One of the primary focal points of every dress is the neckline. Choosing the right neckline will draw focus to the beauty of the natural facial features of the wearer and enhance the overall appearance of the dress style selected. In addition, it will draw attention to the most attractive features or camouflage the less desirable traits when chosen appropriately.
When choosing bridesmaids’ dresses, choosing a single dress is no longer stylish for your entire bridal party. This is because your girls won’t be the same size or have the same body shape. So instead, we suggest you consider a range of options and mix and match dresses to suit the individual traits of each of the girls in your bridal party.
One good mix and match option is to vary the dress’s neckline while keeping the colours or silhouette constant for the entire group. This gives the group a super-stylish and modern look. It is easy, as most collections offer the same shade for several dresses. So you can find suitable silhouettes and necklines for each of your bridesmaids while keeping the colour uniform.
This guide looks at the most flattering neckline styles for different body types. Use this advice to choose the best neckline styles for your bridesmaid’s dresses. We are sure it will help you come one step closer to making your bridesmaids happy with your dress choices.
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V-neckline
The structure of this neckline is such that it elongates the torso and makes the wearer look tall and slim. The V-neckline is a universal favourite that can be designed in various fashions to suit various body types. The depth and width, when varied, will fit different body shapes. Women with broad shoulders and heavy upper bodies look good in V-necklines, as it balances out the broader proportions. On the other hand, small and high V-necklines are suitable for thin women as they widen the upper body and make it look bigger. Plunging V-necklines are fashion-forward. However, they should be worn only by women with a medium bust and paired with suitable innerwear to avoid any wardrobe disasters.
Bateau neckline
The boat-shaped neckline extends from one shoulder to the other, exposing the collar bones but not showing any cleavage. This feature draws attention to the neck and jaw area. The bateau neckline is best for women with slighter body proportions, as the high neckline style adds more bulk to the upper body. It is modest, even while being stylish. The bateau should be avoided by bridesmaids who have a heavy upper body, as it can add more bulk to this area. Modern bateau necklines are often created with elegant illusion details.
Scoop neckline
Another versatile neckline style, the scoop, resembles a U-shape. It can be low or high, and the effect of this feature in the dress varies according to this depth. Wide spoons look good on women with narrow shoulders as the round shape creates the illusion of more curves. Small scoop necklines help women with thicker upper bodies create the illusion of a smaller bust. However, this neckline generally makes the face look rounder.
One-shoulder style
This neckline style is closely associated with the goddess look and looks ethereal and romantic. The neckline drapes towards one shoulder, leaving the other one exposed. This beautiful style looks good on almost any body type. However, since the focus is on the exposed one shoulder, women with very thin or thick upper arms should avoid this style. On the other hand, it is perfect for women with toned arms and slender shoulders. In addition, this neckline exposes the collar bones while modestly covering the bust area.
Illusion neckline
Illusion necklines are a big trend on the wedding scene, often fashioned with lace and sometimes with embellishments like rhinestones and sparkle. This modest neckline may be paired with a sweetheart or strapless bodice but has a mysterious effect because of the sheer layer. The illusion neckline suits almost all body types and is a good choice if you want a similar style for different body types. It can be paired with virtually any dress silhouette and made to look beautiful.
Sweetheart neckline
A traditional favourite, the sweetheart neckline is a feminine and romantic dress feature common in bridesmaids’ dresses. This neckline is preferred over the strapless style as the gentle dip in the center of the neckline makes it more attractive. It may or may not be paired with sleeves. Since the sweetheart neckline exposes a significant area of the chest and decolletage, it is a good idea first to check if your girls are comfortable in this style before finalizing it. The open neckline may also be better if you pair it with suitable jewelry to avoid a bare look. It accentuates cleavage and draws attention to the upper body. Hence it is a good choice for women who wish to distract from their waist and hips.
Off-the-shoulder
A common complaint about bridesmaids’ dresses is that they are all too simple. However, an off-the-shoulder neckline instantly adds a touch of style to a dress. This neckline falls parallel to the shoulder line and focuses on the neck and shoulder area. This style is very glamorous and modern. It may be paired with sleeves or straps. The off-the-shoulder neckline looks best on slender women with lovely collar bones. Women should avoid it with thick necks and shoulders.
