The official birth of women's clothing with bare shoulders took place in the distant 50s. The inventor of the stylish style is the Spaniard Cristobal Balenciaga. He was also the progenitor of such spectacular products as a coat without buttons, a barrel dress and a bag dress. The off-the-shoulder dress became popular almost instantly. Today, not a single high fashion collection is complete without clothes with such a design technique.

A topless dress is found not only in collections of festive and evening dresses. Women choose these clothes for everyday situations when they want to demonstrate the beautiful outlines of the neck, shoulders and décolleté.

Multiple dresses with open furnaces are conventionally divided into three groups :

• strapless;
• with dropped straps;
• with straps tied at the neck or twisted at the back.

Only one shoulder can be exposed in the model. The second on a thin strap or completely covered. On the shoulder, several decorative straps are modeled, which become a real decoration of the set.

The neckline also has a variety of shapes.: oval oblong or recessed, in the form of a letter V or a heart. Sometimes the shoulders are covered with translucent lace or a thin mesh. To focus on the area of ​​bare shoulders, the neckline is trimmed with contrasting lace or bright appliqué.

The bottom edge of an open dress gives designers a lot of room to express their creative ideas. Layered skirts, asymmetrical hem, sewn-in or detachable peplum belt are very popular.

How and with what to wear open dresses?

The specific cut of clothing involves the exposure of a significant part of the torso. Therefore, when dressing girls should follow some rules.

• Exposing the upper body is only worth it if it has a beautiful feminine outline. To bring the muscles into tone, you should devote more time to physical exercises.

• The skin on the back and chest should look flawless. Particular attention is paid to the arms and armpits. Regular cosmetic care and a visit to the solarium help to achieve the perfect appearance. Wearing an evening dress with bare shoulders, you can use a special foundation with a shimmer effect.

• Women with a small firm bust are unlikely to experience discomfort from the dress. They can safely do without underwear. But girls with large volumes need to choose a comfortable bra that securely fixes heavy breasts. Transparent silicone straps, a special cut of cups, tight inserts and other little tricks help a lot in this. If there is no desire to wear a bra, you can stop at the version of the bandeau dress (models with a built-in corset).

• A girl in a dress with open shoulders usually looks quite self-sufficient and does not need numerous accessories. To make the image more elegant, you just need to pick up elegant earrings, a thin neckerchief, a translucent stole or a narrow strap. A small brooch attached to the edge of the neckline looks impressive and unobtrusive. Model shoes and a small handbag will be a great end to the set.

• Open clothing should not be decorated with catchy prints and bright decor elements. After all, bare shoulders in themselves represent an expressive accent. As for the colors, it is better to give preference to classic black and white or pastel shades.

Who can wear an off the shoulder dress?

The advantages of a frank cut are that almost all women can wear such clothes, with one exception. It is a figure similar to an inverted triangle. Wide shoulders in a deep open neckline will seem even more massive. If the desire to wear a revealing dress is too great, you should carefully choose the style.

A deep V-shaped neckline and straps attached to the neck help visually narrow the shoulders. A maxi dress will help to further stretch the silhouette. A flared skirt, bell or tulip will add the missing volume to the hips. A few embellishments help to shift the focus from the imperfect upper. For example, you can cover your shoulders in an open dress with a light chiffon cape. A lace bolero or an openwork shawl knitted from fine yarn also looks spectacular.

For obese women, stylists recommend choosing dark dresses. With the help of a good color, it is easy to hide imperfect shapes. Manipulations with the length of products also help to balance the proportions of the body. For example, a midi dress or a floor-length model will cover massive hips and rounded knees. Girls with thin elastic legs can safely wear a short dress with bare shoulders.

Most of all, a frank style suits girls with a narrow waist and rounded expressive hips. A fitted dress with bare shoulders, belted with a narrow strap or elastic, looks especially advantageous on slender figures that look like an hourglass and a rectangle.

Women with a protruding belly or wide hips are well suited for an open Empire style dress. In this case, the high waistline shifts the visual focus to the chest area.

Photo: fashionable styles of open dresses at the heart of stylish images

wedding dresses

This off-the-shoulder long dress looks like it was made especially for brides. In this outfit, the girl looks incredibly gentle and romantic. The open top of the fitted dress focuses the eyes of others on a fresh face, a refined line of shoulders and a beautiful hairstyle.

