I hate gathers!

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Maya

Veteran

I'm talking about this top that Angie posted on today's blog:

http://www.bluefly.com/Sweet-P.....detail.fly

I love it on the mannequin, but I know in my heart those horrible gathers under the bust are just going to add volume where I don't want it.

Why, oh why do designers do that? Who wants to look like they have a bigger tummy? Unless you actually are pregnant, why would you want to look pregnant? The only time I think this ever seems to work (or at least not look bad) is on a plastic mannequin. Is this EVER flattering otherwise? Am I missing something? Is this ever a good thing or a beneficial thing?

17 years ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Tanya

Veteran

I know what you mean Maya. Most of these are truly bad and pretty unflattering. I do have one top with gathers like that ( at least in my own opinion) is OK, not spectacular but it works. I tend to wear it when I go somewhere I'll eat a lot for tummy disguise. Here it is:

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN3031.jpg

17 years ago

anne

Veteran

A thin waisted hourglass like you wouldn't look their best in that style, Maya, but they do have their place for those of us who need, as Tanya put it "tummy disguise." Also both the one you posted and the one of Tanya are only gathered in the front, and are fitted in the side. I find this quite a useful look if one has good side waist indentation but a bit of a bulge at the front

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(Technically, those are knife pleats and not gathers).

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Tanya, nothing of this planet could make me believe that your tummy needs concealing. If it does, that leaves little hope for the rest of us!

Anne, I always felt they made the tummy area look bigger as opposed to smaller. Perhaps I'm wrong. My tummy is by no means flat or tight, but not "fat" either. I still could use some disguising at times, and I tend to like tops with lots of ruching instead.

Angie: I stand corrected! The effect would be the same on me, I think though. Or am I wrong?

17 years ago

anne

Veteran

Well I will leave Tanya to defend herself! I will add however that even skinny waisted people can have bloating etc... in fact someone said to me recently that it can happen even more with thinner people because there is nowhere for their food to go except to push their tummies out.

I used to think ruching made tummies (or hips, or wherever they were) look bigger because of the horizontal lines! I have changed my mind about that.

Anyway, I will be interested to read everyones response to your question

17 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

I have a muffin top which is further accentuated by the end of the day or during that special time of the month (moan). I have a wonderful top with knife pleats but one time someone asked me if I was pregnant when I wasn't. So I have learned to wear that top on those days when I'm having what I call a "flat belly morning" and I typically don't wear it all day long. So I agree with you Maya that overall, while they can conceal the shape, tops like that make me look preggers. On flat days they do the reverse and look wonderful - though I might change my mind once I post a picture here in it

Tops with ruching are a whole different story. Those tops are usually pretty fitted and the rouching works great to disguise the belly bloat - at least for me. Have a small pattern to the fabric helps a lot as well.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Maya, I'm human too and my abs are not in great shape ( I am actually currently pretty mushy all over since I haven't been dancing in ages). If I eat a lot, particularly my favorite Thai food that can be spicy and requires a lot of watter, my tummy tends to grow quit a bit. And of course I get bloated and such as well. So I am not saying I constantly need to conceal my tummy, only at certain times, but than I really need to. I think Anne is right that it can be even more obvious on smaller-framed people.

I agree with you whole-hearthidly on tops with ruching. They are a great disguise and very flattering. The ones with gathers we are discussing here I like because the material floats away from the body and does not touch it, which is exactly what I need in situations described above. But they have to be nipped at the waist and not floaty all over.

Again, I agree that in general they are not the most flattering thing in the world, but occasionally there is one that might work.

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Hehe, really Tanya?! I thought you were typing from your home on Mount Olympus :p I have read myths about Tanya the wedge goddess!

I know what you mean. If I know I'm going out to eat, I am careful about what I wear. In the fall and spring I will often just wear my jacket through the meal or put it on immediately after and that seems to do the trick. In winter I have enough layers or a thick enough knit, but summer is tricky. That's when a ruched top comes in handy. Ann, I find that ruched tops are more fitted but the ripples make enough of a distraction to hide any lumps and bumps.

Sihaya, do you find that your muffin top comes from your midsection or hips? I noticed that when I'm at home in my lounge pants, I don't have that annoying roll that I usually see when I get dressed, but as soon as I put jeans or woven pants on, it seems to push the fat on my hips up. I hate that! That's why I'm always desperately seeking the highest rise I can find! I would love to see your knife pleat top though. I'm curious about what it looks like on a human being, as opposed to a plastic mannequin. I don't want to put you on the spot though. Maybe when you're having a flat belly day

17 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

I definitely plan to post my knife pleat top - and who knows, maybe I'll find out it doesn't look so good after all This is the summer top I referred to that I love but haven't yet had a chance to wear this year. Unfortunately it's rainy all week here so it will have to wait a bit. My muffin top is mostly my belly and definitely the part I'm the most self conscious about - you can ask Angie about my ritual belly pat whenever I try on a new top But I do have a couple of love handles on the hips - I think I can hide/handle them much better though. And yes, definitely I do high rises even for my underwear!

17 years ago

amazona

Active Member

I am tired of these tops myself. All the prints and gathers, they all look alike. They are not elegant and everybody wears them.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

An empire line with pleats or gathers will have a similar effect on. I have clients that look awful in these styles and clients that rock them. They do accentuate the belly area when they’re too tight or clingy; but they can also conceal the belly area if they float over bulgy bits instead. I cannot put my finger on when this style will work and when it won’t. It’s still hit and miss.

But one thing I’m sure of is how I’d welcome alternatives to empire styling. I am officially bored of this silhouette.

17 years ago

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