Drop waist Silhouette – The revival of the 20’s

The drop waist trend first appeared in the 1920’s, with the emergence of the flapper dresses that coincided with female liberation. In terms of fashion, they were a respite from the tight fitting corsets. The look was most prominent in Coco Chanel’s creation titled Garconne Look, which literally translates to “boy” in French.

Drop waist dresses are characterized by a line drawn around the hips instead of your natural waist, thus giving you a longer torso. This seemingly shapeless silhouette has made a comeback this season, with Indian as well as international designers taking a liking to it.

Preity Zinta was spotted wearing a black drop waist number at an event recently, and so was Rani Mukherjee, Prachi Desai and quite a few other Indian celebs. They were quite noticeable in the recently concluded Indian fashions weeks as well as those in New York and Paris.

The modern twist

While the frumpy look of this silhouette hasn’t been tampered with, designers have given it a chic modern look, with exaggerated belts and waist bands. Interesting patterns have been noticeable and so has been color blocking, both of which draw attention to the lower half of the body.

Different styles

While the 1920s were about drop waists with hemlines below the knee, there are several modern variations to the look. There are ruffled skirts for that free flowing look, A-line skirts for a more slender look and a pleated look as well. You can also play around with the length of your drop waist dress, going short or long with it. As far as the trend if concerned, it is definitely on the shorter side, with hemlines finishing much before the knees.

Wearing it right

While the drop waist is a hottest trend of the season, it is important to wear it right. Given the “shapeless” look of the trend, you can quickly go wrong with it. This look works perfectly for slender women who have narrow hips, as it adds volume to the lower half of the body. However, that does not mean that the more “hippy” ones cannot wear the drop waist.

• If you are slightly heavy at the bottom, stay away from the ruffled bottom half. Instead, go for A line skirts since they give a slender appearance.
• For those with long legs and a shorter torso, pairing the drop waist dress with flat boots or ones with moderate heels works well. For those with short legs and a long torso, drop waist should be paired with high heels to balance the long torso. The idea is to create a symmetrical look, since the silhouette creates the illusion of a longer torso.
• For an evening out, go for something more glamorous in sequins and embellishments. For a casual day out, drop waists in solid colors and easy fabrics work well.