Importance of hem style in tops

I'm really hig the sugar eye for curved or angled hems on tops for me, when the top is longer for pants. Of course this is standard pear strategy but I've been struck by how the straight hems skew dowdy in a heartbeat. This is less so as the top gets more fluid.

It's a bit of a dilemma, as casual wear works great, but for work, if the hem is shirttail, which I love, but
too long or too pronounced it looks too casual, so there's a just- right look that can be hard to find. Slight cocoon shapes work, symmetrical font angles work. My EF angled- front cardi is getting more love as I realized that was its appeal. Also I hope for some tops to be more time- lengthy( "
timeless"!) so i can build capsules and not churn through new items constantly.
Anyhow, I've realuzed I should hold out for these features in just the right styles and resist adding more straight- bottom tops. A super bonus is when it can also be tucked, like the BR top in my Finds. Of course this would be true of " shirts" but as noted, some of those read too casual untucked at work.

Anyone else really honing in on hem styles and horizontal hip lines?

9 years ago

Anonymous

I very much am focusing on hemlines. I look at length in terms of where it cuts across my body. I am still striving for 1/3-2/3 proportions. Then I look at how the hemline is constructed. Pictures tell me that a straight across hemline on me is majority frumpy. I no longer buy them at all and have started to slowly purge them. Taking pictures has helped me see things much more than the mirror.

I much prefer a curved hemline.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I am very conscious of hemlines in tops. As a short-torsoed hourglass with significant hips (especially upper thigh), a straight-across hem that hits my widest point, worn with a contrasting bottom, is just disaster on me. It looks frumpy and adds 10 lbs to my shape. Curved hems or even hems with slit sides definitely help, and I'm better off finding lengths that hit a few inches above or below my widest point. Of course, if I love a top enough despite the offending hemline, if it's the kind of thing that can be semi-tucked, I may still buy it and do the semi-tuck.

Peri

I have fallen hard for the asymmetrical hem...diagonal is my first choice but I'll go for shark bite too. Just adds that element of fun and artistry I look for.

unfrumped

Janet, that's a good point , the semi- tivk can be magic but I can't do that at work.
I also was about to toss some cotton butto- front shirts-- I buy too many because what I like is how they look untucked when trying on!-when I realized that for me, they can be a signature casual summer style. I run cold and seldom wear sleeveless. In a cool fabric, fluid fit, sleeves rolled, I love them with shorts and a slip- on type sneaker. Jeans are a no- brainer, but the shorts were an aha! Again, sugar-eye likes that better than casual T's ( need some T outfits though).

Marilyn

Oh yes, for sure. I'm petite and where the hem hits and the shape of the hem make all the difference. I'm a sewer and I sometimes shorten a hem so it hits just so. And, I'm not afraid to adjust a curve if need be. Alterations are my friend.

VioletMyra

Active Member

Dear Peri
I need educating, please describe a shark bite hem for me.
TIA
Denise

Joy

I also prefer the assymetrical hems on tops to camouflage my apple bits. A diagonal line cutting across my midsection is way better than straight. I hope that these tops never go out of style. Ecteacher, a shark bite hem is longer on the sides and shortest in the middle of the back and front, kind of like a shark has taken a bite out of the front and back. On me the side view is good with shark bites, but they seem to draw the eye right to my stomach/crotch and lack of bottom

CocoLion

A sharkbite is longer on the two sides, shorter in front and shorter in back. A curved asymmetrical hemline is usually just rounded and shorter in front, but longer in back. Then there are diagonal asymmetrical hemlines, longer on one side than the other. I have an issue with diagonals as the shorter side almost always hits me at the wrong place (5'4", short torso).

Like Janet my upper thigh is my widest part and the majority of hems hit me exactly there. Ugh. I much prefer a full tuck into high rise jeans at present. Semi tuck works too if you don't mind the potentially sloppy and fussy aspect of it.

Curved hems that come at the widest part of my thighs are the worst for me. They seem to really make this area rounder and wider. Not good. I prefer the straight line and I like longer toppers and tunics to hit me below this upper thigh area.

AM I think I get that idea. My issue is my shoulders vs hips, so a long top that doesn't grab at the hip has to either size up, and then may be too big at the shoulder and armholes, or be A-line, which often is not flattering for me.

Thank you for explaining a shark bite hem line to me, I really appreciate it. I'm learning so much in this community.

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