Whatever happened to waists?

[Billydessert]

Is anyone else fed up of all the waistless clothes out there? It seems that fashion is stuck in a boxy, baggy time warp and showing no signs of coming out of it soon. I am pear shaped (of course!) and I seem to spend my life pulling up jeans that are virtually the same width at the hips as they are on the waist; and trying to avoid square shaped tops that make me look like a sack of spuds. And don't get me started on all those bloomin boyfriend coats out there. If I want man shaped clothes I'll go to a mens wear shop!
Is it too much to ask for clothes that are shaped to fit the female form?
Phew! Glad I've got that off my (prominent/booby/woman's) chest.

Anyone have any brand suggestions?

I find the waists are high too.. so they sit half on my ribs ... I’m only 5’4 but I think they’re built for the miles of legs, short torso variety

@Elledorado we all know women who are not slender or athletic who look amazing in unfitted clothes. I went to a party last summer and met a 60yo artist whose loose linen outfit and man's shirt just looked amazing on her generous figure. I was fascinated by her gorgeousness because it would have made me feel like a balled-up newpaper and our body shapes were not dissimilar. Idk if that sounds like I'm saying she looked good as a balled up newspaper but I'm not, she looked properly fabulous and I couldn't figure out why it looked so great on her because it was the textbook thing that would have made me feel very cluttered and uncomfortable.

I think the accusation of 'showing it off' is at best missing the point and at worst like a mean DM photo caption. Don't most of us just want to take the work out of feeling presentable? Occasionally I'd like to shine when there is an occasion to do so. What's wrong with that? When I can be bothered to spend hours trying on clothes in shops I feel sad when most of it looks like it was made for someone of a different species.

Like you I love boxy interesting shapes. I grew up in New York in the 80s; artsy, sculptural clothes are my madeleine. It's the easiest thing in the world spending £200+ to look like I wrapped myself in craft paper and a bit of string. Lucky you, I guess you're one of those people who can carry it off.

But body stuff, for those it suits, DOES show off their figure. The voluminous qualities highlights slim boyish figures or it skims over problem areas for larger ladies. In both cases it compliments their best features.

Unfortunately, with broad shoulders and bum, it just makes me look fat and dumpy.

Boxy not body stuff!

Ladies I went to Oasis & bought this today- so comfy & flattering & sits just perfectly on my waist. I reckon it would work for big & small busts! I have an enormous bum & thighs & this is definitely flattering.

@Onynx I've got the top of that , it's lovely .

I'm a broad shouldered slim and athletic inverted triangle, and a size 6. I look as though I'm drowning in boxy clothes. It would probably help if I was straight up and down, but I have hips and thighs. I've not met any woman who looks better in boxy clothes than tailored clothes. Most wear something structured as a jacket, or belt themselves in a bit at the waist.
I've found a new thing to improve my clothing choices, tighter tops are coming back into the shops. I bought two skinny ribbed tops, and can wear the tucked into skirts and wide legged jeans/trousers.

I have the most success in Whistles and Topshop Boutique.Thinking of buying a fitted double breasted blazer.

I have a couple of wide belts that I am currently using to hopefully help me find my waist again

I've searched online for high waisted straight/wide leg jeans, no go. Loads of skinnies.

I can't wear bootcut- the last thing I need is an extra set of curves! And I have fat knees.

http://m.boden.co.uk/en-gb/clearance/womens-petite-range/trousers-jeans/t0028-ind/womens-indigo-windsor-wide-leg-jeans?cmmmc=PLAAGooglele--Women%3EPetiteRange%3ETrousersJeans---T0028&istCompanyId=a40e1fa1-0635-4a1b-8d9a-2caa763eeee2&istItemId=xlqiixatxl&istBid=xzwt&cclid=v333d17958b-5eff-5f0c-8fe8-c6e1bc399e0d&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn6rmlKXh2QIVp7vtCh3ArAerEAQYBCABEgLI3vDBwE

I haven’t tried them (yet) but I noticed uniqlo seems to have quite a few higher waisted cuts this season which aren’t just skinny. Might be worth a look? I’ve also been drooling over the Sezane website which looks to have some lovely things but it’s pricey and I don’t know anything about it really so have been holding back.

thefirst I'm sorry if that sounded mean (or that I look better than anyone else!) my point was that I dont think that women need to mimic an hourglass to look good, I guess. Sorry if it came out the wrong way, it wasnt my intention to be mean or condescending. I'm very much in favour of wear what you want but the idea that I have to strive to look as slim as possible (and most hourglasslike) to look good annoys me.

