The cat-eye neckline’s distinctive points at each armpit and elegant swoop to the décolleté have become a favorite among modern brides. It’s flattering, sexy, and reads high fashion.
That said, this popular bridal gown neckline’s roots are nothing new. In fact, they reach back at least as far as 1800s corsets. Back in 1851, Madam Roxey Ann Caplan displayed the below blue corset at the Great Exhibition. It caused quite a sensation, and she was the only corset maker awarded a prize. That accolade impacted Madam’s business and corsetry in England, and still influences design today.
What is a cat’s eye neckline?
Cat's Eye Neckline Wedding Dresses
The figure-enhancing properties and romance of vintage corsets of a cat’s eye neckline add a smoldering elegance to bridal silhouettes of all kinds. Structured fabrics such as patterned jacquards, luminous Mikado, and luxe duchess satin are a natural fit. Especially when paired with a boned corset or bustier bodice. Lea-Ann Belter Margherita, for example, combines visible boning, a sensuous cat’s eye neckline, and a ball gown skirt to convey a breathtakingly romantic and dramatic aesthetic. On the other hand, our Alice gown’s approach to a cat’s eye neckline is a bit more streamlined, but no less striking.
In sleek fabrics like crepe or charmeuse, the neckline’s references to historic undergarments are heightened. Case in point, our crepe Allegra gown’s sophisticated, body-skimming shape and come-hither vibe.
How the textile is manipulated affects the look, too. Draping or rusching further enhances the way this neckline frames the décollete, as in Astrid & Mercedes Euphoria. Her cat-eye neckline paired with fabulous corseting and a thigh-high slit is utterly bewitching.
As with most design elements, how this neckline interacts with the rest of the gown also affects the overall style.
Ball gowns
Married to a ball gown wedding dress, the cat’s eye cinches the waist. This is all due to that very full skirt and the way this neckline draws attention up and out.
A-lines
An A-line’s comparatively less full skirt and a cat’s eye neckline beautifully balance one another. This makes the pairing visually harmonious and nearly universally flattering.
Streamlined
A cat’s eye boudoir reference and a sleek wedding dress double down on sophisticated glamour.
Fit-and-flare
Think of the cat’s eye neckline as the top of the hourglass, then the flared skirt of a fit-and-flare gown as the bottom. In between, you have a tiny little middle. That about sums up how a cat’s eye neckline and fit-and-flare wedding dress work together. Which is to say, perfectly, as you can see in Astrid & Mercedes Kiki.
Find Your Perfect Cat's Eye Fit
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