Halter
The halter style looks modern and intelligent. It closes around the neck and usually features an uncovered back. The halter neckline features a strap that runs around the neck. This may either go around the neck using straps or buttoned in place. Since the high halter neckline covers most of the upper regions of the neck and bust, it doesn’t require any other decolletage decoration. The halter should be avoided if your bridesmaids have prominent figures, adding more bulk to this region. It is best used when the shoulders are slender and the arms are well-toned.
Straight strapless
This neckline covers the entire chest area and is a popular feature in bridesmaids’ dresses. While it creates a classic look for a long gown, it looks stylish and sexy on short gowns. The neckline usually cuts straight across the chest and is a good choice for busty women. The straight strapless may also be paired with spaghetti straps for added support or extra glamour. Straight strapless styles and sweetheart necklines must be fitted perfectly to look neat and comfortable.
Square neckline
As the name suggests, this neckline resembles a square and cuts across the chest in a straight line. It may be broad or small. When the court is vast, it reveals more decolletage. It can also be high and draw attention to the collar bones and neck area. Wide squares are suitable for women with medium to large busts, while small square necklines are better suited for women with more miniature figures. It is not recommended for those heavy in the upper torso, as the structure creates the illusion of added width.
The versatile neckline
Many brides do not want to risk the cohesion factor by allowing their brides to pick dresses from different collections. This has inspired designers to come up with the option of bridesmaids’ dresses with necklines that can be draped in different ways. For example, the same dress can be worn in strapless, single-shoulder, V-neckline or halter style. This is a good option if you have zeroed in on a colour that will look great on most of your bridesmaids and still want to follow the mix and match trend.
If you go with our suggestions and opt for the mix and match bridesmaids’ dress look, here are some rules you have to follow to ensure you do the trend correctly.
Choose the colour carefully
You must pick colours that suit most of your bridesmaid’s complexions when you choose a single colour and only vary the neckline. Be wary of colours that clash with skin tone or hair colour, as it can make your bridesmaid look pale or ill. Best choices include dark colours like navy and black or neutrals like gray. Go with the neutral colour in your wedding palette when choosing the colours for your bridesmaids’ dresses; it will most likely not go wrong. You can add brighter colours in accessories like the bouquet, shoes and jewelry to tie their looks to the colour theme.
Make sure the necklines are comfortable for each of them
One of the most significant benefits of varying the neckline is that you can ensure all your girls are comfortable in the ones they choose and achieve a cohesive look. This mix and match style lets you quickly bold and modest bridesmaids’ fashion tastes rapidly. Whtimider may prefer sleeveless styles and high necklines, the more fashionable women, can go with strapless styles and off-the-shoulder looks.
Choose the same fabric for uniformity
The neckline is one variable that you have chosen. If you were to vary the material and colour, achieving cohesion between the bridesmaid’s looks would be tough. Even when the colour is the same, the effect can vary drastically according to the fabric of choice. For instance, a crepe gown would look entirely different from a satin dress, even though they are both in the same colour. So, keep the same fabric if you want to get the style right. If you must vary the colours, ensure they are from the same colour family to get the closest possible matches.
Unless the colours are identical, pay attention to the length
As we mentioned, you shouldn’t have too many diverse factors that can jeopardize the overall look. The differences become exaggerated when the variables are focal elements. You can vary the neckline and other aspects without affecting the overall look when you have the same colour. However, keep the length constant if you intend to use several colours and change the neckline. If the bridesmaid’s dresses vary from short to floor measurement, they will look too disjointed. Differing lengths create an unfinished effect and do not look great in photographs. Either choose full-length gowns for all the girls or ask them to keep them between knee-length and calf-length for uniformity.
Keep the overall theme in mind
All the mixing and matching you do with the bridesmaid’s dresses should go well with the overall theme you have at your wedding. Consider the formality and style of your wedding when choosing bridesmaids’ dresses, as just matching the colour and design may not tie it to the theme. Be realistic about how you can permit variations so it still fits your wedding vision. The dresses your bridesmaids choose should also be formal enough for the style of wedding you have planned.
At Best for Bride, mixing and matching bridesmaids’ dresses is a breeze. We have plenty of designer bridesmaids’ collections for you to pick from and meet all your expectations. With several dress designs in different colours from the same designer collection, finding combinations with varying necklines but similar dress features is no longer difficult. Check out our bridesmaid’s dress collections by visiting this page. You can also find attractive discounts on bulk bookings, alteration services and quick delivery options. So please book your appointment by calling our website today and start selecting the best bridesmaids’ dresses for your wedding.
I am a sucker for the square neckline, so I am glad you posted about that. I felt like I might have been a minority on that one.