Is it just me, or do clothes have no shape??

[KoalaDownUnder]

The last few dresses I've ordered from ASOS are like boxes. They're supposed to be sort of shift dresses, but they don't go in at the waist at all.

I've increasingly found this with dresses from mid-priced high-street chains. They have no shape at all, they're just a big boxy column. If I buy something that fits my hips and chest, I can grab handfuls of material around my rib cage and waist. V unflattering.

Is it just me who has this new problem?

[OhWellNeverMindEh]

Agreed, I find tops, jumpers and dresses are either bodycon/tight or unstructured and loose. Neither suit me!

[KoalaDownUnder]

Yes! What is going on?! Are we not supposed to have waists anymore?

[bowchikkawowwow]

I love boxy/ shapeless man repelling clothes

[InterchangeableEmma]

Straight cut stuff is flattering on some people and less so on others. There's sometimes more fitted stuff about sometimes more straight cut stuff. Damned fashion makes shopping far harder than it need be.

[rightknockered]

It's why I've given up buying dresses for now. I just stick with skirts and tucked in tops

[KoalaDownUnder]

I'd imagine they'd be great if you were straight up and down, of an apple shape.

I'm an hourglass and they skim straight between my two widest parts without emphasising the narrow part at all. I look boxy and fat, when I'm a 5' 11" size 12.

[talktotheface]

It doesn't help when online clothes outlets have pictures of their clothes modelled by size 8, 6 foot tall 19 year olds. It would surely make sense to have a wider variety of different size and body shapes modelling so short big norked 40 year olds could see how the clothes might suit them too..

[LiefieLiefie]

I'm a similar sized hourglass to you Koala, albeit 2 inches shorter. I find workwear fairly easy - pencil dresses and pencil skirts - but anything casual or dressy either makes me look super frumpy or over-the-top too sexy.

I'd love to be able to find a flattering middle ground.

[BusterGonad]

Haven't shift dresses always been up and down in a straight manner?? I have quite a few in my wardrobe from over the years and love them. I have big boobs so the dress then skims past my belly, you should try a nice skater or fit n flare style.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Buster yes, and I used to love them - but now they seem to have a ton of extra material flapping around the ribcage. It's odd, because I generally thought shift dresses suited me.

These two are the latest I bought from ASOS. They're hugely baggy around my middle, but if I'd bought a 10 it wouldn't have gone over my hips.

[BusterGonad]

The first one looks a bit flappy tbh, the second one is lovely. It's such a shame! Are they a usual brand you buy from? I found quite a few shirt dresses flap about too much but I've not bought many in the past to compare them too. I know that women are losing their waists apparently but then surely clothes need to help give the illusion of a waist! It's baffling.

[RubyWinterstorm]

it's the fashion, sadly

[cakeaddict]

I agree - I'm similar shape to you and have the same problem. I'm not sure if it is just 'fashion' it seems to me that it's easier and cheaper to produce a box shape than something that is more tailored/structured and fitted, so I wonder if that's why so many clothes are just straight up and down - particularly in the mid-range labels where they are constantly offering discounts etc to trim prices.

I bought a shirt from J Crew a few months ago - it was £££ for a shirt, but it had darts & shaping and fits really nicely. It's the first thing I've bought in ages that actually proves I have a waist and am not the same size as my GGs all the way down - so I'm wearing it to death to get my money's worth!

[TroysMammy]

Thank goodness for this thread. I thought it was my funny looking body. I do shop elsewhere but whenever I want something cheap and I try on clothes in Primark they make me look like a sack of shite, only their socks fit me.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Yes, that's the thing - I expect shift dresses to skim in slightly at the sides and then back out again, IYSWIM.

The model in the black dress is holding her hands in a way that minimises the excess fabric. The dress IRL fitted beautifully over the bust and hips, but when I turned side-on their was a bunch of billowing material sticking out the middle and making me look fat.

I've got older shift dresses from cheap-ish shops like Zara, and they fit much better do I really think it's a modern thing!

[burnishedsilver]

That shape works really well on me. I don't have much in the way of hips or chest. There's nothing wrong with them. They're just not the right shape for you.

[burnishedsilver]

Actually, neither of those look like they are supposed to be fitted. If they are fitted on you around the hips and chest you probably need to size up.

[KoalaDownUnder]

They're not 'fitted' on the hips or chest, as in tight, they're just about right. If I sized up, the whole thing would be flipping massive!

I've been wearing that style for years and havebt had this problem, so I do think the cut is different (and I haven't changed size...I have dresses from 10 years ago that fit).

[BusterGonad]

Some clothes are so cheaply made it's a joke! I stick with my fit n flare and skater styles as well as the odd shift dress, what I'm finding a real pain is no room for my big boobs so I have to size up and then I get the saggy ass and hip and tummy with makes me look bigger when irl I just have massive hugs!

[BusterGonad]

Jugs!!!!

[madmomma]

It's cos most of us are fat round the middle probably. I am shaped like Tweedledum cries

[absolutelynotfabulous]

I agree about clothes being shapeless. I look like a box in most things, being quite short and a 12. And everything has a high neck! What happened to nice, flattering V necks?

I think most people would struggle to look good in those dresses.

[BusterGonad]

Yes mad my waist is wide compared to my hips and bottom. I'm basically all boobs and a bit of a tum with a thick waist and super slim long legs.

[Starface]

As well as current style being an issue, the pattern on the fabric creates a problem. You could solve this by putting in darts, which would bring the garment in around the waist and is how many of the shift dresses I have made did it. But that would destroy the flow of the pattern, which is an important part of both those pieces linked to by the OP.

[BusterGonad]

I find buying clothes with a bit of stretch helps, that way my boobs fit in and the rest is fitted enough to be flattering.