How To Choose A Flattering Dress Neckline For Your Body

Picking the right dress can sometimes prove a difficult task. There are so many lovely frocks out there, how are you supposed to pick the right one for you and your body? Well, never fear! Queenly is here today breaking down dress necklines and how you can make them work for you.

It may seem like a small detail, but the neckline of a dress can make or break the look. The wrong neckline for your body type will make your outfit translate as a bit clunky, or off, leaving everyone you see with the wrong impression of your fashion sense.

But we know you’re better than that, and even if you need a little guidance, you have us here to help you navigate the ins and outs of dress necklines and which would be best for you.

Strapless necklines offer a variety of silhouettes and benefits for women of all sizes. Let’s break down these styles to really understand what we can get out of them.

A straight neckline is exactly what it sounds like: a strapless bodice that goes straight across the bust. This is a silhouette that offers nothing in emphasizing the curves of your bust. Think of the straight neckline in terms of the old western corsets; if you have the bust for it, it’ll show.

This basically means that if you have a flatter chest then it will show. This isn’t a bad thing by any means. If you have a full bust and want to raise it high, then a straight neckline will do this, but keep in mind when we say high, we mean high. Your bust will be as full as full can be in a straight neckline so be prepared.

A flatter chest will mean that your silhouette will be straight. There won’t be any pronounced or exaggerated curves in a straight neckline so this could work for you if you want something a little understated and simple. However, straight necklines offer up your clavicle as a focal point, so a slimmer figure will be flattering in this silhouette.

Ladies with broader shoulders that want to appear softer will want to stay away from the straight neckline. This silhouette will emphasize shoulders so if you are already broad-shouldered you will appear more so in this cut.

A sweetheart neckline is an option that can come with thin straps but is a traditionally strapless look. It is created with a bodice that curves to the natural shape of your bust line and looks a bit like a heart. It’s a step up from the straight neckline, still timeless but with a little more drama.

This is a very traditional silhouette and a really flattering option for those with a flatter bust. It will create more of an illusion of natural curves, so expect to have more shape in this style gown.

Ok, technically this style does include a strap, but it’s not on the shoulder so it counts! Off-the-shoulder necklines offer an exaggerated silhouette, so women with an athletic figure will benefit greatly from this little added detail.

Halter necklines are a great option for all body types and designers are starting to bring the style back in full force so you won’t have a shortage of options. For a woman with an athletic body type that wants to allude to a shapelier figure, a halter will emphasize the longer torso and add volume to the bust while softening the shoulders.

A woman that has a fuller figure will broaden the shoulders and elongate the neckline, giving the silhouette a slimming illusion. You will be able to show off a fuller bust without compromising support or style.

Or also not more coverage, but maybe at least straps. Styles that feature straps are a vast category and while it might seem a little unfair to rope them all in together, we do so to keep it all streamlined and give you all the options without being so meticulous you end up confused again.

An asymmetrical neckline is one step up from a strapless option so we will start there. It features a neckline with one shoulder bare and one shoulder covered, creating an area of interest in the cut of the dress and silhouette. It is a complementary style to all body types as it creates an elongated neck and draws most of the attention to your face, so don’t forget your smile!

Cowl necks can be a tight high neck collar, resembling a loose turtleneck or the style can be more of a plunging cowl neck and looks similar to a loose v-neck. Either style is a beautiful neckline and the plunging cowl neck style has been trending recently for cocktail dresses.

Both styles work for all body types, but women with fuller faces should be careful with the tighter neckline. It can emphasize the face more than the plunging style so it can make a full face seem fuller.

V-neck style dresses are one of the most popular styles on the market and come with the most variety and options. Because there are a lot of options that start with a V-neckline, we will go over them together.

The two most traditional styles are V-necks with thick or thin straps. Whichever style you choose, they are both complimentary to all body types; thicker straps will offer more support to fuller figured women, but either style will elongate the torso and emphasize the bust.

Surplice neck is when the fabric overlaps the other side instead of meeting in the middle. This is a great option for flatter busts, as it will add a little more depth to the chest and appear fuller.

We love dresses with collar details. You can go for a traditional collar, without sleeves is a great look or a cuter, sweeter option in a peter pan collar. They both have had a bit of resurgence in fashion, especially the Peter Pan style, and have a lot of great options to choose from.

Peter Pan collars are great for all body types as they are usually a closed neck so offer coverage for women with a fuller figure as well as a cinched waist for slimmer body types to accentuate. A traditional collar will work in a similar manner but will emphasize the shoulders and face more, so those with broader shoulders or fuller faces might be uncomfortable in this style. A few examples for your viewing pleasure:

We hope this neckline advice has helped guide you in the right direction for all your dress shopping needs; we are confident that these neckline pointers will have you looking at the right styles to make you look and feel your best!