Did you notice?
I forgot to write the last newsletter. After 3 years of posting my bi-weekly newsletter I messed up and was hoping nobody noticed. But then I got a slew of emails and I was a little disappointed. Disappointed because I thought I had gotten away with missing writing it, but delighted that so many of you noticed and sent me emails saying, “Michelle, what happened to this week’s newsletter?”
Oops. Busted. But in a good way. Who can complain about being missed?! Thank you. 🙂
So onto today’s topic. Angela posted a question on the blog about necklines:
“Necklines please – bateau neck, boat neck, jewel neck, scoop neck, round neck, crew neck.”
Thanks, Angela. Great question. I know it can be a little confusing because there are many names for necklines and some of them mean the exact same thing while others differ a bit in variation. Let me explain. You can scroll down to the pictorial examples of each neckline if you wish to follow along as you read my explanations for those necklines.
Bateau neck: Also called a Boat neck or Sabrina neckline, is a wide neckline that runs horizontally, in the front and the back, almost to the shoulder points, across the collarbone. It can run very straight across or with a slight dip (Like the lines of a boat). It is traditionally used in nautically inspired sweaters and knitwear, but is also featured in more elegant cocktail dresses and eveningwear.
Jewel neck, Scoop Neck, and Crew neck, are all Round necks because they are circular in shape. However, let me break it down for you.
Crew neck: Is a type of shirt or sweater that has a circular neckline and no collar. However it is usually high on the neck displaying mostly the base of the neck. It is often worn with other layers. The T-shirt crew neck was developed in 1932 as an undergarment that would absorb sweat and prevent shoulder pads of American football players from causing chafing.
Jewel neck: Is the neckline of a dress or sweater that is also circular and without a collar. It is usually wider and deeper than a Crew neck while still maintaining it’s circular shape.
Scoop Neck: This round neck is a deeper scoop-shape neckline that is dropped significantly below the normal limits of a Jewel neck or Crew neck. Depending upon the drop of the scoop, some scoop neck shirts, when worn by women, are cut low enough to display cleavage. However, if it gets much deeper than wider, the neckline takes on more of a “U” shape than a circular shape, hence the term “U-neck.
To make it easier to understand, I created a visual just for you.
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Now, it’s your turn. I’d love to hear from you. Your insights and inspiration are appreciated so please share your stories in the comments below.
If you have a question also post it in the comment section below. I check it daily. Since the topic is always about fashion or style no question that you ask will be “off Topic.”
That means as far as I’m concerned, when you ask a question that is the topic. Everyone else who’s reading it can follow up on my answer. There will be no questions that you ask that will be be too far off topic because your question will be the current topic. So…ask away!
Oh…and your email address is not “required” even though it says so. 🙂 Don’t even ask.
Blog me.
Love,
~Michelle
Hi from the East Coast where summer is turning to fall with winter on the horizon…
I’m curious what your thoughts are on pantyhose (or stockings) vs. tights. Someone said recently that pantyhose/stockings are now a fashion faux pas and that the way to go is tights. Do you agree?
Hi! Thanks for your question! I plan to write a newsletter answering it so stay tuned….
xo
~Michelle
Thank you for clarifying the different types of ’round neck’ ‘T’ shirts. I prefer the ‘crew’ type style but many internet sellers describe their garments as ’round neck’ (generic) but don’t expand on the type/style that it actually is (which wastes time sifting out those that are actually ‘scoop’ neck. I’d like to think that most retailers would take a professional pride in the knowledge of their trade as well as the products they sell.
Can I ask a question on the various styles or types of sleeveless ‘T’ shirts. These come with various widths of material covering the shoulders: some are narrow – like you’d find on a vest / undergarment and some cover the whole shoulder (and there’s those inbetween) I like the wide / shoulder covering type – do these have a special name? If so let me know.
Regards, and thank you in anticipation of your assistance,
Brennan