When Chen of Australia entered the TYS Birthday Celebration Drawing, she also sent along a fashion question for her style*his style. I thought this was a great idea, so anyone who sends in a useable fashion/style question will get two entries in the drawing--hurry, you have until June 22!


Empire waists: only for super models?

Here is Chen's questions:

I love dresses with empire waists, but as I have a very curvy figure, they often make me look fat or even pregnant! Is there any way I can wear these dresses and still look slender?


From Luca Luca's Spring 07 collection

mj: An empire waist, or 'om-peer' as the French say, sits directly below the bustline and is actually one of the more flattering dresses you can wear if you're curvy because it gives the illusion of a smaller waist in relation to your hips. The reason why some empire dresses can make you look fat has to do with the seam. If the seam is gathered, it will poof out into a baby doll/maternity style dress, which only works for stick-thin girls.


Classic empire gown and coat--very Audrey Hepburn

If the seam is flat, the empire waist will elongate your figure and the slight flair will cover a myriad of stomach and hip issues; in other words, a very flattering cut. Thanks for the question Chen, and good luck in the drawing!

Labels: empire waist