YouLookFab Forum » Topic: The whole waist emphasis return thing

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 04 Apr 2026 02:43:54 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php anne on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration/page/2#post-1736937 Fri, 07 Oct 2016 04:36:29 +0000 anne 1736937@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Angie - I'll work on it Angie on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration/page/2#post-1736652 Thu, 06 Oct 2016 14:49:43 +0000 Angie 1736652@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ YES. Take in the waist if it's loose.  Aida on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration/page/2#post-1736420 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 23:09:59 +0000 Aida 1736420@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes getting the fit right on a more tailored/seamed top is tricky! I think that's probably true for anyone; we're relying on the manufacturer to "get" us much more than with fluid/oversized pieces. My torso and arms are proportionally long but I'm also short-waisted so I too struggle to find tops that actually have the seams in the right places; add in that I often need a larger size for my shoulders and it's even tougher. My guess is we're best off having the seams altered to fit. anne on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration/page/2#post-1736417 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 22:58:14 +0000 anne 1736417@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Aida we were writing the same time too. Love your analysis as always! DH might still like this outfit, but I don't think he'd be as keen for tucked in jeans I also often go in for drape and suggestion too. And while I do actually like the fitted and seamed look, it's very hard to find one that fits my long torso and doesn't (on a physical level) annoy me, as a waist seam around my ribcage often does. anne on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration/page/2#post-1736413 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 22:52:56 +0000 anne 1736413@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie - we were writing at the same time. I'm coming around to this outfit! Thanks One question, do you think I should take in the waist? It is definitely loose. Aida on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration/page/2#post-1736412 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 22:51:13 +0000 Aida 1736412@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love the skirt on you, and the outfit as a whole, for what it's worth! I think my husband feels the same as yours, that he prefers an untucked fitted top to a tucked one (fitted or otherwise) and I'm not sure that he sees tucked tops as "waist defining" at all. Much to C1's nicely illustrated point. The blouse is also soft enough that it collapses back on the body a bit, which also gives you some waist definition; even if it's not Traditionally Waist Defining Through Seams, if that makes sense. As a secondary hourglass, I rarely wear actual fitted or seamed tops to "show my waist". Instead I do opt for nice draping pieces that do more of a "hint" than a "show". anne on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration/page/2#post-1736411 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 22:50:03 +0000 anne 1736411@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Elly yes - always extra fabric at the waist!!  And sometimes those loose, sort of shapeless styles are actually pretty close to being tight around the thighs on me. I get you! I don't mind looking feminine (in fact I kidn of get a kick out of it because with the small bust, I don't feel that way all the time - more like a  slightly out of shape athletic type) but I can see the problem for you. Thanks BC. If I am a pear shape, per Angie, then it's a thigh and bottom one rather than a hip one, if that makes sense? I have a full bottom but you can't see it from the front! Angie on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration/page/2#post-1736403 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 22:37:13 +0000 Angie 1736403@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't see what you see, Anne. You have a waist, and look GREAT in this outfit.  anne on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration/page/2#post-1736399 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 22:32:54 +0000 anne 1736399@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi everyone, Thanks so much for your input. Firstly, thanks for all the skirt love, and also those who have said not to keep it if you don't love it. I have decided to keep it for the moment. I don't have that many office worthy skirts  (especially now, as 2 are waiting for mending) and I wear skirts a lot at work. Elizabeth P - I think my issue was, should I even go with waist emphasis when  I feel like I don't have a waist for the 2 reasons I mentioned. Arizaphale - DH likes waist emphasis for sure! I think he often prefers fitted untucked tops to tucked ones though Crazyone your 2 outfits do illustrate the difference between fitted dresses and tucked blouse and skirt very well. And can I just say that you more generous bust area makes you look way better than I do in fit and flares! I tend to have this baggy area around the chest. Jaileen - I'm in my early 40's so I may not get to enjoy this much longer - OTOH I know that I was thinner (in the waist and in general) my 20s and 30s as well. I have altered one skirt in the waist - I baulk a bit at doing this one with its thick fabric.  