Hollywood's Sweethearts
Sweetheart necklines dominate the Golden Globes red carpet and will likely fill 2025 closets.
Zoë Kravitz in custom Saint Laurent. Photo from Getty Images via Vogue Magazine © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Cupid was at work in more ways than one with Zendaya Coleman’s showstopping look at the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards. While most viewers focused on the first public appearance of her engagement ring, her custom Louis Vuitton dress was a love affair of its own. The soft sweetheart neckline on the burnt-orange gown we have all seen by now was one of many on the red carpet that night. As the Golden Globes was the first major red carpet of the year, it sets the tone for 2025 trends, of which the sweetheart neckline will definitely be among.
Booming in popularity in the 1940s and 50s, the sweetheart neckline was a staple in the wardrobes of Marilyn Monroe both on and off screen. In more recent history, Princess Diana brought the sweetheart back to center stage in her wedding dress and in the iconic revenge dress. The style has evolved drastically over the years, but it always comes back around for the way it flatters every body type.
Left: Marilyn Monroe photographed by Sam Shaw via Tumblr Center: Princess Diana photographed by Jayne Fincher via People Magazine Right: Zoe Saldana photographed by Ellen Von Unwerth via Instagram © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
The Schiaparelli gown Naomi Watts opted for a softer heart which spoke to the style's origins in old Hollywood glamour. However, the plunging variation of the sweetheart neckline won the hearts of Golden Globe winner Zoe Saldana, Zoë Kravitz, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Janelle James. The drama of this modern interpretation lends itself well to red carpets, with the deep V and open décolleté creating the perfect backdrop for statement necklaces. However, what about the modern consumer who is not sponsored by Cartier?
The continued popularity of quiet luxury, coquette, and office siren aesthetics has had consumers leaning into their femininity in a variety of ways. The sweetheart is the perfect choice to layer with turtlenecks in the winter or show off stacks of necklaces. With corset tops making their way into everyone’s closet since 2020 for going out or formal looks, a sweetheart neckline gives wearers the same flattering silhouette with a sophisticated spin.
As the wheel of trends moves ever forward, it is yet to be seen which decade 2025 styles will emulate. The popularity of late 90s, Y2K, and McBling styles in recent years has almost caught the fashion world back up to modern day. However, with the timeless tailoring of the sweetheart neckline finding its place on the red carpet, perhaps 2025 is the year we look even further back for our style inspiration. Whether your decade of choice is 1950s A-line skirts, 1990s basic chic, or you’re looking to refresh your wardrobe for the new year, the addition of a sweetheart neckline will elevate your look with a feminine flair.
