The sweetheart neckline is a fifties detail that has never actually left because it works. It creates a flattering frame for the face and shoulders and it reads as unmistakably retro without requiring anything else to make the point. These versions are in knee length or midi length and they have the structured bodice that the neckline deserves. Cotton or cotton blend fabrics that keep their shape. The sweetheart neckline does the heavy lifting here so the rest of the dress can stay simple. Solid colors or subtle prints work equally well. This is the fifties dress that feels like a considered piece rather than a novelty.