What’s a bateau neck?

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A bateau neckline is a straight neckline that extends across the clavicle to each shoulder, often associated with the French sailor striped shirt. It is commonly used in summer clothing, such as loose-fitting T-shirts, dresses, and sweaters, and is also seen in elegant wedding dresses. The wide neckline can visually balance a pear-shaped figure and create the illusion of a larger chest.

A bateau neckline is a straight neckline that extends across the clavicle to each shoulder. This neckline is also called a bateau neckline, since bateau is the French word for boat. The name refers to what is believed to be the origin of the bateau collar: the French sailor striped shirt. This heavy cotton style of t-shirt with pinstripes in navy blue and cream or white is what many people think of when imagining the look of a bateau neckline or boat neckline.

Once issued to sailors in the French navy, the bateau collar sailor shirt has become a classic summer look in many parts of the world. Men, women and children alike wear this loose-fit striped cotton T-shirt. The wide collar makes these shirts possible for even toddlers to easily put on and take off. The classic navy style boat neck shirts are available in a variety of navy or red stripe patterns along with white or cream stripes. While the original French stripe has equal thin lines of one color plus a neutral tone, today there are many variations in the width and colors of the stripes.

Bateau neck sweaters are another use of the straight neckline. However, winter barbell neck sweaters are not as commonly found as other forms of neckline, since much of the neck is bare. The boat neckline shows off a bit of the shoulders, as well as the entire clavicle area. Summer barbell neck sweaters are quite common and popular. They are available in many different solid colors as well as French-inspired stripes.

A bateau neck dress design tends to be casual. Many boat neck dresses are made of cotton jersey or t-shirt fabric. These are usually very casual, loose fitting dresses that may be striped like a French sailor shirt. Another name for this type of dress is the t-shirt dress, as they are basically an extension of the loose-fitting, t-shirt-like French sailor shirt.

The most elegant bateau necklines can be seen in wedding dresses. Many of these feature a straight piece of beautiful lace that can frame the face and neck of the bride as it stretches over her shoulders. Since the bateau neckline highlights each shoulder, it may not be the most flattering neckline for people with broad shoulders. While bateau necklines draw attention to the neckline, you don’t have to have a long neck to pull off this style well.

Bateau necklines are said to work well for small chested figures, as the wide neckline helps create the illusion of a larger chest. The wide neckline of a bateau neckline can also visually balance a pear-shaped figure. Pear-shaped body types have a small bust and wide hips.




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