I have two tops with front knot detailing and love them.
I´d rather go for a shorter option, because I can almost hear the obnoxious “are you pregnants”….

Agree with that concern about constant ‘ are you pregnant’ questions.
I do love the look overall,stylish and effortless.how well does it work on those with a smaller bust though?

I want that Nine West dress SO badly!

I always feel good in this style.

oops…i hit ’submit’ too early

Angie, have you had that dress on a client yet? Do you know if it runs big/small? I may not be able to get to the mall until next week, but I really want to see if I can pull off that cut and print…and their size chart is confusing. If I sized for my waist, I’d be a M/L….but by bust, I’m a S… =/

Once again, Angie, you must have read my mind. I wore this yesterday, and absolutely felt like “I looked Fab” to paraphrase the title of your website! The v-nick combined with the tie in the back – great for the waistline!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....329847369/

I have a couple of knit tops with this detailing and I love them! I just thrifted a dress with the knot, but it is a lightweight cotton poplin and so I’m not sure I’ll like the look as well. But it was a dress in a pretty style in a pretty color and its for summer!

I have to join the others on the “makes me look pregnant” bench. Maybe I’m weird or have a giant rib cage or something, but right under the bust is NOT the smallest part of my not-small torso. Having something “float away” from that spot just makes me look as though I have a protruding stomach when I really don’t. There are similar styles that do work for me, but I guess they have much less gathering under the bust and lie flat against the belly button.

Ooooh lovely. I want! I bet I’d feel comfortable in a dress like that! I actually *really* like the pink maternity dress… alas…

Angie – can you suggest a version of this dress that is not maternity and not in such a huge print?

Forgive the shameless self-promo, but I JUST got my first knot-front dress as a review sample, and was AMAZED by how flattering it was! I have a pronounced spare tire and worried it would just make me look wide all around … not so. It’s flattering and saucy and I totally adore it.

My review is right here:
http://www.alreadypretty.com/2.....eview.html

Marlene, my suggestion is to go to Macys and have a look for that detailing in their dress area. At least 50% of their dresses in stores are not available online.

PF, this style works well on a small bust line.

Srujana, that’s tricky. It runs true to size so I guess you’ll need an 8 or 10.

Linda, I’d love to see you in this style!

I love this look on other, but this look is one of the few I shied away from. I have a SweetPea top with a know like this. It hardly comes out of the closet. Your post made me want to push myself to wear it more often.

I couldn’t agree more! A few years ago I had a black knotted Winter top in an incredibly soft fabric (I can’t remember exactly what it was, but very soft, very cosy and you didn’t have to iron it) and I always felt great wearing it. The V-neck and knotted detail made it so flattering and you are spot on about the camouflaging too, Angie!-)

I love the vertical ruching on the maternity dress in the second picture!

And your new dress looks beautiful Sally (just looked at the picture, I’m going to read the review when I have a bit more time). Fantastic colour too!

See, I like Sally’s dress. I think it’s because the knotting is a little lower down and serves to sort of hold a lot of pudge-disguising fabric AGAINST the body instead of puffing it away. (Not to imply that Sal has pudge, but I do.)

This is very flattering on me, and I do own a dress with that detail, but once again my aversion to all things flop proof and universally flattering gets in the way. I don’t know what is wrong with me or why I seem to enjoy making my life difficult! If I saw any of these dresses I probably wouldn’t pick them up off the rack and instead gravitate to something edgier yet much harder to wear.

I do get the feeling sometimes that the knot front makes my bust look even bigger, and of course it always requires a cami, so it isn’t without its problems. I’m sure it’s just a question of trying on a bunch of styles and finding the right one though.

I agree – I have a dress and a tank top with front knot detailing and love the flattering effect it creates. And oh, that Nine West dress at the right is DELICIOUS, I think I “need” it

I have a pretty small bust and fairly well-defined waist and I’ve never been able to find something is this style that was actually flattering on me. The knot makes my small bust look nonexistant, while the draping over the stomach made me look heavier through the stomach and waist. The over all effect was to turn my slim hourglass figure into a flat-chested apple. Not flattering!

I completely agree with you Angie! I have a couple of tops with this detailing and one sweater dress that is more of a tunic length. The tops are fitted and the tunic more loose, and they both work well, although i do need a cami underneath.

I’m in a nostalgic, sentimental mood right now, my baby turned one today and I wore a top with this detail home from the hospital, I teamed the grey jersey top with black skinny jeans, ballet flats and a statement scarf.

I also notice the YLF store dresses also have the very slimming three quarter length sleeves which just appear right with type of neckline IMO.

Angie has converted me to this style already and I wear dresses like this all the time. So flattering!

I agree with Gina..I am a small busted hourglass, and anything drapy with a knot in it makes me look flat-chested and straight-waisted. I have to avoid this shape, unless it tapers in enough at the waist and has enough ruching up top to not completely flatten me out.

I love ithe knot effect too and I am seeing them everywhere. In fact, I have the Olian dress in shirt form– great for postpartum and the deep V also allows for nursing. The Nine West dress may end up in my closet too.

I have simiilar concerns to many of those voiced above, being very small busted and having a reasonably large rib cage. Nevertheless I haven’t actually tried one! I do agree that Sal’s dress is a bit different and that a lower down waist point can make the look better.

I am always on the lookout for clothes with a slimming effect. This looks like agreat idea. I already wear quite a lot of draped and ruched pieces but had never considered knotted. Love your blog, so much great style advice!

I had the Olian dress in a rich purple and it was my go-to dress for dressier functions I had to attend while pregnant. It was sooooo comfy and so flattering that I actually wish I could still wear it!

I’m larger chested and I found that depending on how the knot gathers, it would affect how flattering the look is.

OK, I’m drawn to the central style, but it’s maternity. I’m seven years out of that game and definitely done.

And roseandjoan above says she wore skinny jeans home from the hospital after giving birth? Kudos to you, I was in my maternity wear for at least another month.

I agree! I’ve been trying to find fabrics for making a nice knot-front dress. Thanks for the suggestions.

I’m a 38D and have broad shoulders and an hourglass figure so I am drawn to these v-neck knots. They are my go-to style. Anything else makes me look matronly or as I call it “pigeon-breast” or uniboob!
To avoid the perception of “maternity” wear look for a more fitted bottom half, not flouncy.