Types of Necklines | Dress Neckline Types, Different Neckline Styles

If you ever tried to buy a dress or top, you’d know there are so many different types of necklines – enough to confuse any shopper! From halter to jewel to Y neck, read about all different neckline styles in our SlubWords fashion glossary below!

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Illustrated by: Aayushi B.

Asymmetric (N.) [ay-sim-it-rik] A neckline that’s shaped differently on each side of the neck is called an asymmetric neck, such as an off-the-shoulder on one side and strappy on the other.

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Monse

Bateau (N.) [ba-to] See boat neck.

Boat (N.) [boh t] A neckline that’s shaped like the bottom of a boat, in a horizontal curve along the collarbone, is called a boat neck. Also bateau neck or Sabrina neck. Also see straight across.

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Shopbop

Choker neck (N.) [choh-kuhr nek] A neckline that has a piece of fabric attached at the shoulder which goes around the neck, like a choker necklace, is called a choker neck. It is different from wedding-band neckline in that choker neck has a gap between the neckline and the “choker”, to give the illusion of the wearer wearing a choker, which may be attached with straps. Also see wedding band neckline.

Speechless Juniors' Velvet Choker Dress
Amazon

Cowl (N.) [koul] A neckline that has extra fabric in the front that folds over itself to create ripples is called a cowl neck.

Valentine Gift : Fuegobella Light Gold Shuttered Dress With Cowl Neck
Amazon

Crew (N.) [kroo] A curvy, round-shaped neckline is called crew neck if it ends just at or above the collarbone. Also see round neck.

Petite Simply Vera Vera Wang Lace-Back Crewneck Top, Women's, Size: M Petite, Black
Vera Wang

Criss-cross neckline (N.) [kris-kraws nek-lahyn] A neckline that has a couple of or set of strings or straps criss-crossing each other is called criss-cross neckline.

Criss Cross Paneled Crop Top

Cutout V neck (N.) [kuht-out nek] A V-neckline that has two cutouts on either side, or two strips of fabric attached on top of the V is called cutout V neck. Also see V neck.

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Style is Simple

Décolletage (N.) [duh-kol-uh-tahzh] A low neckline that reveals a woman’s cleavage is called décolletage. Also see plunging neck.

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Luulla

Halter (N.) [hawl-tuhr] A neckline that has a strap going around the neck from either side of the front is called a halter neck.

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Halter strap (N.) [hawl-tuhr strap] A strap that is attached to either side of the front and goes around the neck is called a halter strap.

One Hart Juniors' High-Low Halter Top, Created for Macy's
Macys

High neck (N.) [hahy nek] A neckline that goes up to the middle or bottom portion of the neck is called high neck. High neck usually doesn’t cover the full neck, unlike a turtleneck. Also see turtleneck.

Club L High Neck Crochet Lace Detail Pencil Dress In Metallic - Silver
Club L London

Hooded (N.) [hud-id] A neckline that has a hood attached to it, which either hangs behind the wearer’s neck or may be used to cover the wearer’s head is called hooded neck. Hoods often also come attached with drawstrings that may be used to tighten it.

Religion Sleeveless Poncho Hoodie - Gray

Illusion neckline (N.) [iloo-zhuhn nek-lahyn] A neckline that has a sheer fabric panel, often embellished or embroidered, sewn over the actual neckline to give the illusion of floating sequins or embroidered patterns over the wearer’s neck or decolletage is called illusion neck.

Alex Evenings Sequined Lace Illusion Sheath Dress

Jewel shoulder (N.) [joo-uh l shol-duhr] A neckline in which string(s) of pearl, crystal or rhinestones are attached to the garment is called jewel shoulder neckline.

Dressilyme Marvelous Tulle Sheer Jewel Neckline Ball Gown Wedding Dress With Beaded Embroidery

Keyhole (N.) [kee-hohl] A neckline in which a hole is created in the front, held together with a strip of fabric or a metal hardware, to reveal a woman’s skin or cleavage is called keyhole neckline.

Lipsy Metallic Skater Dress With Keyhole Neck - Silver
Lipsy

Noodle strap (N.) [noo-duhl strap] A neckline that has thin, string-like shoulder straps attached to it is called noodle strap top or neckline. Also see spaghetti strap.

Young Bohemians Metallic Cami Dress With Faux Leather Straps And Gold Eyelet Details - Silver

Off-the-shoulder (N.) [awf thuh shol-duhr] A neckline that goes across the shoulders to reveal them partially or completely is called off-the-shoulder neck. Also off-shoulder. Also see straight across.

