Quick question: Is there a word for that style where it's all closely gathered elastic at the top of a dress or top?

[BroccoliSpears]

I'm sure there is a word for it.

Like this?

Can't see your picture but sounds like smocking.

The link took me nowhere, but are you thinking of smocking?

ruching?

Ditto Iota - 'ruched' is the word you are looking for I think

shirring too

smocking?

Is it like the top of this dress?

Here

Yes, that's it Shiny. Like loads of elastic have been weaved into the material.

You get little girls' summer dresses with string straps and then a tube of elasticatedness and then it flares out into the skirt.

Tighter than smocking.

Ruching, I think.

And by 'weaved', I obviously mean woven.

agree with lauriefairycake - shirring - the thin elastic is known as 'shirring elastic'.

smocking is stretchy.
ruched - think austrian blinds LOL

smocking is not stretchy

I've never heard of shirring.

It's definitel shirring I meant though.

Well done Laurie. Thank you!

Hey, you and I might not be able to crochet but helping each other out with random crap could become our thing