Low Cut Collection

Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, second wife to Henry VIII 1501-1536. Depicted as she appeared in France with Mary Tudor. She wears a gable hood chaperon with hanging tail, low-cut bodice

Young girl of Bayeux
5855709 Young girl of Bayeux; (add.info.: Young girl of Bayeux. No woman of high society would wear such a low-cut neckline in Paris as this floozy)

Joan Collins opens Extravaganza 70, an eight day festival of pop music and young fashion, at The Empire Hall, Olympia, Kensington. Picture taken 29th May 1970

Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer attend their first public event together at Goldsmiths Hall. Diana is wearing a Black Taffeta Evening dress designed by fashion designers The Emanuels

Fashionable woman or Merveilleuse in a toque cap, 1801 (handcoloured copperplate engraving)
5986479 Fashionable woman or Merveilleuse in a toque cap, 1801 (handcoloured copperplate engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Fashionable woman or Merveilleuse in a toque cap)

Merveilleuse playing a guitar, 1800 (handcoloured copperplate engraving)
5986561 Merveilleuse playing a guitar, 1800 (handcoloured copperplate engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Merveilleuse playing a guitar, 1800)

Fashionable woman or Merveilleuse in crepe hat, 1801 (handcoloured copperplate engraving)
5986502 Fashionable woman or Merveilleuse in crepe hat, 1801 (handcoloured copperplate engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Fashionable woman or Merveilleuse in crepe hat, 1801)

Fashionable woman or Merveilleuse in ancient Greek hairstyle, 18 (handcoloured copperplate engraving)
5986459 Fashionable woman or Merveilleuse in ancient Greek hairstyle, 18 (handcoloured copperplate engraving) by French School

Portrait of a Lady wearing a Feather Hat, 1910 (pastel on board)
658544 Portrait of a Lady wearing a Feather Hat, 1910 (pastel on board) by Stuck, Franz von (1863-1928); 90.2x52 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Portrait of a Lady wearing a Feather Hat)

The Supper, 1902 (oil on canvas)
SRM47629 The Supper, 1902 (oil on canvas) by Bakst, Leon (1866-1924); 48x39 cm; State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia; eState Russian Museum; Russian, out of copyright

Merveilleuses eating ice cream at a Paris cafe
Fashionable women or merveilleuses eating ice cream with their dogs at a cafe, circa 1800. The menu includes lemon, orange, pistachio, and creme blanche

Ninon de l Enclos, French author, courtesan and salon hostess, 1615-1705. She wears her hair loose in ringlets, a low-cut mantua dress with bodice and skirt in green velvet decorated with bows

Marion de Lorme, lover of the poet Desbarreaux, 1613-1650
Marion de Lorme, salon hostess, courtesan, lover of the poet Des Barreaux and Cardinal Richelieu, 1613-1650. She wears her hair loose in ringlets, a pearl necklace

The latest social scandal, the daring multi-head clothing that appeared in public in Paris (Colour Litho)
2815117 The latest social scandal, the daring multi-head clothing that appeared in public in Paris (Colour Litho) by Beltrame

Portrait of Madame X, c. 1901-1902 (black chalk heightened with red chalk on paper)
989971 Portrait of Madame X, c.1901-1902 (black chalk heightened with red chalk on paper) by Boldini, Giovanni (1842-1931); 35.6x25.2 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Portrait of Madame X)

Fashionable woman in luxurious outfit, 1800 (handcoloured copperplate engraving)
5986584 Fashionable woman in luxurious outfit, 1800 (handcoloured copperplate engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Fashionable woman or merveilleuse in luxurious outfit, 1800)

Fashionable woman in Etruscan hairstyle, Greek-style tunic, 1801 (handcoloured copperplate engraving)
5986457 Fashionable woman in Etruscan hairstyle, Greek-style tunic, 1801 (handcoloured copperplate engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Fashionable woman in Etruscan hairstyle)

Two fashionable women in the gardens of the Tuileries, Jardins des Tuileries, Paris, Year VII, 1799
5913027 Two fashionable women in the gardens of the Tuileries, Jardins des Tuileries, Paris, Year VII, 1799. In low-cut, high-waisted robes tied with ribbons, bonnets, holding fans

Costume of Madame Raquet, merveilleuse in the martyr style.. Costume of Madame Raquet, merveilleuse in the martyr style. She wears a round English hat in beaver skin

Stylish French Girl in low-cut black and green dress, seated on a settee. Date: circa 1920s

Princess Diana arrives for a UNESCO charity dinner at the Palace of Versailles near Paris in aid of Barnardos and Fondation Pour L Enfance

Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing a Victor Edelstein evening dress to a performance of the opera Salome by the Welsh National Opera during a visit to Tokyo, Japan. 14th November 1990

Yvette Guilbert, Music-Hall Singer, 1895 (oil on enamel)
XIR901543 Yvette Guilbert, Music-Hall Singer, 1895 (oil on enamel) by Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de (1864-1901); Musee Toulouse-Lautrec, Albi, France; (add.info.: Yvette Guilbert)

Young woman wearing evening dress, (B&W), portrait

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"Low Cut: A Fashion Evolution Through History" From Anne Boleyn to Joan Collins, the allure fashion has captivated women throughout time. As Queen of England and Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn was known for her daring style choices, including low cut gowns that pushed societal boundaries. Fast forward to the swinging 70s when Joan Collins opened Extravaganza 70, an eight-day festival celebrating pop music and young fashion. The event showcased the emergence dresses as a symbol of liberation and self-expression. Artistic masterpieces like "Salome" depicted women in alluring low cut attire, highlighting their sensuality and power. Meanwhile, Hannah Humphrey's etching "Ladies Dress" from 1796 foreshadowed the upcoming trend with its provocative neckline. The Merveilleuses of the early 19th century embraced low cut fashion with enthusiasm. Handcoloured copperplate engravings showcased these fashionable women donning crepe hats or ancient Greek hairstyles while playing guitars or simply exuding confidence. Intriguing portraits such as "Portrait of a Lady wearing a Feather Hat" from 1910 captured the elegance and sophistication associated with low cut styles. Similarly, "The Supper, " painted in 1902, revealed how this trend transcended clothing into art itself. Even Ninon de l'Enclos, a French author and courtesan known for her wit and charm during the reign of Louis XIV, understood the power that lay within revealing necklines. Her influence on society further solidified low cuts as symbols of allure and seduction. Whether it be historical figures like Anne Boleyn or modern icons like Joan Collins opening festivals with panache; whether it be oil paintings depicting scenes filled with ice cream-eating Merveilleuses at Paris cafes or pastel portraits showcasing feather-hatted ladies - one thing remains clear.