Ever Present Past: The Drop Waist Dress

The flapper girls of the 1920s led the drop waist dress trend. Wanting to break free from restrictions, the flappers loosened their waists and shortened their hems. The defining characteristic of the drop waist is that the waist occurs at the hips or below. The natural waist is not accentuated at all.

Since the ’20s, the drop waist dress has been revived and restyled many ways. The spring 2012 runway designs sparked an interest in the drop waist again, but I prefer the vintage versions of the ’60s and ’80s. With the many different styles, there is sure to be one to flatter your body. Below are my favorite vintage drop waist dresses available on Etsy.

This adorable ‘8os dress is reminiscent of a school uniform.  It’s a sophisticated schoolgirl look.  For fall, I would pair it with a bold colored sweater and neutral ankle booties.

Channel a boho chic vibe for fall by pairing this vintage lace dress with plenty of leather.  It would look great with a pair of leather knee-high boots and a short leather jacket.

 This teal dress is straight out of the ’80s which is when the drop waist dress with a tighter, shorter bottom debuted. A good tip for wearing vintage in a modern way to always remove the shoulder pads, always. Wear this dress with flat motorcycle boots for a chic rocker look.

Everything about this outfit is great. The color explosion is what makes this outfit. The bright colors of this ’90s drop waist dress are complemented by the same shade of purple heart sunglasses and purple sequined beanie. Keeping the accessories the same color prevents this look from being overwhelming.

Navy and mod are an unbeatable fall combo. The floral, psychedelic top of this mod ’60s dress pops against the navy corduroy bottom. Wear with leather flats in a neutral shade.

This style most closely resembles the original flapper style. The bold colors and pleated skirt of this ’80s paisley drop waist dress make it a stand out.