There are  a number of factors that determine the success of a garment. Without a doubt its Neckline is one of the most important.

Most of us do not choose the neckline of a garment  in isolation. We look at the style, fabric, colour etc and then the neckline. But we forget that the neckline of the bodice frames your face and accentuates its features and is the first thing others see, mostly, when they look at you ( arguably).

It can turn a so-so garment into one that is stunning, provided it is the right one for you

The choice of neckline is dependant on many factors like the shape of the face, shoulders,  size of the bust, the bust line, neck type and above all the body shape of the wearer.

Just as the way  we consider all the above mentioned factors when choosing a neckline, a neckline in turn makes all these features look good – like the face, shoulders, bustline and the whole body shape, don’t you think so?

Related Post : How to choose the best neckline design for you? 

If you are convinced about the argument that a neckline can make or break a garment, let us look at the 30 plus basic styles of necklines available and then the 30 plus variations of these basic neckline styles

Checkout the post on drafting necklines to design necklines for clothes you sew. 

The main types of neckline styles

1 Crew Neckline

It is a round neckline which sits close to the neck, typically seen in t-shirts.  It usually ends above the collarbone and usually has a band around it. It is not a suitable neckline for a stocky figure with short neck, as it will make the  neck closed in, or a person with a very large bust or a person with narrow shoulders. A person with thin long neck can look good in the neckline.

2 Jewel Neckline

A slightly lower round neckline, this is a very most common neckline seen in  dresses, tops . Named jewel neckline, because the neckline lies where a necklace is worn. It is confused with the crew neck as it is almost similar.

3 U neckline

A neckline shaped like a U, this is a universally liked neckline.The neckline will be as wide as the base of the neck

4 Square Neckline

5 V neckline

It is an almost perfect neckline that will look good on most everybody, as far as I have seen, but for an apple body shape, it is a life saver. This neckline can elongate the body, so it is the choice neckline for people who are short.Check out the 6 ways you can stitch a V-neck on to your dress/top

6 Boat Neckline / Bateau

This neckline is also called Bateau neckline. It is a wide neckline which almost reaches the shoulder line and sits very close to the neck, high in front and back. It emphasizes the bustline so for most people this is a flattering style. But for those who want to play down the bust do not choose this one. It is a good neck design to choose with a pear shaped body ( and with a small bust).

7 Scoop neckline

This is a deep U neckline which is wider than the base of the neck. It is suitable to almost all body shapes, face shapes, depending on the depth of the neckline.  

Most of the body flaws can be camouflaged by this neckline – for example a too wide shoulder can be de-emphasized with this neckline; it can make a short neck look elongated. 

8 Collared neckline

Different kinds of collars can be added to the neckline. Checkout the 50 plus different types of collars you can add to your neckline. A collared neckline can come with a buttoned placket or without. 

9 Gathered neckline

The neckline is gathered around the neck with a plain band or an elasticized casing or a drawstring casing. It usually has a v neck or a u neckline with either, ruching, gathering or casing done to contain the fullness around the neck.This is a neckline you should not choose if you do not want to bring attention to the top portion of your body. As there is fullness here, decide for yourself, if you want this on the top bodice. Also called a peasant neckline

10 Strapless Neckline

A strapless neckline can be cut in different ways .  it can be cut straight across the body or in a sweet heart neck fashion

11 Cowl neckline

12 Diamond neckline

13 Keyhole neckline

This neckline has an opening just under the edge – either a circular one, oval one or a tear shaped one

14  Sweet heart neckline

This is a very appealing neckline, with the lower portion of the neckline looking like the  top portion of a heart

15 Offshoulder neckline

This neckline is also called a Bradot neckline. A very feminine neckline which brings attention to the shoulders and neck. For those with slender shoulders, this can look very appealing. 

16 Halter neckline

17 Ruffled neckline

18 Wide square neckline / Florentine neckline

As the name suggests this is a very wide angular or square neckline – though modest

19 Halter neckline with straps

20 Envelop neckline

21 Strap neckline

22 Decollete neckline

A decollete neckline is a very deep neckline. It is also referred as a plunging neckline, when it is very deep. It is a revealing neckline going past the cleavage. Sometimes it is also cut very wide at the shoulders

23 One shoulder neckline

This is an asymmetrical neckline with only one shoulder

24 Paperbag neckline

25 Queen Elizabeth neckline

26 Court neckline

27 Horse shoe neckline

28 Racerback neckline

29 Queen Ann Neckline

This neckline has a high neck in the back of the bodice but for the front it features a sweet heart neckline style

30 Wide square neckline

31 Mitered square Neckline

32  Scallop neckline

Scallops edge the neckline. The scallops can be facing the neck or the bodice. Checkout the 5 ways to make this scalloped edge 

33 Sabrina neckline

A sabrina neckline is a variation to the boat neckline. It is slightly lower than the boat neckline. This neckline is usually mirrored  on the back of the bodice as well. It is a very common neckline for wedding gowns. This neckline sometimes features ties at the shoulders to keep it in place

34 Funnel Neckline

This is a high neckline that sits upwards towards the neck , cut as one with the garment

35 Slash Neckline / Slit neckline

This neckline has a narrow vertical opening in the front ( maybe in the back also)

36 Asymmetrical neckline

37 Illusion neckline

An illusion neckline has a see through portion near the neckline – like lace or net.

38 Cardigan Neckline

Neckline with a Jewel or V-neck combined with a button up opening in the front like in a cardigan

39. Surplice neckline

The type of neckline that wraps and forms a V neckline

40 Yoke Neckline

In this type of neckline the top portion of the garment including the neckline is a separate piece. The seam of the yoke can start at the armhole or above the bustline and can be shaped curved straight or diagonal.

41 Banded Neckline

This neckline will have a seperate piece of fabric finishing and  framing the neckline as well as the opening

42 Bib neckline

This neckline consists of a set in piece at the centre front of the bodice. The lower portion of this bib like piece will be either straight or curved

The basic neckline styles are good enough; we all have used some of them at some point in our clothes. But if you want some more variations these necklines can be looked at. 

Many many other variations and styles of necklines are there, ofcourse, but I  leave it to your creativity to conceive them at your leisure

Happy sewing

Related post: 50+ neck design ideas for salwar suits/ churidar/ Panjabi suits.