A velvet or chiffon sheath dress, embellished with embroidery, faux flowers or rhinestones, gives the wedding look a discreet sensuality.

beach look

An off-the-shoulder cotton summer dress is perfect for hot weather. Complementing it with a thin scarf tied around your head, dark glasses and a large bright bag, you can go to the beach. From shoes, open sandals with thin straps or light ballet shoes are perfect.

With accessories, you should be restrained. Despite the fact that the open neck and shoulders beg for jewelry, do not give in to this desire. The best choice would be dangling earrings or a large bright bracelet.

Boho style

You can take a thin knitted dress with bare shoulders as the basis of the set. To stylize the boho look, you should use multiple decorations of simple shapes. The use of flat sandals and a soft bag with fringe on a long handle over the shoulder is mandatory. The finishing touch is a wide-brimmed hat, lowered low over the eyes.

New look dresses

The styles created by Christian Dior are characterized by a feminine and romantic silhouette. Fitted bodice and bell skirt accentuate a narrow waist and beautiful breasts. These dresses are perfect for summer walks, outdoor parties, meetings with friends. If you throw a short bolero jacket over your shoulders, you will get a wonderful everyday set. In this image, sensuality and closeness are harmoniously combined in an incredible way.

Retro style

Off-the-shoulder cocktail dresses made from thin flowing fabrics look spectacular and fresh. Fluffy skirt, asymmetric hem, deep neckline with frills - all these are successful elements of building retro models. A denim dress with long sleeves, slightly baring the shoulders, organically fits into the fashionable look typical of the recent past. The best hairstyle is hair gathered in a ponytail and casually thrown over the shoulder.

Everyday look

The best option for creating a universal set is a bandeau dress. The name of the model comes from the French bande, which translates as a ribbon or bandage. A small fitted dress tightly fits the figure, focusing on open legs and a revealing neckline.

The built-in corset successfully corrects imperfections in problem areas. A bandeau dress looks equally impressive with different hem lengths. If you prefer the model to the floor, then high cuts in the side seams will be useful in it.

A dress or blouse with open shoulders should be in the wardrobe of every girl who wants to look romantic and feminine. A well-chosen outfit that opens the neck, throat and shoulders will be appropriate at any solemn event and on a first date, it looks good in the photo and emphasizes the tenderness of the image.

Types of dresses

Fantasy allows fashion designers to create many styles of off-the-shoulder dresses. Such a variety allows you to choose clothes for any occasion and type of figure. The only restriction is that it is not customary to wear a bra under dresses. The top of the dress is kept on an elastic band (more about cocktail options and sundresses) or due to a rigid corset and cut features.

Most often, an open top is used for wedding dresses. Evening and cocktail dresses with bare shoulders can be of various types, styles and styles:

• fitted;
• semi-fitted;
• empire;
• in the Greek style;
• in retro style (“peasant woman” - an elasticated dress with puffed sleeves made of natural fabrics, often decorated with flounces);
• baby dollar;
• sundresses;
• in ethnic style and so on.

Cape on the shoulders to the dress

To complete the look, an off-the-shoulder dress is often complemented with a cape. She is able to favorably emphasize the figure and warm on a cool evening. Bolero is perhaps the most famous and popular cape.. It is a short jacket with sleeves, but without fasteners.

Another great addition to a sleeveless dress is a boa. This is a cape made in the form of a scarf made of fur or feathers.

The boa should be long and full enough to cover the throat, shoulders and décolleté.

This product can be bought for a gala evening with dancing or going to the theater. With a short dress, the boa will look vulgar, so it is worn with a long dress to the floor.

A fur cape resembling a fur coat is called a manto. Its silhouette expands downward, the sleeves are flared or absent, like a poncho. Manto will become not only beautiful, but also a useful accessory for wedding dresses.

For light, airy peasant-style dresses, a cape made of expensive fabrics is suitable as an addition: satin, silk, organza, chiffon or taffeta. It can be stoles, scarves and shawls. They can complement the wedding dress during the wedding.

