This Might Be the Most Elegant Dress Trend, Well, Ever

@annabelrosendahl wearing a brown NA-KD boatneck long-sleeve maxi dress with a belt.

(Image credit: @annabelrosendahl)

There are tons of dress styles out there, from mini and maxi to sleeveless and long-sleeve, but what if I told you that one is available in all your favorite silhouettes? It's all about the neckline. Timeless boatneck pieces have been popping up everywhere, from tank tops to—you guessed it—dresses. There's just something about this specific neckline that adds a certain elegance to any look. It's no wonder Meghan Markle opted for one on her wedding day. You can find designs with this neckline in many dress forms, including column, A-line, and shift. Plus, the shape lends itself beautifully to statement pendants and choker necklaces.

To help you decide which to add to your wardrobe, I rounded up 29 of the best boatneck dresses, all guaranteed to elevate your winter rotation. The good news is that you can also wear a lot of these styles once spring comes around next year and beyond. It's a classic look that will stand the test of time season after season, so you'll want to snag one (or more!) of the below dresses. There are LBDs, zebra-printed numbers, and ribbed knits that you can incorporate into your closet now—no actual boat needed.

Lauren Adhav
Freelance Fashion Editor

Lauren Adhav is a freelance fashion editor based in Los Angeles. Originally from Orlando, Florida, she always wanted to work at a fashion magazine. After finally getting an internship at Town & Country in 2015, she moved to New York City and continued to get her footing in the industry with stints at Cosmopolitan, W magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and Moda Operandi. In 2017, she returned to Cosmo full time, starting off as the beauty and fashion editorial assistant and working her way to fashion editor. She contributed to both the website and print issues, pitching new ideas, forecasting trends, covering red carpet events, and informing the overall coverage and brand voice. After five years in NYC, she moved to the West Coast for the sunshine and the change of pace. As a freelance fashion editor, she still contributes to Cosmo and now Who What Wear. She's always trying to get ahead of the next big trend before it goes mainstream and loves discovering fashion brands with a unique point of view (Chopova Lowena, Sandy Liang, and Bode being some of her current favorites). She also spends an unhealthy amount of time online shopping for the perfect piece, and now that she's in L.A., she's rediscovering her soft spot for malls. On the weekends, you can find her walking around the Silver Lake Reservoir, trying to catch up on her tan at Venice Beach, and probably ordering a Chinese chicken salad at Joan's on Third.