The fashion industry has seen a dramatic resurgence of low-rise everything — a nostalgic trend that evokes strong memories of the early naval-gazing naughts for most millennials. We’ve seen barely-there micro-mini skirts and ultra low-waisted jeans grace the runways with seemingly no end in sight.
It’s always been a polarising trend and one which has led most people to cling fondly to their reliable high-waisted pants. But thanks to fashion’s cyclical nature, there’s another low slung silhouette we’re seeing take the spotlight this season: the dropped waist. Initially rising to popularity during the roaring ’20s flapper era, the dropped waist was designed to be loose, serving as a symbol of freedom and comfort for women and a departure from the constraints of corsetry. Since then, the silhouette has had several revivals in the ’80s and in the early 2010s, but none quite as significant as its latest renaissance.
I recall first seeing the trend appear, or rather, reappear — on my TikTok feed where a stylish creator I follow posted a video of herself donning an elegant, fitted sundress with an elongated bodice. She looked so good and I instantly found myself trying to track down the style that she was wearing online.
It wasn’t long before I started seeing it everywhere: on the runways, in the collections of local designers I love, and all over social media. Unlike most dress styles that are typically tapered at the natural waist, the dropped waist silhouette sees the garment fitted much lower, usually falling just above the hips. Providing the illusion of a longer torso and a more pronounced hourglass figure — it’s difficult not to love the way that this silhouette looks. Especially because you don’t have to expose your entire midriff to partake in the trend.
As daunting as it can feel trying out a new style, particularly when it’s trending, to me – fashion should always be about experimentation. I had no idea if the dropped waist silhouette would suit me when I asked my partner to buy me this Rachel Mills dress for Christmas, but in doing so, I discovered a style that has now cemented itself in my everyday repertoire. And while it’s hard to say whether this trend is going to stick around a while or be gone within a season, I know that I won’t be bidding farewell to my dropped waist garments anytime soon. For tall women like myself, I think it’s possibly one of the best styles to try for those who want to lean into their lankiness rather than trying to conceal it.
If you’re feeling inspired to embrace the drop waist trend yourself, an abundance of options await you. Scroll on and shop our top picks below.
The dropped waist edit:
Words: Amberley Colby
Images: Launchmetrics.com/spotlight, supplied.
