Cardigan Empire

Salt Lake City Fashion Stylist

Dear Empress: What Looks Emphasize the Waist?

Dear Empress,

I’m a young hourglass, and I need a way to flatter my little waist with my limited budget and closet full of jeans and t’s. I have fallen in love with waist high skirts but I need a quicker solution that doesn’t mean buying all new bottoms!

Shan o’ Seventeen
(So She Said)


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My Hourglass Lass,

Following are five different ways to emphasize the same little feature:

one. A tie or banding at the waist. You can buy inexpensive options with this feature already applied, or you can add it on to some of your existing closet inhabitants.


two. High waisted bottoms: As you mentioned a skirt or trouser that hugs high on the torso will dramatically highlight your center. Tuck your t-shirt or blouse in for ultimate impact. Don’t be afraid to take the waist of a hip skirt in so that it falls at the waist. Just be sure to test the resulting length before you initiate alterations.

three. Half sleeves. Hemming the arm band at the waist will draw the eye back to your favorite feature. Try adding an elbow-skimming sleeve under or over some of your favorite cap sleeves and tanks.

four. Cropped. Layer a cropped sweater, vest, or jacket to a basic tee and you’ll see immediate waist-centric results.

Five. A belt silly. An hourglass without a belt is like a sugar cookie without frosting (yours look divine by the way). Layer this accessory over dresses, extended sweaters, or whatever else needs cinching.

In summary my mythically delineated dear, do whatever you can to visually mark and outline the circumference of your mini midriff.

My ladies who care not to highlight their abdomens (there’s a dear empress in draft for you my soft delicious centers) do the exact opposite, at least for the time being.

Truly,
Empress

Feed me fashionably fresh

Comments

  1. I have pinned skirts to get them to sit higher for that cute, retro, wasit-emphasizing look, but (silly me), I never really considered taking the skirts in. I’ll have to take a look at my closet!
    I also never thought about using sleeves to emphasize the waist.
    Thanks for the good tips!

  2. Oh thank you! I have set to work taking in a few of my hip skirts already. And belts– of course. Why did I not think of that?

  3. i look forward to having a waist again. all these skirts/tops/jackets are so cute.

  4. I am an apple.

    Pants always confuse me. My midsection is a size 14, but my hips and thighs are a size 10. If the pants fit nicely around my middle, they are saggy in the bum and legs. If they fit to flatter my thighs and bum, I can’t button them.

    I’ve resorted to skirts almost exclusively.

    Any advice? Are pants a possibility?

  5. Oh, please do the soft, delicious center. I need to shop and have a clue at the same time.

  6. I’m leaving a comment to this waist-centric post, because I think I may be an hourglass, but a diminutive one. : / My measurements are B:32, W:24, H:34. I can’t figure out what category I fit into exactly.
    Also, I’m interested in purchasing a lookbook. Can I email to inquire about the details? Thanks!

  8. many thanks, empress!
    you always know best. 🙂