Great Neckline Alert.

For a multitude of reasons (including my propensity to pull unintentional pratfalls of physical-comedienne proportions and an unfortunate tendency to rest my clasped hands on top of my head for no good reason) I just don't do strapless (or even spaghetti straps). This can be a hardship at holiday-party-dress time, when it seems as if there's a law against having more than three square inches of fabric above your sternum.

This dress steps forward brilliantly to beat all those strapless numbers at their own game. It's freaking gorgeous, isn't it? I love the hammered-metal color and the absolutely stunning neckline. Strapless can look too girly-debutante, and spaghetti straps too casual; this dress is definitely neither. I don't know if this particular kind of neckline has a name, but, if not, I propose "empress". (There's nothing "sweetheart" about this one.)

The only bad news is that this dress is nearly $800 ... that's, well, a LOT. Click on the image to visit the Elizabeth Charles online boutique, where it's being sold.

I'm pretty sure I've seen this neckline on at least ONE of the umpty-billion vintage patterns I have. And I have some really, really nice green satin ... now all I need is a good excuse to wear it! Thank goodness for holiday parties.

Comments

[Carrie]

It truly is a lovely dress. Too bad it's not for me. With my uneven shoulders and miss-sized ta-ta's I would pull that neckline in ways it was never intended!

[Carrie]

It truly is a lovely dress. Too bad it's not for me. With my uneven shoulders and miss-sized ta-ta's I would pull that neckline in ways it was never intended!

[bani]

I am so sick of strapless and spaghetti straps. So Sick. All it says is "we were too cheap to work out a pattern with sleeves". Plus I'm 30+ now dammit and would like fecking sleeves!

[sonya]

Ooh, I love this dress! Unfortunately, styles like this never fit me in the stores due to my disproportionately large hips. It's very similar to Vogue 8280, though I like the cap sleeves and slightly rounded neckline of the Elizabeth Charles version better.

[Ladygrande (Texas Marie)]

Would you call this a modified "keyhole" neckline?

[Anonymous]

Yes, Vogue 8280 -- and look at all the sleeve options. Love this dress. Also look at Vogue 2858, a remake of a l944 design. Different midriff and skirt treatment but simiilar neckline.Mary Fran

[Gidget Bananas]

I hate strapless dresses. There, I've said it. And I do love this curvy grown-up dress.

[Nadine]

I've always loved this neckline! It first flattered the life out of me in a high school Shakespeare-era comedy.

[vespabelle]

I love this dress. I have a dress that's similar. I loved the neckline so much I had my wedding dress made with the same neckline! I think designers forget that many of us MUST WEAR a bra. I found a cute (and cheap) dress at Nordstrom Rack the other day and it was perfect (color, fit, style, everything!) except that the neckline plunged so low that I would have to go braless. And I cannot go braless! How many size 12 women can go braless? (now that I think of it, I may actually fit into that vintage "empress neckline" dress so I don't need a new dress!)

[Maryam in Marrakesh]

Eeek, $800 is definitely out of my price range. But it is a lovely neckline. Thank you for sharing it.

[southern stitcher]

It's gorgeous! A very grown-up dress, not a cutesy teenybop style. How about dark teal for a knockout look?

[Anonymous]

Please say this below is very similar!LOL McCalls 5269http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5269.htm?tab=whats_new&page=1Because I have just ordered this pattern for my DD to wear to a dance. I like the flounce hem version, she likes the straight...we'll see.

[Anonymous]

looks like a modified or "opened" Queen Ann neckline... no?

[Marie-Christine]

Oh, this is so gorgeous! I have no doubt that you can make it though, it'll be a piece of cake... Use the Vogue 8280 pattern, it's the thing of the moment anyway so you may as well go with it :-).

[Madeleine Powers]

"Queen Anne" neckline is definitely how I know that one, and I love it to death myself. Actually managed to find a couple long-sleeve tees with this neckline.

[Anonymous]

The McCalls and Vogue patterns are close, but I love how the back neckline on this one shapes to the nape of the neck. Very lovely with short hair or an up-do.Amy

[Robinson]

This type of neckline generally has not appealed to me in the past, but this one is lovely. I too love the way it shapes to the nape of the neck. It might make me rethink this neckline.

[oliviacw]

It's a cross between a Queen Anne neckline (in the way it widens up as you move down from the shoulders), and a square neckline (because a Queen Anne usually has a sweetheart dip in the center). It is lovely, and very flattering to those of us who are amply endowed.

[blueprairie]

I would call this neckline Elizabethan, m'self.

[Lorna]

This neckline/collar/sleeve treatment is great for making the shoulders more important. It is a smart, elegant..... strong.... dress! I love what you have created here in your website. Lorna

[Anonymous]

Erica whose blog is Hook & Needles made a similar dress some time ago. Hope I can link you though this -http://www.flickr.com/photos/hookcouture/sets/72157594349092448/show/I think all the rich and famous were wearing this style some time ago.

[Anonymous]

Ok Sorry about that the link was bad but you can see her dress here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/hookcouture/So enough of me now.

[Ladygrande (Texas Marie)]

I checked out Erica's blog --- wow, that lady does sew!!!

[Anonymous]

I just looked at Erica's blog as well. I really like the look of the vogue dress. I may have to buy that pattern. (evil laughter ensues)

[Kit LaCroix]

It a lot like the neckline on the dress of mine that you showed in october, except mine had a collar. I was inspired by a picture of marilyn monroe wearing a skirtsuit with that collar, so i think of it as a "monroe collar."