The History of Necklines By – 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 • 22 Decollete neckline

• 2 Jewel Neckline • 23 One shoulder neckline

• 3 U neckline • 24 Paperbag neckline

• 4 Square Neckline • 25 Queen Elizabeth neckline

• 5 V neckline • 26 Court neckline

• 6 Boat Neckline / Bateau • 27 Horse shoe neckline

• 7 Scoop neckline • 28 Racerback neckline

• 8 Collared neckline • 29 Queen Ann Neckline

• 9 Gathered neckline • 30 Wide square neckline

• 10 Strapless Neckline • 31 Mitered square Neckline

• 11 Cowl neckline • 32 Scallop neckline

• 12 Diamond neckline • 35 Slash Neckline / Slit neckline

• 13 Keyhole neckline • 36 Asymmetrical neckline

• 14 Sweet heart neckline • 37 Illusion neckline

• 15 Off shoulder neckline • 38 Cardigan Neckline

• 16 Halter neckline • 40 Yoke Neckline

• 17 Ruffled neckline • 41 Banded Neckline

• 18 Florentine neckline • 42 Bib neckline

• 19 Halter neckline with straps

• 20 Envelop neckline

• 21 Strap neckline Different Kinds of Necklines Cont.

U Square

V Boat / Bateau Different Kinds of Necklines Cont.

Crew One Shoulder

Off the 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. - U shaped. c Renaissance Baroque

- Low necklines were popular until the end of - Flowing lace collars. Queen Elizabeth’s reign. - Deep. - Necklines were high and accompanied with ruffs during Alexander MacQueen's time. Rococo Empire - Low / Round / Square / Higher. - Smaller ruffs. - Low / Square / Oval / Plunging. - Romantic – Small collar / V shaped - More modern styles. neckline / (Often lacey.) Crinoline Bustle - High and Square / Low and Round / V. - Low cut in front / High in the back of the - High / No attached collars. bodice. - Piping. - Off the shoulder. Edwardian 1920s - Ended at the base of the throat or lower. - Sailor Collar. - Round / V / Bateau / Cowl / Oval. 1930s 1940s - Boxy / Square were very prominent. - Slit / Sweetheart / Keyhole / Shirred / - High / Cowl / V neck. Cross Front (Wrap) / V. 1950s 1960s

- Cowl Back / Boat / Bateau / Funnel / - Scooped / Halter V neck / Boat-neck / Rounded / Jewel / Square / Sweetheart / Square / Sweetheart. Plunging 1970s 1980s - Turtleneck – Men and women - V neck / Halter. - Halter / High / Pussy Bow Collar / Chelsea Collar / Plunging. - 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