Meghan Markle Has Worn Three Boat Neck Dresses in Less Than a Week
Meghan Markle surprised and delighted when she stepped out of the carriage at St. George’s Chapel wearing a simple Claire Waight Keller gown, the most interesting detail of which was its wide scooped neckline; a subtle flash of skin that hints at sexuality without breaking any royal rules.
In the two months since her nuptials, Markle is proving the boatneck to be one of her go-to styles. Like Jackie O had the pillbox hat, Meghan Markle has the boat neck dress. On June 9th she donned a pale pink Carolina Herrera skirt suit with a wide neckline to a Trooping the Colour event. Since then, she’s stepped out wearing three boat neck dresses in the span of a week. First, she wore the canary yellow Brandon Maxwell number with its major 60s retro vibes on July 6th. Then, a sage green Ralph Lauren dress with a demure but far-reaching neckline on July 8th. Today, Markle has been spotted wearing a navy Dior dress with a sweeping neckline and tiny waist belt at an event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force.
Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty
Meghan Markle Boat Neck Dresses
Boat necklines, hence the name, have a pretty obvious tie to nautical history. The wide necklines derive from the Breton striped sweatshirts beloved by 19th century sailors. The wide necklines were said to facilitate quick removal should a sailor happen to fall overboard.
Ahoy matey! Shop these boat neck styles so you can nab Meghan Markle’s signature style.
Boat Neck Dresses
Seamed Bodice Fit & Flare Dress
($146, Eliza J)
Isabel Slone is a fashion journalist and critic based in Toronto. She is author of the newsletter Freak Palace.