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Forever 21

One shoulder (N.) [wuhn shol-duhr] A neckline that has a strap on one side and goes below the armpit on the other is called one-shoulder neck. Also see off-the-shoulder.

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Alexander Wang

Plunging neck (N.) [pluhn-jing nek] A neckline that is low enough to show the cleavage, or even ribs, is called plunging neck. Also see decolletage.

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Schiaparelli

Princess neckline (N.) [prin-ses nek-lahyn] See sweetheart neck.

Queen Anne neckline (N.) [qween an nek-lahyn] A sweetheart neckline that has two inverted-V shaped strips of fabric attached on either side, going across the shoulder, is called Queen Anne neckline.

Dressilyme Fabulous Satin Queen Anne Neckline Long Sleeves Ball Gown Wedding Dresses With Detachable Jacket


Round (N.) [round] A curvy, round-shaped neckline is called round neck. Also see crew neck, U neck.

Ruff neckline (N.) [ruhf nek-lahyn] A neckline that has an undulating strip, or layers undulating strips of fabric, going around the neck to resemble a bird’s ruff, or 18th century ruff collars, is called a ruff neckline. Also see ruffled neck.

Ruffled neck (N.) [ruh-fuhld nek] A neckline that is adorned with ruffles, either only on the front or all around the neck, is called ruffled neck. Also see ruffles in types of surface techniques. Also see ruff neckline.

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Valentino

Sabrina neck (N.) [sub-ree-nuh nek] See boat neck.

Scarf neckline (N.) [skarf nek-lahyn] A neckline that has a piece of fabric attached to it, which creates folds or knots to give the illusion of a scarf is called a scarf neckline.

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Chanel

Scoop (N.) [skoop] A wide neckline that goes into a deep wide curve is called scoop neck, often revealing cleavage. Also see U neck, round neck.

Semi-sweetheart (N.) [sem-ee ] A semi-sweetheart neckline is one that has two convex curves on the front like a sweetheart neck, but is not low-cut, since its curves are lazier and not accentuated. Also see sweetheart neck.

Spaghetti strap (N.) [spuh-get-ee strap] A neckline that has narrow shoulder straps attached to it is called spaghetti strap top or neckline. Also see noodle strap.

Square (N.) [sq-air] A neckline that is shaped like the bottom half or so of a square is called a square neck. The sides of the square neck may not be exactly parallel to each other like in a square, but may be slightly widened for easy wearing.

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Missguided

Straight across (N.) [stray-t uh-kraws] A neckline that goes almost in a straight line from one shoulder to the other, revealing just the tips of either shoulder is called sraight across neck. Also see boat neck.

String neckline (N.) [string nek-lahyn] A string neckline is one that has a string going around the neck attached at the front or shoulders, or has a set of strings that may be crossed or knotted.

Sweetheart neck (N.) [sweet-hahrt nek] A low-cut neckline that has two convex curves on the front, resembling the top half of a heart shape is called sweetheart neck. Also princess neckline. Also see semi-sweetheart neck.

Dressilyme Gorgeous Polka Dot Tulle & Tulle Sweetheart Neckline Ball Gown Wedding Dresses With Detachable Jacket

Turtleneck (N.) [tuhr-tuhl nek] A neckline that goes up till the top of the neck is called a turtleneck, it has a piece of fabric that goes around the neck, attached to the clothing. Also see high neck.

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Chloe

U-neck (N.) [yoo nek] A neckline that is shaped like a U is called a U neck. It’s an elongated version of the round neck. Also see round neck.

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Versace

V neck (N.) [vee nek] A neckline that is shaped like a V is called a V neck. It may end right above the decolletage or go as low as the belly-button, too.

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Altuzaara

Wedding band neckline (N.) [wed-ing band nek-lahyn] A neckline that has a strip of fabric attached to it, which goes around the neck is called a wedding band neckline. Also see choker neck.

Vince Camuto High-Low Choker Top

Y neckline (N.) [whahy nek-lahyn] A neckline that has a strip of fabric going around the neck, attached to another strip coming straight down the front to meet the garment, shaped like a Y, is called a Y neckline.

Zigzag neckline (N.) [zig-zag nek-lahyn] A geometric shaped neckline which is cut in zig-zagged way is called zigzag neckline.

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Amit Aggarwal

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