Day #04 Dame or Diva? {Drop-Waist Dresses}

Day #04 Dame or Diva? {Drop-Waist Dresses}

Do you have a favourite type of dress? The empire? The mermaid? The babydoll? It's not as easy question to answer and what's the point of sticking to just one? Even so, I can't help but always be drawn to the look of the drop-waist dress. If you've read the previous entries, you know how this goes, it's history time.

What is a drop waist anyway? It refers to horizontal line found quite low, around the top of the hips on a clothing item. It causes a bit of a visual trick, where the torso seems longer than it actually is. As someone who is short, I'm often told to avoid this technique as it makes me look even shorter. My opinion on this is that I don't care, I'll wear what I want and I don't care if you call me a Hobbit extra, this no longer hurts my feelings.

I'm sure you're aware that this silhouette was very popular during the 1920s, also known as the Roaring Twenties, which was a huge boom and expansion in the arts, including fashion. Louise Brooks, a notable star of the era, had many wonderful looks both with and without a drop-waist.

She's a character in herself. Having purposefully public friendships and dalliances with lesbians or bisexual women (including Great Garbo!) while having a preference for men, she claimed that bisexuality didn't exist and that she tried it, didn't care for it, and kept on believing that in the end were all 'one-sexed'. I know under the current climate she can easily be branded bi-phobic and tossed aside but as a bisexual person, I can sort of relate. Often I exist in a kind of nebulous state of queerness where I'm left wondering what the point of these feelings even are if I end up with nobody, or worse, in a monogamous relationship (that's a joke). I will default to being a lesbian or a straight girl, and that's what I thought for a long time. I know that's not true, even if I prefer girls I can still make allowances for some guys or non-binary folk. If I end up with someone, I'm still going to be the person I was before them, but with them from now on.

Er, sorry, this was about dresses, yes? Okay, tangent over (for now, do not forget that on this blog you are NEVER safe). 

The famous flapper dresses of the time would often feature a drop waist and substantial embellishments and decoration including but not limited to rhinestones, beads, and fringes. The actual fit was usually lose and a bit rectangular in the shoulders. For the time, the knee-length associated with the flappers was considered short. The behavior of flappers often involved smoking, sexual liberation, drinking, ease of movement due to the more widespread introduction of automobiles (and a goodbye to corsets) and increased work opportunities for women. There were some negative effects, such as the increase of consumerism under the guise of providing freedom and life fulfillment. All in all, the conservatives of the generation claimed that flappers were stupid, practically naked, reckless, and careless. These flapper people sound great to be honest.

Basically, the social and political atmosphere, like it always has, impacted the fashion sense of young people. The drop-waist was one of the things that came to prominence. Beyond the 1920s, the wasitline never really went away. It was more commonly seen in children's wear in the 1960s and 1980s, but it's presence is still felt to this day. 

Let's travel to my favourite decade, the 2000s. Here's a few looks. In order: Beyonce in a tan leather and fur combo in 2003 and Paris Hilton in a white tattered dress in 2004. In my unqualified opinion, the drop-waist dress was broken down to it's essentials in the 2000s and focused on more exciting necklines and textures and less on embellishments and pattern.

In the early 2010s we see it in celebrity, consumer, and runway fashion. Below: Chanelle Houghton in a shimmery white dress from River Island in 2013 and a look from a 2012 Marc Jacobs show.

 

In the present day, the drop waist dress enjoys many, many forms. Top designers such as FROLOV provide a new take glamour on the 1920s by using gorgeous textiles, gems, and added volume and form. Have a look at two ensembles, Sabrina Carpenter in a custom Heart corset in pink from early 2024 and Katy Perry in a delicate silver-blue dress from late 2024.

 

Of course for those of us who cannot afford thousand dollar dresses, there are other options. The Etta dresses are a real mod dream with their straight lines, distinct colours and patterns, and fun pleats. Actually they are 75 dollars so I still can't afford them but wouldn't it be nice?

 

Fast fashion or mass production firms have been focusing on pairing the bubble skirt with a dropped waist line such as in these examples from Tamilo and Klaita:

However, I find that people prefer to buy second hand and vintage to meet their drop-waist needs. So I think you're more likely to see items from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s that evoke the 1960s from the internet fashionistas.

The best thing about the drop-waist is that you can emulate it at home! That's right, if the hem of your top is relatively straight and reaches your hips, you can DIY a drop-waist shape. Even skirts with a drop-waist feature exist and can be paired with any top and still have a little of the 1920s flair. Isn't it crazy how far a single waistline has come?

 

Thanks for coming on another adventure through the fashion world with me. I feel a bit better about the challenge now that I have made more than one post. Still, I'm not going to hassle myself too much about it as it's turned out to be a busy month. See you next time!