Variant spelling of 'décolletage,' referring to the neckline of a garment, especially one that is cut low or exposes the neck and upper chest area.
From French 'décolleté,' derived from 'décolleter' (to bare the neck and shoulders), combining 'de-' (remove) and 'collet' (neck), from Latin 'collum' (neck). Adopted into English fashion terminology in the 18th century.
The word 'décolletage' was considered scandalous in Victorian times — necklines were obsessively controlled, and fashion history shows that what we expose or conceal in clothing is deeply tied to cultural values about modesty and power!
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