The cape can be made from a variety of materials. The most popular are fur, thin or textured fabrics, lace. When choosing an accessory, you should consider the finish of the dress. If the main outfit is generously decorated with beads, lace, rhinestones or other accessories, the cape should be as simple as possible. The same rule applies to the silhouette: a fluffy cape is suitable for a straight dress and vice versa.

Decorations for the dress

Having decided to buy a wedding or evening dress with bare shoulders, you should take care of choosing the right jewelry, because in such an outfit, the neckline, neck and throat will attract all eyes around.

When choosing jewelry, you need to consider the style and finish of the outfit. The more accessories on the dress, the more modest jewelry should be.. In the morning and afternoon, massive bright decorations will be inappropriate, but suitable for a celebration or an evening out. For most open dresses, stylists recommend buying bright cluster earrings that reach to the shoulders.

• With a long floor-length dress, a necklace or chain with a large pendant looks good, earrings can also be massive with large inserts.
• Jewelry made of precious metals with catchy gems is suitable for a sheath dress.
• For an outfit with puffy sleeves, you can buy products with a simple design and texture.

The “peasant woman” model made of light natural fabrics will favorably set off decorations made of wood and other natural materials. Layering is acceptable here, that is, the throat and neck can be decorated with several turns of beads or two or three bracelets can be worn.

When choosing which jewelry to buy for an off-the-shoulder dress, you also need to focus on the neckline of the outfit. An asymmetrical top most often does not need chains, necklaces or beads. The same applies to one-shoulder clothing.

Earrings and a bracelet will suffice, as jewelry around the neck will overload the top.

Jewelery worn on the throat looks very advantageous with an open neckline - velvet or choker with a small pendant.

Hairstyle under the dress

In wedding photos, you can most often see the bride in a floor-length dress with bare shoulders. In order for the image to be perfect, you need to responsibly approach the choice of hairstyle. The style of the dress draws the eye to the neck and décolleté, so do not cover them with hair.

The hairstyle should open the throat, back of the head and shoulders, so the hair is lifted up and laid. A white wedding dress can be complemented with an intricate braid or tight curls. The more modest the decoration of the outfit, the more luxurious the hairstyle can be decorated.

A long evening dress will look good with hair styled in lush curls on one shoulder. A cocktail dress with an open top is combined with a hairstyle with a bright flower or a hairpin.

For a dress with frills or wide sleeves, romantic hairstyles are suitable with slightly curled hair, tucked into a ponytail or gathered at the back of the head. A floor-length dress with bare shoulders goes well with retro style. Suitable hairstyles are shell, babette, ponytail or bun.

Stars in open dresses

In the photo from fashion shows and red carpets, stars can most often be seen in off-the-shoulder outfits. And for a wedding, celebrities also prefer branded outfits that open their neck and shoulders.

A floor-length dress, complete with diamonds and a clutch, is considered the perfect choice for the Oscars. In 2015, fashion reviewers were delighted with Gwyneth Paltrow's outfit: a long pale pink dress over one shoulder, complemented by sleek hair and catchy earrings.

Nicole Kidman excelled in a dress made of unusual material. The simplicity of the silhouette emphasized the luxury of the crocodile skin from which the outfit was sewn.

Many girls enjoy wearing maxi dresses in their daily life. And floor-length dresses with bare shoulders are especially popular this season.

Summer dresses on the floor with bare shoulders

Options for the summer are usually made of thin flying fabrics that are well breathable, so they are comfortable even in extreme heat. Most often, chiffon or thin guipure is chosen for such outfits. Sometimes it can be knitwear.

Open shoulders on a summer dress add style and make the outfit more fashionable. Now you can find two of the most popular models of such dresses. Both of them have an elastic band inserted into the cutout at the top, which tightly fits the bare shoulders, thereby fixing the thing on the figure.

The first model has sleeves, which are also often gathered with an elastic band around the cuffs. Such dresses look more evening, so they are often made of plain materials in bright colors. So, floor-length red dresses with bare shoulders look very beautiful, which are well suited even for very solemn occasions, for example, proms or going to a wedding as a guest.

The second model is a floor-length dress with a frill that adorns bare shoulders. Long models of this kind can also have a very festive look, but are often made more simple, everyday. A floor-length white dress with bare shoulders is a good option for relaxing or wearing in a hot city.

