Nicole Kidman wore a Jean Paul Gaultier dress to the 2025 National Board of Review Gala. The full-length black dress had a wide boat neck and looked similar to one Meghan Markle has worn. Shop flattering boat neck dresses, starting at $46, to see why this is one of the most flattering necklines ever.

It can make any basic feel fresh.

It doesn’t take a lot for a classic style to drift into the basic lane, especially when it’s something as simple as a long black dress. Given it’s both timeless and no-frills, the risk of it feeling over done is kind of high. Fortunately, there’s a Meghan Markle-used hack for making that style—or, well, any style, really—feel fresh, and Nicole Kidman just employed it.

Kidman wore a full-length, body-skimming black dress to the 2025 National Board of Review Gala earlier this week, but nothing about it felt boring. Of course, the pearl trim and plunging back were to thank, but there was a simple detail that helped, too: that wide boat neck that’s also become a signature of Markle’s. The flattering neckline isn’t necessarily daring or bold, but it can make a simple style feel a little more interesting. And, thanks to that small shoulder reveal, I’d argue a little sexier, too. 

Kidman’s style was a reminder that the classic dress can, with a small twist, still be exciting. Below, I found eight classic-but-not-basic dresses that use that very neckline hack, starting at $46.

8 Kidman-Inspired Boat Neck Dresses

• Milumia Sleeveless Maxi Dress, $46; amazon.com 
• Glnege Long-Sleeve Maxi Dress, $53; amazon.com 
• Mango Long-Sleeve Rib Knit Midi Dress, $60; nordstrom.com 
• Cos Sleeveless Corset Maxi Dress, $150; nordstrom.com 
• Madewell Bubble-Hem Midi Dress, $198; madewell.com 
• Hill House Home the Cosima Nap Dress, $198; hillhousehome.com 
• Reformation Pike Satin Dress, $248; thereformation.com 
• Staud Gres Ruched Long-Sleeve Midi Dress, $395; nordstrom.com 

Glnege Long-Sleeve Maxi Dress

$53 at Amazon

The most straight-forward lookalike is this $53 dress from Amazon. Like Kidman’s, this long-sleeve maxi dress subtly hugs the body and has that wide neckline. It’s a really simple look, but thanks to the boat neck, feels a touch more elegant than a basic black dress.

Madewell Bubble-Hem Midi Dress

$198 at Madewell.com

Madewell didn’t just use a boat neck to modernize its black dress; the style also features a trending bubble hem. That voluminous, almost poofy bottom is balanced by the fitted bodice. It’s a little bit ballerina, a little Audrey Hepburn, and, frankly, I love it.

Staud Gres Ruched Long-Sleeve Midi Dress

$395 at Nordstrom

Staud also employed two details to breathe new life into the classic style. The Gres dress has, of course, that neckline, but it also includes ruching at the waist and hips. Not only can ruching be incredibly flattering, but the way this is done—with the material rippling around a long, central piece of fabric—is truly beautiful.

A boat neck is the easiest way to make a classic style feel a little less basic. Shop more dresses inspired by Kidman’s, below.

Milumia Sleeveless Maxi Dress

$46 at Amazon

Mango Long-Sleeve Rib Knit Midi Dress

$60 at Nordstrom

Cos Sleeveless Corset Maxi Dress

$150 at Nordstrom

Hill House Home the Cosima Nap Dress

$198 at Hillhousehome.com

Reformation Pike Satin Dress

$248 at Reformation