Halter Neck Dresses: 8 Designer Gowns and Midis, and How to Wear One
Halter Neck Dresses: 8 Designer Gowns and Midis, and How to Wear One
The short answer: a halter neck dress fastens behind the neck, which bares the shoulders and draws the eye up, so it flatters broad shoulders and gives a long, lean line. For black tie, our first pick is the Cambridge Column Gown by Rebecca Vallance, a blue topaz sequin column with a plunging halter neckline. For a cocktail evening, choose the Gimlet Halter Midi Dress in Navy, a wrap bodice midi with a halter neckline in custom diamante trim. The brand files eight pieces on Coveti in its own Halter Neck Dresses edit. See every style in evening gowns, and for the long version read our halter maxi dresses guide. Browse more designer dresses at Coveti.
The halter has been an evening neckline since the 1930s, when it was cut in bias satin for Hollywood, and it has never quite gone away because it is so effective. It shows off the shoulders and back, it creates a strong V at the front, and it suits structured and fluid fabrics equally. Rebecca Vallance uses it on everything from silk to sequins.
Halter neck dresses at a glance
| Occasion | Our pick | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Black tie | Cambridge Column Gown | Sequin column, plunging halter |
| Black tie, red | Raziel Gown | Asymmetrical halter, detachable bow with train |
| Evening, gold | Windsor Gown | Silk, sequin trim |
| Cocktail | Gimlet Halter Midi Dress in Navy | Wrap bodice, diamante halter |
| Day wedding, races | Fleur De Lis Maxi Dress | Printed silk, drop waist |
Our picks
1. Cambridge Column Gown
Blue topaz sequins, a plunging halter neckline and a column maxi skirt. Add the matching Cambridge Cape in Blue Topaz for a ceremony.
2. Raziel Gown
Red, with an asymmetrical halter neckline, a fitted bodice and a detachable bow with a train. The most theatrical gown here.
3. Windsor Gown
Gold silk with a relaxed bodice, a halter neckline and a sequin embellished trim. Fluid, easy, and very glamorous.
4. Yolanda Gown
Lilac, with a halter neckline, custom trims and a column maxi skirt. A colour that works at a spring black tie wedding.
5. Noemie Gown
Black, with a halter neckline, a wrap bodice with a front cut out and diamante embellishment, in recycled polyester.
6. Gimlet Halter Midi Dress in Navy
A wrap bodice, a halter neckline in custom diamante trim and a front cut out, on a midi in recycled polyester. The halter for a cocktail party.
7. Gimlet Halter Midi Dress in Cornflower Blue
The same dress in cornflower blue, a brighter blue for a summer evening.
8. Fleur De Lis Maxi Dress
Silk in the custom Fleur de Lis floral print, with a halter neckline and a gathered drop waist seam. The daytime halter, for a garden wedding and the races.
How to wear a halter neck dress
Who it suits: a halter flatters broad and athletic shoulders, and it lengthens the neck. If your shoulders are narrow, a wide halter strap and a plunging V, as on the Cambridge, give the best balance.
What to wear underneath: A halter usually rules out a regular bra. A strapless bra, a halter bra and adhesive cups are the usual options. Many halter gowns are lined firmly enough to go without.
Jewellery: Skip the necklace. A halter neckline is a frame in itself, so wear statement earrings and put your hair up to show the back.
On sizing: Rebecca Vallance says its dresses fit true to size, and AU sizing matches UK sizing. Our size guide has the chart.
Frequently asked questions
Who should wear a halter neck dress?
Almost anyone, but it is especially flattering on broad shoulders and toned arms, and it lengthens the neck. A plunging halter suits a smaller bust, a wider strap suits a fuller one.
What bra do you wear with a halter dress?
A strapless bra, a halter bra, adhesive cups, depending on the cut. A well lined halter gown often needs nothing at all.
Can you wear a halter neck dress to a wedding?
Yes, at most weddings, especially evening and black tie ones. Bring a wrap for a church ceremony, and note that halter necklines are not permitted in the Royal Ascot Royal Enclosure.
Is a halter neck dress formal?
It can be. A halter column gown in sequins, such as the Cambridge Column Gown, is fully black tie. A halter midi is cocktail, and a printed silk halter maxi is daytime.
For more, read our strapless dresses guide, the sequin evening gowns edit and blue wedding guest dresses.
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