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Waistlines Guide
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Waistlines Guide
Natural, Basque-&-Dropped-Waistline
Empire-raised-Waistline
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Waistlines for your dresses

  

 

The waistline is an imaginary line that encircles the waist and divides the upper- torso portion and the lower- torso portion of a garment.This imaginary line corresponds to the natural waist. However,with different styles we have different forms of the waist-line.The waistline of a garment may help accentuate different features from bust to hips.It may also be described as a line at which the skirt and bodice of a dress join.The concept of a waistline has been designed to help create mainly the hour-glass silhouette.Apart from cut and stitch,various embellishments are also used to demarcate the waistline.Waistlines are characterized by their shape,depth and location of the body. 

 
 
Waistline categories for different body types
 
 
  • The Empire/ Raised Waistline
  • Natural Waistline
  • Basque/ Antebellum waistline
  • Dropped Waist-line
  • Asymmetrical / diagonal Waist-line
  • No waistline /Princess seams
  • U-shaped waistline
  • Inverted U-shaped waistline
   
 

 

Natural Waistline
 
 
The seam of this waistline lies at the natural waist, i.e., between the rib-cage and the hips.

This waist-line keeps in accordance with balance and proportion.
 

Works wonders for:

* This waist-line will enhance an hour-glass figure and make you appear more curvaceous. But remember that you have to have a narrow and slender waist to project and flaunt.


Avoid:

* For those who have a wider waist, should avoid wearing this waistline as it may accentuate the width of your waist.

* Petite women ( banana body shape) should avoid wearing this waistline as it might cut them horizontally into two and make them appear shorter.

 
   

Basque/ Antebellum waistline
 
 
The Basque waist-line is identified by an elongated triangle "V" that it features beneath your natural waistline. The shape extends down the natural waist for about 2 to 3 inches. The shape is wider at the hips and tapers as it goes down and ends up meeting at a single point.


Works wonders for:

* For those with an ( hour-glass figure ) to flaunt, this waistline will play wonders and enhance your curves.

* For those with a fuller body or wider hips and waist ( pear body type) may wear them as they may make your wide hips and waist look slender.

* Petite women ( banana body type) may look taller and curvaceous with a well-defined, curvaceous and enhanced body-frame.


Avoid:

* You need to have a well toned abdomen. For those with extra pouches of fab on their stomach should say a big no to this waistline.
 

 
   

Dropped Waistline

 

The dropped waistline is also a horizontal line that falls three to four inches below your natural waistline, near the level of your upper hips.


 
Works wonders for:

* Petite women ( banana body shape) can wear the waist-line as it imparts an elongating look to your waist and torso and make you look taller.

* This one will also suit the hour-glass figure the most.

* This waist-line may also help balance the upper half and the lower half of the body to project an hour-glass figure.
 

AVOID:

* Those with narrow shoulders should avoid wearing this waist-line, or they can wear this waistline with a dress that has an off- shoulder neckline.

* For those who have a longer waist, the waistline may add more to the length and make you appear out of proportion.
 
 

 
   
 

 

Empire- Raised Waistline
 
The waistline gets it's name after the Empire Period in France.

The Empire Waist-line is characterized by a horizontal cut, across the body, just below the bust.

The seam of the waist-line is based one or three to five inches higher than the natural waist. The seam is just below the bust.

The garment falls in a slight A-line.

This waistline gives a free-flowing, neat and smooth drape to the fabric involved in the design of the garment.

This waist-line compliments just about any body type. It is an apt one to hide your body flaws and to flaunt your assets.
 
Works Wonders for:

* This one is particularly good if you want to hide your heavy hips, buttocks, abdomen and thighs ( pear body shape)

* For those whose waist measures several inches larger, this waistline can create wonders. It will camouflage your wide waist and make them appear narrower.

* This waist-line may also enhance a smaller bust size.

* Petite women ( banana body shape) may look taller and curvaceous than they actually are.
 

Avoid:

* Empire waistline may also accentuate your bust area . So for those who have a larger bust size ( apple body shape) this waistline may prove to be a real blunder.

* Wear them in some rich and chick fabric that has some sheen to it. Simple, plain, dull and cotton ones may end up giving an impression of a maternity wear or a night gown.
 

 
   

Asymmetrical waistline
 
 
An asymmetrical waist-line runs diagonally across the body. The waist-line features a continuous and constant change in the waist-height from one side of the dress to another.

 
Works wonders for:

* It elongates the waist and makes you appear taller.

* Full figured women may look slimmer and taller in this waist-line.
 

Avoid:

* Petite women ( banana body shape) should not give it a try. They should avoid this waistline as the long waist-line may make rest of the body appear shorter.
 

 
   

No Waistline /  Princess Seams

 

Princess seams are featured by long and rounded seams that are sewn into the garments. This seam style creates no waistline at all. They just follow a women's shape closely.

They run vertically down the lower hem from one shoulder over  the bust-line to add shaping. They extend from the waist to the arms. This seam-line creates an elongating and slimming look.

It is often co-operated in dresses with an "A-line" silhouette.

 
 

 
   
 

 

U-Shaped Waistline
 
 
The U-shaped waist-line can be seen as a softer version of the Basque waist-line.

It can fall as high as the bust-line, is high at the center and drops at the sides.
It's usually featured around the hips.

 
   

Inverted U-Shaped waistline
 
 
The inverted U shape waist-line has a smooth downward curve.
 
  
   

 

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