Drop-waist dresses: when do they work? - YouLookFab Forum

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Drop-waist dresses: when do they work?

catgirl

Veteran

Having a down time moment in Hawai'i... by 10 this morning we'd completed a strenuous hike (while it was cool) then we went to the Sea Life Park where DS and DH swam with dolphins (my Father's day gift to DH - because memories are better than material goods, right?) and I fed fish to a sea lion. Now all exhausted and taking a break. I miss it here!

So to make this fashion related, I've been pondering why the BGBG drop-waist dress I found works so well for me, and whether I should seek out more in this style. What is the key to making a drop waist work in terms of body type, fit, and so forth? Are they horribly in or out of style or acceptable as long as they look good? Would appreciate any and all insight, as I'm having a hard time understanding how to analyze why this was so right for me. Anyone else here rock a drop-waist?

XOXOXO and much aloha!

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Aloha to you to Una! Sounds like you and the family are having a wonderful time! And we miss you too.

As for why the drop waist dress worked, I wonder if it has anything to do with your IT shape? Does it somehow help to balance out your strong shoulder line? I honestly don't know - I'll be interested in seeing what the others chime in with.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Well, maybe we can extrapolate why it *does* work from why it doesn't...

I have one drop-waist dress, but I always end up wearing it with this blazer over the top, and I don't wear it often. For me, it hides the smallest point of my figure (natural waist) and creates a horizontal line at my widest/bulkiest point (hips and thighs).

So... if we reverse-engineer a little... I would think a drop waist might be good for narrow hips and slim legs, and for someone who likes to surrender the waist and skim the torso rather than emphasize the waist. Rectangles and ITs?

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Ana

(website)

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I think length of skirt also has something to do with whether a drop waist will work or not (at least for me). I tried this dress on when I was looking for a "dressy dress" a few weeks ago:

http://www.theoutnet.com/product/110306

It was really cute! But the skirt is very short and I think this is why it worked okay for me. I'm an IT/Hourglass with short legs and drop waists are usually hit or miss for me. They look best when the dropped waistline hits me just above the widest part of my hips and the skirt is shorter. Not sure if this adds to the overall theory or not.

Kari

Veteran

I would definitely think that narrow hips/a narrow frame work better with drop waists than those of us that have full hips compared to the rest of our frame. They look absolutely awful on me.

Diana

Veteran

Well, for me drop waists do not work because there is a 13" difference between my waist and hip, and most drop waist dresses are cut straight down. So 99% of the time they don't even fit me unless they are also enormous in the torso. On the off chance that I can actually get it on, it hides my small waist as well as draws a horizontal line right across my widest point. Not good.

So I think they work for you because you are an IT and have relatively narrow hips.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I think drop waists only work on slender rectangular figures with not much in the bust department. Narrow hips and small breasts. Isn't that why the flappers used to strap down their boobs in the 20s?

Scarlet

Veteran

Well I do have a drop waist dress that I get a lot of compliments on and I do not have a small bust or small hips. Mine is like an oxford shirt with a few large pleats on the skirt. I think it just works like a surrendering the waist look--it hangs from my shoulders/bust with no waist definition. The slight volume on the skirt gives me free movement and probably balances my shape a bit, and the above the knee length shows my legs (more likely leggings in this case) so I still have a shape. I think it is probably one of those things where the devil is in the details, much like cropped pants.

DonnaF

Veteran

AG;
Drop waists make my short legs look even shorter. You are blessed with proportionately long legs and narrow hips so can handle the horizontal line at that point.

Anonymous

I have a drop-waist dress that I love so much that I bought a second in the same cut. However, the second dress I bought was denim and stiffer than the original. I wore it twice and then gave it away. An important factor in how the first one worked for my figure was the soft fabric.

I have an hourglass figure with pear leanings, so I think they can work for a variety of shapes as long as the fit and length is right.

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ManidipaM

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Definitely a strong top horizontal (shoulder) and smaller low horizontal (hip) does help, I think. But the long downward line between can be tailored to accommodate a curvy body or hang straight for a smaller bust and waistline that is not too large compared to hips but also not very defined.

Another additional aspect to consider is the torso vs leg length, I suspect. Those with short legs and a naturally long torso will actually have a harder time pulling off a drop waist without heels or detailing that draws the eye near the top of the frame. Though as Ana said, a shorter skirt helps. However, a short torso with long legs might find this style easier to wear, because it seems to elongate the torso and reduce the leg line a little.

I wonder if overall dropwaists are not easier to wear at the high hip rather than low hip, too? The latter is a more dramatic restructuring that is harder to balance the proportions of.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Nodding along here.

In theory, drop waists should be fab for me. I'm a slim hourglass rectangle with small bust and strong shoulder line. Angie has even suggested that I try them.

BUT...the only way they'll work for me is if every little detail of the proportions is JUST right. The main problem is that my legs are too short. So even with heels, they shorten my leg line.

Like Anna, I've found that they can work okay if they are on the shorter side and the material has some movement to it. Otherwise I end up looking like a box with feet.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think a lot of what has been mentioned here is true -- ITs and rectangle shapes wear this much more easily. Perhaps slender hourglasses and very slender pears can pull it off (like Sammi's photo above), but my short-torsoed, thick-thighed, long-legged pearish hourglass looks *awful* in these styles.

lyn67

Veteran

It seems you have a great holiday, Una, just mee topo curious what Angie will say...(I think for curvy gals is a nono?)

catgirl

Veteran

Sammi, you are so adorable in that dress - I love the whole look on you!

Lots of good wisdom here! I too would love Angie's analysis of drop waist looks so I know what to look for in the future.