It is believed that in the ancient world knew neckline. In fact, while wearing clothes that start well below the chest and stick tape. Cleavage appeared in its modern sense until much later in Europe in the XIV century at the court of Isabella of Bavaria in Burgundy. Rectangular cut of the dress, while more delicate denude the area below the neck and back, and called cleavage, which means "neck is cut off" from the word decollete.
Despite such a terrible name, this trend had to taste the ladies. Cutout all increased to as long as the French Agnes Sorel - metressa ruler Charles the Bold of Burgundy did not come up with one breast to be open, and that has demonstrated for the first time on his own public repentance.
Corsets laced in the Renaissance right up to his chest, and all that is higher solemnly paraded all. Trendsetter were Italian: Lucrezia Borgia in Rome, the beautiful Simonetta - in Florence.
At European courts were later put on "Spanish style". Spaniards, frightened spread very mysterious illness that had come, they thought, to Haiti, hastily abandoned all flesh. Under pain of excommunication banned neckline. Even neck concealed "millstones" - corrugated collars. However, the know-how of Catherine de 'Medici was manifested in the clever "window" for the chest, but at the same dress decently came to the neck.
And in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England and adventures in France Queen Margot fell square neckline, which are trimmed with high lace collars.
When Gallant century began, fashion was in a state of erotic excitement. But the contents of cleavage was not enough for all the refined tastes of the era. And neck, which forms change from season to complement and filled with flowers, bows, lace, covered with pearl powder.
Aristocratic restraint the first half of the 17th century did not affect the erotic notch, as evidenced by the portraits of the ladies of the English and French courts.
Bourgeois tastes of the 19th century were attributed to a double standard. Before the evening is provided tightly closed dress and evening allowed the bold neckline.
At the end of the 19th century once again be "just naked" has become boring, unfashionable and vulgar. Now the tone was set by the actress (Rachel, Eleonora Duse, Sarah Bernhardt), professional beauty (Lillie Langtry, Cleo de Merode), demi-monde and adventurer (Mata Harry, Otero).
Frivolous charm jazz turned everything upside down. Sinking neckline on the back lower and lower ... In the fashion of the 1930s returned the absolute femininity that riabelitirovalo classical neck, but did not want to give up the bare backs. Saved dress straps. There has been a triumph of cleavage during reasonable moderation and femininity of the 1950s.