Sweetheart' neckline gets it's name from the shape it makes as the dip in the front of the dress forms a 'V', then arcs over each breast to form the top of a heart. Most 'Sweetheart' necklines are found on strapless dresses, but many now have sleeves of varying lengths as well.
The 'Scoop' neckline...
The 'Scoop' neckline 'scoops' down from one shoulder to the other making a 'U' shape. Like a 'V' neck, the 'Scoop' neck can be high or low depending on the amount of skin a bride is comfortable showing on her big day. This neckline is often seen with sleeves and is a great shape for all brides.
The 'V' neckline...
The 'V' neck is exactly what it says it is...a neckline that forms a 'V'. The neckline starts at the shoulder and plunges down to either a deep 'V' or a shallow one, again depending upon the comfort level of the bride. This is a good neckline for most brides. And, FYI, even though I love the 'V' necked dress I used in my 'InnSpiration Board', I changed it out for this picture so you wouldn't get confused between it and an 'Halter' neckline which comes next. See how easy it is to get confused...!
The 'Halter' neckline...
Ok...see how similar these two are. The 'Halter' neckline differs from the 'V' neckline because the straps come from the back of the neck and not off the shoulders. Typically you'll see this style combined with a 'scoop' or 'round' neck, but if you're wanting a sexier look, go with the 'V' neck...definitely. And ladies, this style will never have sleeves...ever!
The 'Square' neckline...
The 'Square' neckline forms a straight line across the chest with the straps coming off the bodice at 90 degree angles. This style is very flattering with sleeves, so if you're wanting a bit more coverage on your arms, this would be a neckline to look at choosing.
The 'Strapless' neckline...
By and large, one of the most popular style of neckline on wedding dresses for 2011. This classic design wraps the brides upper body from right under the arms. If you do the 'dip' in the middle it becomes a 'Sweetheart' shape...but straight across like the one above is your 'classic' strapless. This style doesn't come with sleeves. Obviously!
The 'Sabrina' neckline...
Named after Audrey Hepburn's character in the 1954 movie of the same name, this neckline is quite similar to the 'Scoop' neck except it comes off the shoulders at a bit wider angle that begins 2 inches inside the shoulder. It is also sits higher on the neck than most 'Scoop' necklines. If you're the classic movie star bride, this neckline is definitely for you.
The Bateau/Boat/Jewel neckline...
Another classic style made famous by another classic woman. This style neckline is reported the one Jackie Kennedy, then Jacqueline Bouvier, wore when she married former President John F. Kennedy. This rounded neckline reaches just above the collar bone and is typically referred to as a 'jewel' neckline because it was designed to showcase a fine piece of jewelery on a woman's neck. If you've wearing a show-stopping, stunning necklace, this style might be your answer!
The 'Portrait' neckline...
The 'Portrait' neckline has a sweeping flow of fabric from the tip of one shoulder to the other, and usually hints at a bit of a 'cowl' neckline as well. This soft 'scoop' neckline is often confused with the 'Off-the-Shoulder' design but the 'Portrait' neckline has more fabric on the bodice.
The 'Off-the-Shoulder' neckline...
Just as it's described, this neckline sits off the brides shoulders showcasing her collarbone and shoulders. It also has small sleeves that cover the upper arms. This particular gown marries both the 'Off-the-Shoulder' design with a bit of a 'V' neckline for a fabulous look. Are you getting the idea of how these necklines can 'blur the edges?'
The 'Asymmetrical' or 'One-Shoulder' neckline...
Hugely popular with brides these days, in fact, two brides on a recent episode of 'Say Yes to the Dress' actually said 'Yes' to 'Asymmetrical' neckline dresses. It's easy to pick out this neckline so it needs little explanation. Experts say it's a great look for almost any bride.
The 'High' neckline...
I didn't include this style in my 'InnSpriation Board' because I found most dresses in this style resembled a 'High' neckline 'Halter' dress like the one above, and I'd already had a 'Halter' on my board. As you can see, this neckline comes up quite 'high' on the neck and usually completely encircles the neck as well. It's quite an InnCredible silhouette, don't you think?