I'm in my early 50's, hourglass 16/18, and just gone back to college (with a commute), so have altered my wardrobe somewhat.

I really don't want to rock (excuse pun) of a 50's starlet, I just want to demonstrate that I go 'in' at a certain point!

Some of the Cos stuff is good for hourglass shapes, but you HAVE to go in and try the stuff on. Ignore stroppy looking models on website.
I wear this a lot - it washes well, and would suit a pear shape IMHO.
Cos Jumper

I like Joe Browns, but I have a short waist, so often need a 'longer line' - just not a tunic! . Jeans are dark navy often from M&S.

Other stuff Ive come across this spring - Kettlewell Colours have a peplum top which looks too short for me, but may well work for some, and Anthropologie have some kimono style wrap tops.

Also Adini do some pretty baggy stuff, but their tunics often have a 'shape' to them.
Looks great with the skirt, too...

Have you all noticed that the models these days, often have their hands positioned on, or across their waist - to give these boxy clothes some element of shape?

I also agree that Boxy Clothes = Cheap to make!

@elledorado totally get what you're saying and I think everyone on here would agree about not wanting to feel a pressure to look a different shape to what they are naturally. It's unflattering for us pears and hourglasses to wear boxy clothes but on the hand often when we buy fitted things they're not small enough on the waist nor big enough on hips/bum. Equally as uncomfortable

@Airbourne I wouldn't look twice at that cos jumper. Maybe I need to totally give up online shopping and actually just go and try things on!

Thank you Sporty, I'd be a happy woman if I was a size 8! Actually I wouldn't, I was a bony 12.

Sadly, I'm looking for plus size clothes. I'm very confident about what works for me, I just struggle to find it. That said, I'm a budget shopper as well. I got two fantastic waisted tops yesterday. One was £10, cross over waisted tunic, the other an £18 chiffon, asymmetrical hem, cross over.

I buy lots of clothes off eBay where I can get fitted tops, tunics and dress that are shaped to go in and out. They are generally clothes from 10 years ago when fitted was more fashionable

The trouble is a lot of fitted clothes don't work for me either. A previous poster - sorry I can't find it now - made a joke about waists not being right under your boobs but that's pretty much where mine is. It's so high, I didn't even realise I had one until I got fitted for a decent bra. It was a revelation.

I love a tailored jacket but a lot of them go in at the wrong place. Empire lines are nearly always too low cut for my liking and the same goes for wrap tops, unless I wear a camisole underneath which for me kind of undermines the whole point. Tube skirts and fitted stretchy jersey dresses can work well because they mould themselves to my shape but, unless they're very good quality they also go saggy very quickly.

I actually quite like a boxy top, provided it's cropped. I've been known to grab the scissors and just lob a few inches off a jumper - it transforms it. I wear a longer T underneath but it still draws the eye up to my waist. Ok it doesn't go in but I still find it far more flattering than something fitted but with the waist in the wrong place.

I bought this boohoo dress today, really like it

Fellow pear here! Also wish I could find clothing with waists!

I think it’s because the average woman simply doesn’t have a waist any more; the majority of us are overweight and apple shaped. Retailers cater for the masses.

This trend is rather annoying, I'm pear shaped and short and cannot wear it.

Not rtft but dorothy perkins , asos and topshop still have dresses that suit. Tea dresses and skater dresses are all I bother looking at now.

Oasis had a good selection of this style years ago too , lots available on ebay.

Levi Demi curve.

Levis wedgie fit jeans fit me well, but I'm not pear shaped so might not suit everyone on this thread. They're straight fitting and quite high waisted.

That dress is lovely, Ollivander. One of my issues is that I don’t like girly clothes, and waisted clothes so frequently seem to be floral or polka-dotted. All 50s retro things are this style. I have even looked into making my own clothes but the kind of person who makes clothes seems to want girly and flowery and 50s, and I find it really difficult to find fabric and patterns that look like something I’d want when it’s made.