15 Drop Waist Dresses Proving This Is The Style Of The Season

Drop it like it’s hot

By Dinushka Gunasekara | 23rd September 2024

One of the greatest things about living Down Under is we get to sit back and take notes in our cosy knits while fashion’s elite trial the latest trends over Euro summer, before adopting the best ourselves for a stylish season ahead. During our studies, there’s been one effortlessly elegant silhouette reigning supreme and now we’re ready to take it off the moodboard and onto the streets: let’s talk drop waist dresses.

While hemlines usually follow temperatures by rising as summer approaches, the drop waist dress trend has them going the opposite way. The contoured style involves a fitted bodice that falls to a waistband hitting below the hips, before billowing into a full skirt. The result? A play on proportions that’s ultra-feminine and oh-so chic.

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Drop waist dresses are nothing new. In fact, the silhouette can be traced back almost a century to the 1920s, when low-slung dresses accented with tassels or fringing were coveted amongst the flapper set. Naturally, the drop waist dress of today has received a modern makeover and is often paired with a bubble skirt – a fellow retro revival making the rounds on and off the runway.

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The trend also couldn’t have arrived at a better time, as a huge appeal of the drop waist dress is its wearability. Available in breathable materials like linens or light cottons, it’s a tasteful way to beat the heat. Simply accessorise with a gelato in hand!

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With Australian labels dominating the look, you can get your hands on drop waist dresses that have already received the global seal of approval from Anna Quan, Matteau or Faithfull. There are also a bevy of contemporary iterations to suit your aesthetic, perfect for the beach, the bar, and anywhere else you decide to soak up the glorious life in the Sunshine State!

Discover our edit of the best drop waist dresses this season below: