Short torso/high waist - right dress shape?

[Bambi75]

I was wondering whether this is the right dress shape for me. I'm size 10, 5ft6, long legs, short body, high waist with a bit of a mum tum. I was thinking the deep v neck, sleeves, not too fitted waist and drape effect would create the illusion of elongating my body. Am I right or wildly off the mark? Feeling a bit clueless. Thanks!

www.baukjen.com/uk/m/shop/baukjen/dresses/jersey-drape-dress-berry.htm

I have a very similar build to you and I think you're spot on with this dress choice. Might get one myself in fact

Are you me? We're exactly the same build.

I find that this overall shape suits me well and have a dress v v similar, but generally something with a defined visible waistline, that's fitted and tailored rather than in jersey, is even better. But that might be because I have love handles and a lumpy arse so something tailored skims over those bits...

Do you both find it tricky to find dresses that fit? Everything seems to be body con or really fitted round the waist and I'm so sick of trying on dresses where I have to keep pulling it up by the shoulders because there's too much length in the waist which creates a bunched up effect at the curve of my back. I'm liking this particular dress because it's double layered and ruched, therefore hopefully helping to minimise my tum. Hoping the dress lives up to its reviews and it's not (another) disappointment. Apparently empire line and low waisted tunic dresses are supposed to be good for our body shape too but struggling to find anything in those styles I like.

Yes, really tricky! Often end up wearing skirts and tops for just that reason. Will wear a close-fitting black top with a black sparkly skirt or similar and the effect is quite like a dress.

I know exactly what you mean about wanting to pull dresses up at the shoulders - when I do that I then see where the shaping over the bust is meant to go and how the dress should really fit - and have occasionally tried having them altered but the problem then is they're sometimes too tight under the arms and that's no good! YY also to the bunched effect at the back .. there's just too much fabric there.

Empire line is no good for me nor are tunic dresses as a rule. I just end up looking like a very old little girl

Occasionally I've been lucky and found something in the petite section as the waistline is then in the right place. But only occasionally and it very much depends on the style - maxi-dresses can be good, but mostly they are tailored for women a few inches shorter and it doesn't work.

It's a pain. Marginally better than having your bum too near the ground though.

This is weird - I'm 5ft6, long legs, short body, high waist, mum tum, size 10 and the dress you've linked to would be my worst nightmare! Way too clingy on the stomach and would really highlight my lack of hips (though you may not suffer from the hip problem!)

My best dress shapes go along the lines of a 60s shift dress, similar to this (though probably longer now that I am 35).

The only skirts I can get away with are A line and above the knee (though again I think this may be due to my lacking in the hip department!)

The dress you've linked to is lovely, though, just no way I could ever pull it off!

Yes it's really annoying! It also means the bits the boobs are meant to go in are too low, or necklines are too low and show my bra.

I sometimes go for Petite stuff, and try to avoid dresses in stiff material or that zip up the back. With strappy dresses I shorten the straps. I have found that v back dresses can help me avoid the problem too.

Ah ladies, it's comforting to see you have these challenges too - I thought I just had an odd shape, but probably I wasn't trying hard enough to find dresses that suited my shape rather than ones I just love the look of regardless.

Thanks for the tip about petite ranges, will investigate these options!

Haha realblueprint the dress may turn out to be my worst nightmare too, although I have another dress in that style and weirdly it seems to look ok on me. I'll let you know once it's arrived and I've tried it on!

One part of my body I am happy with is my upper arms so I'm thinking of trying on dresses in either a bandeau or one shoulder style. Apparently these styles also draw the eye down, creating the illusion of a longer torso.

The bit I really hate is my tummy. It really makes me miserable. It's not that huge, but I have an otherwise petite frame with narrowish (but same width as my shoulder) hips and it just makes my tummy stick out, not aided by my short waist. I've lost my baby weight since giving birth to dd2 4 months ago but sadly the muscles are just too stretched now to ping back to what they were. Oh well, thank goodness for spanx!

My tummy sticks out too but a lot less than it did since I found an amazing Pilates teacher...

I'm a similar shape and think that shape is a good one. I find fitted stuff far more flattering than anything a line that just makes me look like a giant hip with boobs stuck ontop.