The latest trend to appear from the past this season is the 1920s dropped waist. Globally, the silhouette has been slowly taking shape, appearing on street styles during numerous fashion weeks in Europe. Regionally, we’ve noticed dropped waists frequently featuring in multiple collections like last weekend at The Event. From Moldovan brand EHO by Evgheni Hudorojcov to Lebanese couture house Rami Kadi, dropped waists appeared on several looks, making the silhouette less of an understated cut and more of a statement.
Whereas It Girls Charli XCX and Gabbriette have been spotted on red carpets in gothic, dropped-waist dresses that dramatically elongate their proportions. Elongation is the appeal. Visually lengthening the torso, it is one of the more interesting silhouettes that we can play around with. In the 1920s, the silhouette was a symbol of rebellion, breaking against the traditional hourglass stereotype. Now, it’s more likely a natural progression from the low-waist jeans trend. And while we’re sure that there are dropped waist skirts as well, we’re shining the spotlight on dresses.
When it comes to dressing the silhouette casually, there are plenty of breathable midi options. And Gulf winters mean that they are suitable all year round, just with the right layering—stick to shawls and cardigans that help to cover up without taking away the silhouette.
The silhouette also lends itself to be a comfortable lounging dress, which is exactly the vibe we get from this knit polo dress!
For those looking for a more casual vibe, a t-shirt dress strikes the perfect balance between casual and stylish without appearing frumpy or lazy. Sticking to the theme of casual, pair the dress with ballet flats and a boxy denim jacket to match the boxy silhouette of the dress.
For evening wear, a drop waist dress can be extremely refined and elegant. Although “boxy”, it is never oversized; instead, the silhouette makes fabric drape and is closest to the original 1920s rendition.
The modern interpretation of the drop waist combines a mix of a tight fit and a loose drape. While it sounds like an oxymoron, it is the most common iteration of the drop waist we see today. Either incorporating corsetry or creating a bodycon bodice, the rest of the dress follows through with pleats. This mix further exaggerates the waistline and flips the standard dress code of emphasising the legs to emphasise the torso. Our eveningwear picks reflect that exaggeration. And for the modest dresser, we recommend strategic layering with a shawl or embracing the grunge and pairing the dress with a leather jacket or blazer.
For more occasionwear picks, check out Egyptian brand Shy, who feature plenty of modest drop waist dresses.
