19 Attractive Types of Necklines for Dresses and Tops

You may think the beauty of a dress lies in the fabric, color, and style alone. While this may be true, other features such as the neckline play a big role in the outlook of a dress. Most times, it is the first thing people notice about your outfit. It frames your face and as well accentuates your facial features too.  And when you want to match your hairstyle with your outfit, you still have to consider the neckline of your dress. Hence, it becomes imperative to know the different types of necklines for dresses so when you spot one, you can immediately identify its cut.

Types of Necklines for Dresses

When it comes to choosing any of the types of necklines that’d suit you, you have to consider your face shape, bust size, shoulders, and your body type. 

That aside, here are the best neck cuts you should go for when buying a gorgeous dress.

1. V-Neckline

This type is in the shape of the English alphabet V. It is suitable for just any body type and can help you flaunt your cleavage if you want to. 

Also, it adds a lengthening illusion to your body so if you’re not tall or you want to look taller, you can go for it. However, when the V cut extends past the cleavage, it becomes a plunging neckline. 

2. Cowl Neckline

This neck cut has a circle of fabric around the neck that looks like a scarf. It is usually attached to the dress in one piece. It has no ends but drapes down.

For ladies with small breasts, this neckline helps to add volume to your bust region while it helps busty ladies cover up.

3. Gathered Neckline

This type is gathered around the neck as its name supposes. It can be V, U, or any shape so long as it is gathered.

Fashion designers use elastic, drawstrings, or a plain band to achieve this neck cut. It is very good for flattering your neck and shoulders while accentuating your bust.

4. Sweetheart

This type has the shape of the top part of a love heart around the bust line. If you’ve got great breasts and you want to flaunt them, this is one of the types of necklines for dresses that’ll help you achieve that. It is perfect for highlighting your cleavages like never before.

5. Asymmetrical Neckline

Also known as monostrap or one-shoulder, asymmetric neck cut has one strap running over one shoulder while the other shoulder is entirely bare. 

However, there are asymmetric tops or dresses with a spaghetti strap attached to the bare shoulder. This makes it one of the types of necklines for dresses that are very stylish and attractive.

6. High Neck

As the name implies, this one has the dress or top coming up to the neck. It could be with or without sleeves.

7. Strapless

Wanna show some skin? Go for a strapless neckline. This one has no strap. You can as well incorporate a sweetheart cut to make it look sexier.

8. Off-Shoulder

Also known as bardot, the distinct feature of this neckline is that the sleeves or straps fall off the shoulders making them bare. It looks good on all body types and is a way to pull attention to the skin around your shoulders and chest without going strapless.

9. Boat Neckline

This type is cut in a way that bends from the collarbone to the shoulders resembling a boat. It is otherwise known as bateau.

10. U-Neckline

This type is shaped like the letter U. If it goes deeper and wider than the base of your neck, it becomes a scoop neckline.

11. Halter Neck

These types of necklines for dresses encircles around the neck. Here, the dress moves inward from the bust line and leaves the shoulders bare. 

Most halter neck tops and dresses usually have a low back.

12. Square Neck

Squareneck cuts are deep but not as deep as the scoop or V neckline. It is best for ladies with thin shoulders as it gives them the illusion of broad shoulders.

13. Portrait Neckline

This type of neckline is similar to the off-shoulder neckline. The major difference is that it sits right on the shoulder and plunges a bit to give a V-neck feel. It’s perfect for wedding dresses and business casual outfits.

14. Jewel Neckline

Otherwise known as crew neckline or round neckline, this neck cut is round. It encircles the base of your neck and falls just above your collarbone. 

It’s classic and simple. You can pair it with a drop necklace so both can stand out on their own.

15. Scoop

This one has a round low-cut that drops below normal limits. It plunges and creates a wide U look.

It’s a great choice to flaunt your cleavages especially if you’re busty.

16. Queen Anne

This is another neckline suitable for a wedding dress. When you look at it from behind, you’d think it has a high collar. That’s because this neck cut has a high cut at the back and dips to form a scoop or V-neckline at the front. 

17. Illusion

Illusion neckline creates an illusion of bare skin (like a strapless dress) on the upper part of your bodice. It features sheer or semi-sheer fabric up —such as tulle or lace— attached to an opaque one down.

It would have been strapless but for the sheer fabric added above which offers more support to your cleavages.

18. Keyhole

As the name implies, this neckline has a keyhole cut in a convex shape. This helps to add details to a rather plain neckline. The top of the hole can either be left open or joined at the top edge of the neckline.

19. Surplice Neckline

This neck style is similar to a wrap dress only that it happens around the bodice. It forms when fabric from one side of your shoulders crosses to meet the fabric from the other side at the front. And when permanently sewn down in the seam, it creates a V-neck look.

Now go ahead and pick your favorite among these necklines. And if you don’t know the right necklace to pair with it, read our style guide on necklaces for different necklines so you don’t lag behind.