For those of you who are wanting to be a bit more discreet on your wedding day, there are dresses that do have the very 'High' neckline and a completely covered bodice. These are not as popular as the style above, and are usually reserved for a more formal black-tie church weddings.
The 'Queen Anne' neckline...
This neckline is named after the infamous, Queen Anne, the woman who first popularized the style. This style has a diamond shaped opening across the chest area, a high back and usually some type of sleeve. It's a very elegant presentation and perfect for a more formal occasion.
And lastly...finally, I know. Who knew there were so many necklines to choose from. I certainly didn't. Yikes! I never thought we'd ever get through all these. LOL!
But we have come to the end...and I've saved the last dress in honor of our darling Kate Middleton, now HRH Duchess of Cambridge. I present to you...
The 'Illusion' neckline...
What more can we say? Stunningly beautiful! This fairytale princess took our breaths away when she stepped out of the car in her gorgeous Sarah Burton gown. The neckline on her dress is called an 'Illusion' neckline because of the sheer lace panel of fabric that extends from the bust line to the shoulder creating a fun, and sexy, little addition to the look of the dress. This panel can be made of lace, tulle or net and does an InnCredible job of creating...an 'illusion'. And, Princess Catherine carried it off beautifully!
So, there you have it ladies. The 'ins and outs' of wedding dress necklines. Now you can feel confident walking into your dress appointment knowing you're armed with the latest information on wedding dress styles and the different necklines. What more could you ask? No, I'm not getting into 'sleeves' or 'fabric' choices. Those I will leave to all of you.
Until next time...
(another shameless plug for my InnCredible daughter, Ailis...LOL!)
We learned during our 'Mother's Day' dress trying experimental extravaganza that a neckline can make, or break, a dress...and that different necklines look better on some brides more so than others. We quickly discovered that while every gorgeous dress from 'Here Comes the Bride' that our Missy Meagan tried on looked fabulous on her, the neckline that by far took our breath away was the 'Sweetheart' neckline. Now, I'm not saying the others weren't pretty, they just didn't make the statement that the 'Sweetheart' neckline did on our Meagan.
So, armed with this information, I'm going to take each of the most popular necklines, one-by-one, and define them so you have an idea of what makes each different from another. And, oh my goodness, we have so many to get through...let's not waste any more time. So without further ado...
Let's start with Meagan's favorite...
The 'Sweetheart' neckline...
The 'Sweetheart' neckline gets it's name from the shape it makes as the dip in the front of the dress forms a 'V', then arcs over each breast to form the top of a heart. Most 'Sweetheart' necklines are found on strapless dresses, but many now have sleeves of varying lengths as well.The 'Scoop' neckline...
The 'Scoop' neckline 'scoops' down from one shoulder to the other making a 'U' shape. Like a 'V' neck, the 'Scoop' neck can be high or low depending on the amount of skin a bride is comfortable showing on her big day. This neckline is often seen with sleeves and is a great shape for all brides.The 'V' neckline...
The 'V' neck is exactly what it says it is...a neckline that forms a 'V'. The neckline starts at the shoulder and plunges down to either a deep 'V' or a shallow one, again depending upon the comfort level of the bride. This is a good neckline for most brides. And, FYI, even though I love the 'V' necked dress I used in my 'InnSpiration Board', I changed it out for this picture so you wouldn't get confused between it and an 'Halter' neckline which comes next. See how easy it is to get confused...!The 'Halter' neckline...
Ok...see how similar these two are. The 'Halter' neckline differs from the 'V' neckline because the straps come from the back of the neck and not off the shoulders. Typically you'll see this style combined with a 'scoop' or 'round' neck, but if you're wanting a sexier look, go with the 'V' neck...definitely. And ladies, this style will never have sleeves...ever!The 'Square' neckline...
The 'Square' neckline forms a straight line across the chest with the straps coming off the bodice at 90 degree angles. This style is very flattering with sleeves, so if you're wanting a bit more coverage on your arms, this would be a neckline to look at choosing.The 'Strapless' neckline...
