Necklines: Glossary of Terms

How the top edge of a garment is cut and shaped. Neckline is one of the strongest visual identifiers of a shirt or dress.

Crew neck

A round neckline that sits at the base of the neck. Standard on T-shirts and pullovers.

V-neck

A neckline that dips to a V-shape below the collarbone. Shallow or deep.

Scoop neck

A wide, deep, rounded neckline that curves lower than a crew neck.

Boat neck

A wide, shallow neckline that runs almost straight from shoulder to shoulder. Also 'bateau'.

Square neck

A neckline cut as a right-angled rectangle — flat across the top, straight down the sides.

Sweetheart neckline

A neckline shaped like the top of a heart — two curved lobes meeting at a point at the center of the bust.

Halter neckline

A neckline formed by straps that meet behind the neck, leaving shoulders and upper back bare.

Off-shoulder neckline

A neckline that sits below both shoulders, exposing the collarbones and tops of the arms.

One-shoulder neckline

A neckline with a single strap or sleeve on one side; the other shoulder is bare.

Mock neckline

A high, unfolded neckline that stops short of a full turtleneck. Sits flush against the neck.

Updated 2026-07-30