Sets with floor-length dresses with bare shoulders

Since such dresses usually have a loose fit, the most logical addition to them will be belts that focus on the waist area and create a beautiful one. At the same time, thin girls can opt for thin and delicate straps, while women with shapes should pay attention to wider options. Shoes for a dress with bare shoulders are best selected based on its length. If it reaches the floor, then it is quite possible to opt for sandals or ballet flats, and to keep the hem of longer models clean, you will have to choose shoes with heels.

A black dress is that small detail that, of course, should be present among the abundance of outfits in the wardrobe of every woman, regardless of age category and occupation. Whether it's a black dress with bare shoulders or a long-sleeve neckline dress, it should definitely fit perfectly and embody modest, seasoned femininity. Moreover, in addition to an attractive image against the background of other types of clothing of a similar plan, the outfit stands out for its practicality, comfort and ease of use.

Advantages of open top

The fashion trends of our time open up the opportunity for today's charmers to contemplate the latest trendy styles in the form of many different photos of black dresses with bare shoulders. To date, there are a lot of fabric, finishing, accessories, color models of tailoring that will appeal to any woman, even the most demanding and picky. At the same time, the main advantages of the described attire are due to the following positive qualities:

• due to its color in warm or cold shades, a silhouette black dress with bare shoulders visually corrects the figure of the girl who put it on and slims her camp;
• the dark color of such an outfit allows you to hide the pollution suddenly received in the process of wearing and not so expressively reveals the possible shortcomings made during ironing;
• the open-top style makes it possible to expose the smooth silky skin of the neck and shoulders, thereby attracting the admiring glances of the opposite sex and the envious glances of women.

Variations of the fabric variety of an open black dress

Thanks to the actively developing clothing design industry, the assortment in a huge variety of fabric features of the material is also growing. So, black with bare shoulders looks perfect in its tailoring with a collar under the throat and bare arms, forming a kind of velor choker on the neck.

Angora insulated fabric in a fitted midi style goes well with a hood collar, which successfully transforms into a wide chest collar and very sexy opens up the shoulder area.

A lighter dressy option can be presented in the form of a black off-the-shoulder lace dress, silhouette-hugging the figure and looking flawless in its expensive guipure trim. And summer variations of a black dress with an open top can be represented by chiffon, satin, lined sequins, thin suede, knitwear and other options and fabric compositions.

Black dress with an armhole on one shoulder

Unusual design solutions have always attracted women. Croy sets the mood for the whole look. A rather relevant model is a black dress with an armhole on one shoulder. A kind of ancient Roman orientation with elements of European quality. This dress looks chic in velor material and looks perfect in a fitted cut for any possible length.

Black dress with straps

An equally popular option for an open dress in dark colors is an elegant look with straps. At the same time, straps can vary from thin, elegant double or triple parallel flagella to wide shoulder straps decorated with stones or pearls. Any dress in such a shaped solution looks very sexy and feminine, because with its cut it allows you to contemplate the naked neck, shoulders, back and décolleté of the lady who put it on. The top on the straps is beautifully combined with a free trapezoidal bottom of the cut of the dress or in combination with a belt and an allowance from it.

Sleeveless black dress

The sheath style is considered an impeccable option for a black dress with bare shoulders under the throat. The so-called sleeveless dress, it perfectly fits the figure from the very neck to the level of the knees, very favorably emphasizing the dignity of the lady who put it on in the form of a beautifully defined chest, a thin waist and wide attractive hips. For all its closeness in the bust area and not having a short length, such a dress sometimes causes more admiration and interest from the opposite sex than a shortened version of a dress or dress with a deep neckline in the bodice area. As an outfit for every day, this type of attire will be worn perfectly in a knitted rib fabric, which stretches well and fits well on the figure. A more elegant and solemn version is sewn in Lurex shiny fabric.

Black Boat Neck Dress

A rather elegant and at the same time slightly daring model is a short black dress with bare shoulders and a wide boat neckline. Its main flashy advantage is the shortened length, which opens up an overview of the slender long legs of its owner. Of course, this is a rather bold decision, given that not every young lady can afford such a length.

But here the winning moment is considered to be a neatly beaten style with long sleeves and a boat neckline: it opens the shoulders a little, but at the same time covers the chest and décolleté with a horizontal even line, which forms a kind of balance between open legs and closed chest. It is noteworthy that the hem of the dress can be both tight-fitting and in the form of a trapezoid or a bell-shaped style flared from the waist.

