to think that the "bodice" of dresses are getting shorter?

[PyongyangKipperbang]

I am 5'6" (34C) , maybe a tiny bit shorter, so not out of the ordinary and half of the dresses I try on dont properly come down to my waist.

They are styled or look like they should but the always seem to be just a wee bit too short. I dont have a long body, tops etc are fine and trousers/jumpsuits also are, its particularly dresses.

I had this exact conversation last week and totally agree. I think modern clothes, whatever size, seem to think women are straight up and down without curves on their boobs and arms!

Thats why I added my boob size, because I had a hunch that one of the first questions would be how big they are!

I am so glad its not just me because I was beginning to think I am freak!

I have this, waists just under my boobs so every dress looks like empire line. So annoying.

It means the narrow waist part is actually over my lower ribs, making the dress uncomfortable.

I'm not sure if it's a dress issue, style issue, or me issue. But I can really only wear dresses without actual waists.

Edit: I'm a D cup. Dp when I look at clothes online says "why do none of the women have boobs?". It's depressing!

It’s because most women want a dress that skims over their stomach. A style that is fitted at the bust and flares from there suits many women now that most people are larger than they were. It absolutely does not suit a flat chested straight up and down figure.

I’m 5’1” and have some dresses bought this year and last which aren’t specifically petite which have the waist in the right place for me, which surprised me. They’d be as you describe on you, I would think. But other styles are too long in the waist for me, it’s not all of them.

I can sort of see what you are saying but I am talking about dresses with a clearly defined waist line. So skater dress...ok. But I tried on a lovely bardot dress with a slim top, full skirt, belt and very obvious waist, it was still not quite long enough without me having the baps well out of the breadbin!

Yes! I have found my people. I was starting to think it was me. Everything I wear feels uncomfortable with the waist ever so slightly too high. I only just scrape 5ft so it baffles me.

Couldn’t agree more with this. I’m 5ft 8 and all dresses have the waist too far up for me. It’s so frustrating as nothing looks quite right

I have this issue with any brands that are Spanish or Italian, which is a fair fear of them. They are caught for shorter / smaller boobed women

I've noticed this for twelve years at least. I thought at first, back then it was because I'd put weight on and my top half was obviously taking up space and pulling the dresses up. But now I'm size 10 and 34D bust and it's the same, waist often two inches too high where there is a waistband. I'm 5'7" so not short, but my inside leg measurement is the same as DH who is 5'11", so I'd guess I'm shorter in the body!

Me too! I’m only 5’7 and a half too. I love the look of a defined waist on a dress. So many dresses look frumpy and awful on me because the bodice is so short.
I find generally clothes are much more cut for a short-backed apple shape now. As a non-short-backed pear this is frustrating. Acres of shapeless fabric widthways around the boobs and under the arms, and a maternity-look length of bodice. (I think the apple shape is more common now though so is probably just market forces)
Same frustration with ‘maxi’ dresses stopping at a whisker under mid calf. Joe Brown’s sometimes do really nice true maxi dresses in viscose with a decent length that swish pleasingly around the ankle, and have a nice nipped in waist at actual waist level.

I'd agree to a degree. Most clothes are shapeless as well because it's cheaper not to fit them properly.

I'm 5'8" and have thought this for ages.

Now I only buy dresses that are made of long panels of material, with darts, no horizontal waist seam.

I then extend and re-sew all the darts to fit where my waist really is. It's a complete pain but the only way I can have dresses that fit, without making the whole thing myself.

Don't even get me started on the extra bagginess manufacturers allow over the stomach area. A lot of dresses are more like maternity clothes.

Italian & French clothes are generally better, but they cost more.

“MyGhastIsFlabbered · Today 06:26
Yes! I have found my people. I was starting to think it was me. Everything I wear feels uncomfortable with the waist ever so slightly too high”

This with bells on. @PyongyangKipperbang - thanks for starting this thread! I’m your height and started finding this several years ago. I’m big - size 18 and 38 DD - so it’s kind of a relief that it doesn’t appear to be down to that. Also a relief that it’s not the only one.

I wish! I'm 5ft and find them all too long- we'll it's more the shoulder to boob/ neckline too long than boob to waist but that then makes the waist lower.

I do think empire line is slightly back in fashion as it skinny over curvy again.

Where are you shopping?

As someone who is a size 16 I totally disagree, noone wants an empire waist if they are bigger as it makes you look pregnant. I am bigger and hour glass and look curvy with a good shaped dress but like a lump in dresses where the waist is too high.

I find this too - the shoulder to boob gap is far too long in lots of dresses. I’m fairly tall at 5’6” (admittedly long legs proportionally) and not small of bust either and vests and square necked dresses in particular seem to sit so low as to barely cover the essential bits. I find this with bras too - the apex is far too high but smaller cup sizes cut my boobs in half.

That said, I do like an empire line.

I’m 4’11, medium of nork and have the same shoulder to boob problem. I can measure a dress against myself, think the length is all right & then hang out of it when I try it on.

I’m 5 ft 8 ins and have bought 2 shirt waist dresses from Boden this year and the waist is in the correct place for me. 36 E. So it’s possible! Also have a very expensive dress from Max Mara and that was good too. I’ve quite a long body but some brands seem better than others.

I’m wondering if it’s likely to be better with brands/styles where there is a petite option?

Yes! Very unflattering on busty old me. I know to avoid that style now when ordering online. Shame.

I bought a Whistles shirred bodice dress this year and the waist is in the right place on me otherwise agree that everything else is too high. I have a nice boden jersey dress but after wearing it had to take out the massive piece of waist elastic as it made the dress empire line. It just rose up during the day.

I thought maybe the answer was dropped waist dresses but they just look odd.

I actually think there is a market for tailors to fit each garment but I guess that will cost lots.

This is about body shape, I’m short waisted so dresses fall on my waist, but I’ve very slim hips. Like a rectangle, so if it’s a column type dress the hips can be a couple of inches to wide.

ive really long legs for my height, which is just a half inch or so taller than you, and pretty much no regular length trousers fit me, most are too short.and flap round my ankles,

I think they simply have to cut for a body shape and when you buy off the peg then you’re either going to fit that shape or not.

so for example, me and em fit me perfectly, like they were cut for me, as does Reiss, but markies just don’t work, the body is too long for me, waist either too tight, and hips too wide, or hips fit and waist too big. If the clothes were better quality I still couldn’t shop there. Reformation tends to cut for a more pair shape so I find their clothes just too big on the hips,

so you need to find the brands that works for your body shape. There simply is no way to go into every shop and it’s always cut for our bodies, as our bodies are so different.

id guess you’re long waisted, which is why you’ve the issue you have.

I'm another one with the shoulder to bust issue. I'm 5ft2 and have 30DD-E boobs. I'm a size 6-8 and fairly hour glass shape with a small waist.

I only buy clothes now that have a tailored fit with darts or panels to give the nipped in waist. I avoid stretchy fabrics. One of the issues I have is a lot of clothes assume a smaller bust. I'm breastfeeding at the moment and there are quite a few clothes in my wardrobe that fit except for the boobs which is frustrating. I tend to go for 50s style dresses and have quite a few dresses from lady vintage.

Yes, this is definitely something I’ve noticed. Doesn’t help me at all as am large of chest, but otherwise slim, so a lot of dresses make me look bigger all over than I am.