Following the low-rise jeans trend, now dresses are dropping waistlines too

The drop-waist dress has become popular among TikTok users. Photo: AFP

New fashion season, new trends. Among them is the drop-waist dress, casting aside tight-fitting bodycon cuts for a more chic and sophisticated look.

After low-rise jeans, now dresses are dropping waistlines a little lower.

Dubbed the drop-waist dress, this cut is characterised by a fitted top and a low-waisted skirt.

Spotted on the Spring/Summer 2024 runways from brands such as Khaite, Sandy Liang and Schiaparelli – among others – the drop-waist dress is shaping up to be the star garment of the Spring/Summer 2024 season.

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The influence of the drop-waist dress has already spread beyond the runways to the wardrobes of celebrities such as influencer Kylie Jenner, model Suki Waterhouse and actress Julia Garner.

Perfect for V-shaped or inverted triangle body shapes (with shoulders that are wider than hips), the drop-waist dress gives the illusion of elongating the silhouette while slimming the waist.

A cut inspired by the 1920s

On TikTok, the #dropwaistdress hashtag already counts almost 15 million views. The growth of this trend is confirmed by global fashion search engine Stylight, which reports a 90% year-on-year increase in searches for this type of dress on Google.

As usual, fashion is recycling inspirations from past eras.

For the record, the drop-waist dress originated in the 1920s, known at the time as the flapper dress. These gowns were specially designed with fullness at the hem to enable women to lift their heels when dancing the Charleston.

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Today, this vintage dress has been revived with a modern twist.

Made from linen or poplin, they are generally found in fairly neutral colours, such as white or beige. These dresses reconnect with the "quiet luxury" aesthetic and Mediterranean vacation style, focusing on comfort and elegance.

Drop-waist dresses can be worn with flat shoes like ballet flats, or with heels for a sharper look. – AFP Relaxnews