Halter Dresses

What is a Halter Dress?

“Halter” refers to the design of the upper part of the dress – a halter cut consists of two pieces of material that go over the shoulders and come together behind the neck. These vary from thin spaghetti straps or even strings that tie in the back to wider pieces of material that are sewn together in the back and must be slipped over the head. “Halter tops” can be dresses or shirts or other top.  The halter dress typically has a gorgeous neckline and a low-cut back, but there are also halters with a high, smock neckline. Some halter dresses use draped fabric that crosses at the collarbone. Halter top dresses are sometimes called “halterneck.”

Halter Dresses

Background

Halter dresses gained popularity in the 1950s. Marilyn Monroe loved them and in many of her famous poses she is wearing one. Many styles and designs of halter dresses are inspired by this era. This style is notorious with class and elegance. It defines the true meaning of fashion. But it can also be extra-provocative, with a nearly bare back and a plunging neckline.

Advantages of a Halter Dress

You can’t go wrong in a halter dress. A simple black halter dress can be worn on a casual night out for drinks or to a ritzy dinner party. For this reason, every woman should own a halter dress. Imagine how glamorous and beautiful you will feel entering a packed room in a stunning halter dress. They are fun, classic and sexy. The right halter dress can accentuate a woman’s curves and fall beautifully around her. Halter dresses have been stylish for decades, as they possess the quality of being a timeless classic. A halter dress is very refined in appearance and gives an air of confidence to the woman who is wearing one. A woman in a halter dress is sure to steal the show! Next time you watch an awards ceremony on television take a good look at the dresses and the necklines the celebrities are choosing. Celebrities love to wear halter dresses when strutting on the red carpet because they know halter dresses are, by far, one of the sexiest formal looks their is.

Simple Black Halter Dresses

Your Body in a Halter Dress

Most women love wearing the halter dress because it makes the collarbone look refined and it magnifies the bust. Even those who have that “not-so perfect” shape can feel beautiful in a halter dress and achieve that swanky look. Women who have beautiful clear and long, defined necks will love the way they look showing some skin in a halter dress. Toned arms and shoulders also look exquisite in halter dresses. Basically, anyone who has great arms should wear this style often! Women who have large busts may appear to look even bigger in a halter dress. They should wear a halter dress that has thicker straps and let more petite girls wear thin or spaghetti straps. As always, it is always a good idea to take a friend along. They can give you feedback as to how the dress flows and if it looks great from the back. After all, they can watch you turn and walk and see you from behind where you won’t be able to. You should also try and balance out your shape in a halter dress. You will want the bottom of your halter dress to flatter the top of it. You should aim to have the length of the dress fall to your knees and pull away from your body. Because a halter dress is more revealing on top, it should be more conservative on the bottom. Finally, hair can be worn in different ways to optimize the style, but when wearing a halter dress, it is always a good idea wear your hair up to accentuate the neckline. A French twist is a beautiful and classic hairstyle that will really pull this look together.

Colorful Halter Dresses

Accessories & Jewelry

When wearing a halter dress you don’t need much jewelry. It’s a good idea to forego the necklaces as you don’t want it to take away from the halter’s neckline. Necklaces also interfere with the line of the halter dress. With a halter dress the shape of the straps is going to draw attention to your chest and face, so you don’t need a necklace to do that. Long earrings or ones that sparkle work really well when you are wearing a halter dress. If your halter dress is formal or more of an evening dress it is also wise to have minimal accessories and beadwork. Simple is better for this look. Simple is timeless and that is what you are going for in a halter dress. Avoid busy or bejeweled halter dresses. They can make you look cheap, not elegant. Because your shoulders are bare in a halter dress, you should bring a light wrap, pretty shawl or shimmery shrug to keep you cozy. A bold bag and colorful shoes look good with dark or solid color halter dresses. Colorful accessories can make the style funky and a lot of fun.

Bras for a halter dress

There are specific bras designed for halter dresses. It is a good idea to take the dress with you when trying on bras to ensure the bra is cut in the same style as the dress. You do not want bra straps peeking out or it will ruin the look. Many strapless bras work or you can opt for one with adjustable straps that can hide under the dress straps. If you have a small bust, stick-on foam cups might be a good option for you if your dress is very low cut or has a low back.

Materials & styles

The sky is the limit when it comes to fabrics and styles. Just like any other piece of clothing, material for halter dresses range from cottons to rayon to polyester. Some are simple and some have lace trim etc. Some great skirt styles have elegant pleats and A-lines. These cuts are gorgeous on halter dresses. Accordion pleat skirts will flare, giving the ‘pin-up’ girl look. Many department and specialty stores carry halter dresses with plunging neckline, fringed hems, asymmetric cuts, deep necks and many, many more.