And even more advantageous is the fact that a similar black dress with bare shoulders is worn with sleeves of different lengths: it can be both short and three-quarter sleeves and up to the level of the brush. The most appropriate fabric solution for sewing the described style is now fashionable diving or French knitwear.

Black dress with beveled braid on the shoulders and a deep neckline

An extravagant version of a black dress with bare shoulders is a V-shaped top, reminiscent of the wings of a seagull. A slightly beveled strap, sewn not in the usual vertical formation, but slightly diagonally down to the shoulder, looks very nice in an additional decorative decoration in the form of inlays of stones or pearl beads. This option, of course, is more appropriate to wear on occasion of a special occasion or a solemn event. From above, you can combine such a dress with a bolero, boa or fur cape, which, of course, looks quite expensive and aristocratic in the overall composition.

Black dress with transformer collar

Quite a trendy variation of modernity are tunics with a collar-hood that transforms into a wide horizontal chest collar. Typically, this kind of clothing is sewn in warm or semi-warm fabric variations: double thread, angora, fleece knitwear, thin acrylic knitting, and the like. This dress looks great with sleeves and bare shoulders in black. The most acceptable length in this case is midi, since it does not look quite correct in the overall composition with a collar in a shortened version, and in an elongated one below the knee it is awkward. A dress of this kind does not require any additional decorative elements, since it is designed for convenience and comfort in wearing without frills.

Black dress with slits on the shoulders

Another trendy trend of our time today is a black dress with sleeves and bare shoulders due to neatly trimmed slits. Visually, the dress looks quite modest: it is closed in the bust area, has long sleeves that hide the velvet skin of women's hands, but at the same time there is a small zest in the form of an open shoulder area - this is the design idea. It can be made in a straight cut or with an additional stitching of the fabric with a frill at chest level along the entire circumference, taking into account both the arms and the back. This option is relevant in a velor fabric design with or without a mesh in the chest area - in any shaped solution, this cut looks very feminine and elegant.

Black dress with detached bodice

A bright, catchy, extravagant and daring version of evening attire is a black dress with bare shoulders in a separate corsage. The fully open top, with no straps, no one-shoulder armhole, no mesh edging, looks very sexy and feminine. This is the case when a woman wants to conquer absolutely everyone with her unsurpassed self-confident taste choice. Due to the elegance and solemnity of this option, the corsage is usually decorated with either a edging with a shiny thread, or an abstraction in the form of some kind of embroidery, or intricately gathered folds on the chest. The most successful option in choosing a fabric for such a style is jet black velor or velvet.

Black open dress to the floor

No less chic, but more elegant and seasoned model is a black dress with open shoulders to the floor. Designed for secular evenings and ceremonial receptions, it plays up the nobility and luxury of its tarry color and falls aristocratically from top to bottom with jet waves of fabric. Accentuated open shoulders of such an outfit contrast favorably with the color of delicate female skin. A high hairstyle, most appropriate for such an occasion, allows you to evaluate the image from top to toe: a refined neck, graceful posture, neatly defined buttocks and long, slender legs hidden under the hem look simply excellent. Often a long black dress with bare shoulders on the straps is complemented by a deep neckline on the back with or without a Greek-style frill falling to the level of the waist. A light train sometimes helps to complement the image, perfectly emphasizing the aristocracy and sophistication of the chosen beauty.

Accessories for a black open dress

The naked upper zone of the described outfit allows fashionistas to decorate their appearance with additional accents in the form of eye-catching accessories. A black off-the-shoulder dress is ideally combined with jewelry in the form of jewelry or expensive jewelry in gold and silver shades. Black with gold and black with silver are two of the most successful combinations in clothing and jewelry that you can imagine. Therefore, it is no wonder that many women of fashion use silver or white gold necklaces with stones or gold long earrings in combination with massive gold bracelets as decorations in addition to their image. Of course, pearl jewelry will also suit the outfit.

The mass and wide-profile tailoring of black dresses with an open top in their various fabric and finishing materials surprises and pleases with an abundance of choice, thanks to which any woman can choose an outfit to her taste and remain completely satisfied at the same time.