décolleté

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A low-cut neckline on a woman's dress or top: "décolleté" refers to the part of a garment that exposes the neck and shoulders, often cut low to reveal the upper chest.

2. Adjective:

   • Having a low neckline: Describes a piece of clothing, especially a dress or blouse, that is cut low to expose the neck and shoulders.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The actress wore a stunning gown with a dramatic décolleté. (A dress with a low-cut neckline.)
  • She applied a touch of shimmering powder to her décolleté for the evening event. (The exposed area of the neck and chest.)

• Adjective:

  • She chose a décolleté blouse for the formal dinner. (A blouse with a low neckline.)
  • The dress was too décolleté for the conservative office environment. (Too low-cut.)

Advanced Usage

• "Décolleté" as a fashion term: It is often used in haute couture and fashion criticism to describe the design of a garment's neckline.

  • The designer's collection featured many décolleté silhouettes, emphasizing the elegance of the neck and shoulders. (Garments with low necklines.)

• "Décolleté" in cosmetics: The term is also used to refer to the skin area of the neck and chest that is exposed by such a neckline.

  • She applied sunscreen to her décolleté to prevent sun damage. (The exposed skin area.)

Variants and Related Words

• Décolletage (n): A synonym for "décolleté," referring specifically to the neckline or the exposed area.

  • The dress had a beautiful décolletage trimmed with lace. (The low-cut neckline.)

• Décolleté (adj): Can also be spelled without the accent in English, though the accent is common in fashion contexts.

  • She wore a décolleté gown. (Accented spelling is standard.)

Synonyms

• Low-cut: Describes a garment that is cut low, especially at the neckline.

  • She wore a low-cut dress to the party. (Similar meaning to "décolleté" as an adjective.)

• Revealing: Tending to expose more skin than usual.

  • The top was too revealing for a job interview. (Overlaps in meaning but is broader.)

Related Idioms

• "To show a lot of décolleté": To wear clothing that exposes a significant amount of the neck and chest.

  • At the red carpet event, many celebrities showed a lot of décolleté. (Wore low-cut dresses.)

• "Décolleté is in fashion": A phrase indicating that low-cut necklines are currently trendy.

  • This season, décolleté is in fashion, with many designers featuring plunging necklines. (The style is popular.)