The other difficulty with waist alterations is it's variability. I have found this all my life, as shown by some skirts I made as teen, where I would try and have options to tighten and loosen the waist. It varies with weight gain and loss, bloating, time of the day and month. Suz - yes the differences aren't huge (I wore that outfit this week and about once a fortnight - still looking great!)It's no big deal, I just feel presumptuous about saying something different from Angie on her blog! And from a practical perspective, Angie's recommendations for pears and hourglasses have a lot of overlap. Plus for me the vertical proportions are the most important really - which I did reasonably well in this outfit with the tucked in waist and heeled boots with a bit of a platform (as attested by  Staysfit saying my legs look long in this! Thanks). I think though I felt that the lightcoloured yoke just below my was the problem here. Anonymous on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration/page/2#post-1736368 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 20:55:52 +0000 Anonymous 1736368@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ First, I don't see a pear shape. Secondly, you look great in that outfit! Elly on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1736229 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 14:00:17 +0000 Elly 1736229@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree that this outfit is nice, but also see what you are talking about. I have a very severe difference between my waist and hips (and then shoulders) so much so that I never get true definition, even in stretchy knits because the clothes always have extra waist fabric. In your case I think the extra bulk and the garments diminish your less dramatic waist (less dramatic because it goes in, but in a more gentle way because of your long-waistedness). Personally, my concern with the return of the waist is that waist definition  almost always feels to feminine for my personal style.  When fashion is like this I definitely battle between flattery and what I feel like myself in. Sara L. on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1736216 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 13:34:01 +0000 Sara L. 1736216@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think the skirt looks great on you.  Plus it has such an interesting pleat detail in front.  Is this one of your skirts that the waist is too big?  Would it fit better if you had the waist taken in.  Personally, I think you have plenty of waist definition but I'm a rectangle and have barely any waist, so my view is probably skewed. MomOfThree1980 on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1736208 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 13:26:47 +0000 MomOfThree1980 1736208@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love the outfit! Definitely something I would wear if I had the waist for it. Suz on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1736197 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 13:15:31 +0000 Suz 1736197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, Anne -- I get it -- you maybe be closer to pretty pear and X....it's because the hip area was a touch wider than shoulder. But let us recall -- you and I both fit the same plum pencil skirt and cranberry colour block sweater, correct? So the differences can't be that huge. In my 20s and 30s I was definitely a slim hourglass tending to pear with a small bust. My shape changed slightly and subtly with tummy weight accumulation and hip weight loss through exercise and age, pushing me into this new category. But I still have more curves on bottom than on the top.  Maneera on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1736142 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 08:31:26 +0000 Maneera 1736142@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow. That skirt looks AMAZING on you, Anne! You certainly have a beautiful figure and waist-definition is a slam dunk on you El Cee on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1736135 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 08:11:16 +0000 El Cee 1736135@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You look very lovely in this outfit and silhouette, Anne. As JAileen  remarked, the outfit has sort of a cool 70's vibe... right on trend. The skirt gives you plenty of waist definition. You have a beautiful figure, however you define it.  anne on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1736106 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 04:21:14 +0000 anne 1736106@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm going to have to raincheck answering this since your evening is our "middle of the work day". I did just want to say Suz, that Angie reckons I'm a pear. I added rectangle because that seems to be right for my top half and it was Imogen who said X-shape. I'm pretty sure Angie's curvier than I am (as well as lots smaller) JAileen on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735868 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 18:55:42 +0000 JAileen 1735868@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think you look great in the outfit. It has a bit of a 70s vibe to it. Anne, you described my figure exactly, when I was in my 20s and 30s. Since then I've gained weight. Like Una I didn't appreciate what I had. I always tucked my tops completely into skirts and had lots of belts to show off my tiny waist. Often the skirt waists were too big for me too, and I had to have them altered. Suz on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735811 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 15:33:47 +0000 Suz 1735811@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Mmm. I get what you are saying...you need a tube or a snug pencil skirt to showcase curves on the bottom if that is what you are aiming for.  Or try a fit and flare like C1, but the effect is somewhat different on a longer waist with smaller bust.  crazyone on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735809 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 15:27:26 +0000 crazyone 1735809@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ you look wonderful!  I am a bit curvier than you (and certainly don't have as long as a waist), but note that tucking in also obscures the waist a bit because of the blouson-ing effect of the fabric (and the bulk of the tucked fabric), which is why waists are more apparent in dresses than blouses tucked into skirts on me, as well.  