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Guide to Necklines

by Manu Tyagi

A guide to the type of necklines and what part of the upper body they accentuate

Boat neck

Originally derived from the French sailor's striped wide neck T-shirt worn in the 19th century, this was a staple in the French navy as it was supposed that the stripes made it easier to see a sailor on-board when in water. The wide neck facilitated easy removal if and when needed. This style of neck became really famous after Coco Chanel popularized it in the 1930s. It was further associated with the Beatnik culture in the 1950s and 1960s as we see some traces in the below picture.

1950s Beatnik culture
An image from the 1950s, a group of men associated with Beatnik culture

The sailor shirt became a staple in the wardrobe with time and was popularized by Jean Seberg, in her gallic style as well. Earlier the sailor shirts had only slightly widened the neckline, however with time the neck widened enough to expose the collarbones.

The boat neckline typically stretches vast across the neck and sits just right past the collarbones which draws the eyes’ attention outwards. However, the width and depth may vary with ever evolving fashion. Audrey Hepburn’s black evening gown dress in Sabrina, is an example of the boat neck evolution, the classic boat neck is tied onto the shoulders with the help of ribbons. In many photographs, it is noticeable that Audrey was a fan of the classic Breton stripes. Below picture shows one with a classic boat neck.

Though suited for all figures, this neckline is a flattering option for people with a pear-shaped body as it creates an illusion of wider collarbones and balances the top and bottom.

The boat neck made a comeback in the 2010s when Megan Markle chose this for her wedding.

Jewelry guide for boat neckline

Boat neck dresses/blouses usually put the focus on the width of the collarbones, to compliment that effect, it is good to add long necklaces which elongates the neckline and balances the overall look.

A pearl coin necklace also fits seamlessly with both day-to-day wear and more formal outfits as well.

If you want to make a bold look, statement earrings can totally do the job and you can keep the neck as it is. Stud, huggies, oversized earrings all go well.

I am linking a jewelry store on IG, which I personally like. Tangerine is a bio-jewelry brand that focuses on creating pieces out of spices, pearls and shells. Most of them are quoted with 22k carat gold. I will keep on updating this as and when I find good stores.

Crew and V neck

Surprisingly, now that I have started reading about different types of necklines and their history, I found yet another example of a neckline famously used by US navy as their ‘under tee’,essentially an inspiration from their European counterparts who wore light, breathable undershirts compared to the woolen ones of the US navy. Yes, it is the crew neck.

A crew neck T-shirt fits tightly around the base of the wearer’s neck, and the material of the fitted piece is ribbed and sewn onto shirts or sweaters separately. Although today the T-shirt is famously worn as a symbol of telling the world who you are, originally it was worn as an inner tee for absorbing sweat, protecting shoulders from sunburn and rashes.

Thanks to Sears for popularizing it as an outerwear and making it a staple in our wardrobes since then.

It was only after the 1950s that T-shirts became something which was worn by both the sexes to qualify for the ‘sporty look’, and it went through lots of changes in terms of neckline - from crew to scoop to V (or vees), however the basic ‘T’ remained constant though.

Jewelry guide for crew neck

A basic crew neck or a V-neck is a staple in the wardrobe and is indeed a classic to go with denim and pants. It can be very well accessorized with multiple layers of chain style necklaces that enhance the basic look.

Coin pendants, thin & thick chains both go well.

For V-necks, the idea is that the jewelry should complement the length of the neckline, and should play in lines with elongation that the V has created. This gives the illusion of a longer neck and imparts equal focus on the torso and legs.