The Empire Strikes Out

Oh I love this look! I guess it’s because I don’t like wearing things are ‘tight.’ With this trend, it’s completely acceptable to wear something that is comfortable, even if the end result is that nobody can see ‘me’ underneath it all. heh heh

I don’t like the look at all. Especially the shirts that then also go down to people’s knees. It just looks sloppy.

And as a borderline plus-size person who is one year post-partum, me wearing a shirt like that would cause my whole office to be doing a baby bump watch. I tend to wear more fitted shirts to show off to people that No, I am not trying to hide anything else under here.

As a member of the IBTC, I’m fine with the trend. It makes me look like I actually have some boobage.

I agree with those that hate this trend. I was just complaining about this to my husband. I wanted to buy some nice non-maternity clothes for vacation and felt like if I wore any of the new clothes people would just say, “Oh, she’s still wearing her maternity clothes.” I didn’t buy anything. I might as well wear my maternity clothes.

I tried a few of these tops on recently and almost died laughing at myself in the mirror. I’m on the thinner side, but I looked about 6 months pregnant. No Thanks! I don’t find the look flattering at all.

I love this trend, but I hate it on me.:(

I’ve NEVER been able to wear an empire waist! Even when I was 15 and didn’t have an ounce of fat on my body, any empire waist dress or shirt would make me look a few months pregnant. Not exactly the look I was going for at 15! (Or anytime when I’m not actually pregnant!)

I love this trend. I am plus sized, and overly busty. Too many clothes make me look like all boobs, because the shirt tents out so far that my shape is lost. With empire shirts, there is a defined end to the boobage and I actually look like I have a shape.

I like these shirts because I am pregnant but not very far along. I can shop in the regular section and not the maternity.

I was thinking I’d get some longevity out of the shirts because they’re not maternity, so I can continue to wear them, but now that I’ve read the comments, I bet I’ll be ready to ditch the “maternity wear” next summer too.

This is the style of shirt that I always see recommended by Stacey and Clinton on What Not To Wear for women that have a tummy they want to hide.

However, I tend to agree that not all shirts in this style are very flattering! I’ve tried hundreds of empire-waste shirts on, and the majority of them make me look pregnant, too. However, every once in awhile, I DO come across one that is exceptionally flattering, exactly how they are described to be on What Not to Wear. In fact, one of my favorite, most well-fitting shirts I own is of this style - it makes me look so much slimmer than I am.

I think it all depends on the cut and the material. If there is too much material bunched up in the front or the material if floating around the tummy too loosely, then it does not seem to work.

I love them now that I’m pregnant, but prior to that would normally never have worn them. I have a large chest and feel that an empire waist emphasizes the largest part of me. I always prefer something that defines my waist so attention can be drawn there instead.