Meghan’s in same boat as Hepburn

Her favourite neckline echoes movie icon

There’s no denying Meghan Markle looks effortlessly chic in, well, everything.

While mere mortals can only dream of pulling off some of her outfits, there is one style we can easily steal – her go-to boat neck.

The Duchess of Sussex wore a taupe Roland Mouret dress for her second day of engagements in Ireland and a black Dior gown with a full skirt earlier this week.

Both dresses featured an elegant bateau (or boat) neckline, a style favoured by Audrey Hepburn.

A bateau neck runs horizontally, front and back across the collar bone. They were the chosen style for sailors’ sweaters as they were said to help with quick removal if they fell overboard.

It was incorporated into evening wear by French couturier Hubert de Givenchy, who formed a close friendship with 50s film star Audrey.

They collaborated on her iconic outfits created for Sabrina in 1954 and Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961.

The “Sabrina” frock and Holly Golightly’s black column dress both featured the neckline. Following the success of Sabrina, the bateau was referred to as the Sabrina neckline.

So it is no coincidence Meghan turned to the house of Givenchy to create her wedding dress.

The gown had the neckline which she has continued to wear it many times. As far back as 2014, the former Suits star wore a blue shift dress with a boat neck at Elle’s annual Women in Television event.

She wore a plaid Theory jacket at Cardiff Castle in January and showcased a boat neck Prada twopiece at the Queen’s Young Leaders reception last month.

She chose a yellow Brandon Maxwell dress with a boat neck for a reception for the Your Commonwealth youth challenge and an olive green Ralph Lauren gown at Prince Louis’ christening.

Audrey loved the neckline as it hid her slender collarbone and accented her shoulders.

It may have been called the Sabrina, but something tells me, it won’t be long until it’s the Meghan.