Note the difference in waist definition between the first two versus the last one, where I've tucked in a loose T into a skirt. Elizabeth P on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735792 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 14:44:47 +0000 Elizabeth P 1735792@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I wouldn't worry about it at all, Anne.  Perhaps another skirt would show your waist off more, or differently, but all clothes make us look a little different.  Aziraphale on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735789 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 14:37:53 +0000 Aziraphale 1735789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Anne, the skirt looks great on you. You have a lovely waist to show off. You mention that it's quite a long waist, but I see that as an advantage, not a drawback. I would tend to agree with Suz that you are a more athletic hourglass than a bombshell one, but you absolutely have the kind of figure that works well with waist-defining outfits. Interesting side note on this topic: yesterday I was walking down a busy street, wearing a knee-length plaid A-line skirt, a fitted (but not clingy) top, and little t-strap heels. It's not an outfit I wear often because it requires nylons, and let me emphasize that it's not sexy or bombshell at all. But it did define my waist (such as it is). I noticed that I got appreciative smiles from four or five gentlemen as we passed on the street -- all older than me, mostly seniors. This NEVER happens if I'm wearing jeans. And I'm not the kind of person who draws looks anyway. But it made me wonder: is there something feminine about a waist-defining dress that men like? The fact that it was a dress and not pants? Or was it the 1940s heels with nylons? Are men generally traditionalists when it comes to women's clothes? I guess my point it: ask you partner what he thinks of your waist-defining skirt. Odds on, he'll give it a thumbs up. It makes you look womanly. anne on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735780 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 14:29:00 +0000 anne 1735780@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's late so can't talk long. Just to say Sarah really expressed what I feel. I guess the skirt isn't form fitting enough. Anonymous on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735738 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 13:22:09 +0000 Anonymous 1735738@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Love the skirt on you. You look great! Anonymous on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735731 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 13:11:39 +0000 Anonymous 1735731@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My literal first thought to myself here was "I see nothing not to like here". This is very flattering on you. I have a long torso, and when at my ideal weight, would be more inclined toward waist definition. If you don't feel good, I guess rework the outfit, but know the rest of us see this as a very nice look for you. Suz on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735725 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:58:39 +0000 Suz 1735725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ What Staysfit and Sarah said, Anne.  You are not a voluptuous hourglass. You're a slim hourglass like me and Angie; Angie once told me I was "smack dab between a rectangle and hour glass" and that is a pretty good description. Too much waist definition and too many curves to be a true rectangle; but I'll never look truly "bombshell" because the curves are subtle. You have a lovely athletic figure and your waist is well worth showcasing if that is what you wish.  But if you don't care for the skirt, do pass it on. No point in holding onto something you don't enjoy wearing.  Sarah on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735720 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:48:30 +0000 Sarah 1735720@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I really like the skirt Anne and think you look great. Are you saying you don't see a waist definition on yourself in this outfit? It is subtle but I do see it. I too have a long torso too and for me my widest part is the top of my thighs, below my hip bones. So even though my measurements have 9-10 inches difference I tend to look more rectangular unless I am wearing formfitting clothes. If my widest point was right at my hipbones I think my waist indentation would be more obvious. Elizabeth P on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735714 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:33:56 +0000 Elizabeth P 1735714@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm not sure what your question or issue is, but you look great, and this skirt is awesome!  I love the detail of the overlapping front pleat. RobinF on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735710 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:16:51 +0000 RobinF 1735710@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love this. I think it is an interesting skirt and is very flattering on you.  Staysfit on "The whole waist emphasis return thing - and WIW as an illustration" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-whole-wais-emphasis-return-thing---and-wiw-as-an-illustration#post-1735687 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 10:17:59 +0000 Staysfit 1735687@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Anne, you have a lovely figure! This skirt looks great on you. I think we all see ourselves differently than everyone else. We tend to distort ourselves and focus on parts whereas people looking at us see the big picture. You have a beautiful straight shoulder line and that makes your waist look even smaller when wearing this skirt. It also makes your legs look very long. I hope people at work complement you when you wear this, because if they don't, there is something wrong with their vision and personality!