How to recognise it
The neckline is wide but shallow, almost the same height front and back, with the edges reaching the shoulders. The collarbones show but not the chest.
Where it comes from
The name comes from the French bateau (boat). Breton sailors' striped shirts had this neckline, and in the 1954 film Sabrina a Givenchy dress on Audrey Hepburn made it so famous that it is also called the Sabrina neckline.
Who and when it suits
Elegant and restrained, it suits the office, the theatre and evenings. It widens the shoulders, so it flatters narrow shoulders.
Variations and look-alikes
It comes wide to the shoulders or narrower, on T-shirts, sweaters, dresses and blouses. The Breton stripe top is the classic example. It differs from off-the-shoulder in resting on the shoulders.
How to style it
- Jewellery: earrings rather than a necklace.
- A Breton stripe top is the classic.
- Narrow shoulders: it widens them.
- Bra straps should stay hidden.
Similar styles
Frequently asked
01What is a Sabrina neckline?
A boat neck named after the 1954 film Sabrina, in which Audrey Hepburn wore it.
02Who suits a boat neck?
People with narrow shoulders and a long neck; with broad shoulders a V is better.
03Which jewellery suits a boat neck?
Earrings or a bracelet; a necklace is often unnecessary.