What’s a sweetheart neckline?

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The sweetheart neckline, featuring two curves over the bust line meeting at a point, has been a popular formal wear design for women for centuries. Its origins are uncertain, but it is commonly used in wedding dresses and stage costumes, and remains a favorite in women’s formalwear.

As a formal wear design option for ladies, the sweetheart neckline has been around for a long time. The curvy neckline of the sweetheart design features two curves over the bust line, falling down and meeting at a point in the middle of the bust area. The result is a sweetheart neckline that helps provide modest coverage for the bust, while still drawing attention to the figure. The low-cut nature of the design offers more graceful curves than a plunging neckline or square neckline appliqué.

No one is exactly sure of the origins of the sweetheart neckline. Some claim that the scalloped traveling necklines of Renaissance Italy were the first true sweetheart necklines. Others credit 18th century French designers with creating the attractive contours of the design. A third school of thought places the first to appear at Elizabeth’s court in fifteenth-century Spain. Whatever the origins, the design has had a powerful impact on women’s formal wear for quite some time.

Traditionally, many of the more formal and intricately designed wedding dresses will employ a scalloped neckline in the general contours of the bride. Typically, this design will be one of several elements that separate the wedding dress from the dresses or gowns worn by the other members of the bridal party. Considered a wonderful way to invoke a sense of beauty and allure in a bride’s appearance, the sweetheart neckline covers and shows in a combination that many people find very attractive.

The sweetheart neckline isn’t just limited to wedding wear; Many formal dresses use this neckline. Also, stage costumes will often make good use of this neckline. In the mid-20th century, it was possible to get tops that were cut with a sweetheart neckline. While the place of this particular design comes and goes when it comes to streetwear, the sweetheart neckline remains a perennial favorite in women’s formalwear. As an option that combines visual appeal with practical coverage, few other designs can create the same effect.




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