What is a shift dress?

9 replies

Elledorado · 27/05/2018 12:20

Because I thought it was a fairly shapeless/straight up and down sort of dress (ie no waist). Is this right?

As an hourglass, I usually rule out anything described as a "shift" dress but then again, I would probably suit this and this and this and this ... all of which are described as "shift" dresses.

I'm just a bit confused, I guess and having recently been doing a lot of internet shopping for dresses, I need to know what's what!

OP posts:

Tippexy · 27/05/2018 12:29

I'd say the Ali one is, the Daley one sort of is apart from the sleeves, and the other two certainly aren't!

AssassinatedBeauty · 27/05/2018 12:29

You're right about the definition of a shift dress, those dresses have unhelpful descriptions. The detailed descriptions say things like "fitted a line" or "peplum and fitted waistband" which clearly aren't a shift dress!

I'd go on the images rather than the words as annoying as that is.

RussianBluee · 27/05/2018 12:37

Yes shift is like a sack straight cut. No waist definition. Like a smart work tunic.

Original poster

Elledorado · 27/05/2018 13:26

Annoyingly I think they might sometimes style shift dresses to look like they have a 'waist' though!

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DuchyDuke · 27/05/2018 13:29

Shift dresses are those where the hip is cut fairly close and there isn’t much difference between bust, waist and hip. So they would suit hourglass / apple shapes

Original poster

Elledorado · 27/05/2018 13:32

duchy as an hourglass I'd say that most "straight" styles don't suit me (or I should say, they did as a size 8 hourglass but not as a curvier 10-12)

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DuchyDuke · 27/05/2018 13:37

Really? That surprises me really because all of my hourglass friends find them more forgiving in the belly area. I suppose it’s a matter of finding the right shift dress for you, but as a pear shape myself I would deem all of the dresses you linked to as shift dresses. They would all equally as baggy on my top / waist and stretched around my hips (if they even fit at all) lol.

Original poster

Elledorado · 27/05/2018 13:52

Apples have slim arms and legs but put on weight around their middle, hourglass tend to be slimmest at their waists. I need a dress to accentuate the waist rather than be forgiving in that area

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Bejazzled · 27/05/2018 13:59

I wouldn't have described any of those as shifts. I always thought it was more this type of style.

Flip