By and large, one of the most popular style of neckline on wedding dresses for 2011. This classic design wraps the brides upper body from right under the arms. If you do the 'dip' in the middle it becomes a 'Sweetheart' shape...but straight across like the one above is your 'classic' strapless. This style doesn't come with sleeves. Obviously!The 'Sabrina' neckline...
Named after Audrey Hepburn's character in the 1954 movie of the same name, this neckline is quite similar to the 'Scoop' neck except it comes off the shoulders at a bit wider angle that begins 2 inches inside the shoulder. It is also sits higher on the neck than most 'Scoop' necklines. If you're the classic movie star bride, this neckline is definitely for you.The Bateau/Boat/Jewel neckline...
Another classic style made famous by another classic woman. This style neckline is reported the one Jackie Kennedy, then Jacqueline Bouvier, wore when she married former President John F. Kennedy. This rounded neckline reaches just above the collar bone and is typically referred to as a 'jewel' neckline because it was designed to showcase a fine piece of jewelery on a woman's neck. If you've wearing a show-stopping, stunning necklace, this style might be your answer!The 'Portrait' neckline...
The 'Portrait' neckline has a sweeping flow of fabric from the tip of one shoulder to the other, and usually hints at a bit of a 'cowl' neckline as well. This soft 'scoop' neckline is often confused with the 'Off-the-Shoulder' design but the 'Portrait' neckline has more fabric on the bodice.The 'Off-the-Shoulder' neckline...
Just as it's described, this neckline sits off the brides shoulders showcasing her collarbone and shoulders. It also has small sleeves that cover the upper arms. This particular gown marries both the 'Off-the-Shoulder' design with a bit of a 'V' neckline for a fabulous look. Are you getting the idea of how these necklines can 'blur the edges?'The 'Asymmetrical' or 'One-Shoulder' neckline...
Hugely popular with brides these days, in fact, two brides on a recent episode of 'Say Yes to the Dress' actually said 'Yes' to 'Asymmetrical' neckline dresses. It's easy to pick out this neckline so it needs little explanation. Experts say it's a great look for almost any bride. The 'High' neckline...
I didn't include this style in my 'InnSpriation Board' because I found most dresses in this style resembled a 'High' neckline 'Halter' dress like the one above, and I'd already had a 'Halter' on my board. As you can see, this neckline comes up quite 'high' on the neck and usually completely encircles the neck as well. It's quite an InnCredible silhouette, don't you think?For those of you who are wanting to be a bit more discreet on your wedding day, there are dresses that do have the very 'High' neckline and a completely covered bodice. These are not as popular as the style above, and are usually reserved for a more formal black-tie church weddings.
The 'Queen Anne' neckline...
This neckline is named after the infamous, Queen Anne, the woman who first popularized the style. This style has a diamond shaped opening across the chest area, a high back and usually some type of sleeve. It's a very elegant presentation and perfect for a more formal occasion.And lastly...finally, I know. Who knew there were so many necklines to choose from. I certainly didn't. Yikes! I never thought we'd ever get through all these. LOL!
But we have come to the end...and I've saved the last dress in honor of our darling Kate Middleton, now HRH Duchess of Cambridge. I present to you...
The 'Illusion' neckline...
What more can we say? Stunningly beautiful! This fairytale princess took our breaths away when she stepped out of the car in her gorgeous Sarah Burton gown. The neckline on her dress is called an 'Illusion' neckline because of the sheer lace panel of fabric that extends from the bust line to the shoulder creating a fun, and sexy, little addition to the look of the dress. This panel can be made of lace, tulle or net and does an InnCredible job of creating...an 'illusion'. And, Princess Catherine carried it off beautifully!So, there you have it ladies. The 'ins and outs' of wedding dress necklines. Now you can feel confident walking into your dress appointment knowing you're armed with the latest information on wedding dress styles and the different necklines. What more could you ask? No, I'm not getting into 'sleeves' or 'fabric' choices. Those I will leave to all of you.
Until next time...
Making your wedding InnCredible
InnCredible Events
949/887.9629
InnCredible Events
949/887.9629
(another shameless plug for my InnCredible daughter, Ailis...LOL!)
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