Do You Wear Empire Waist Tops?

I had one or two but got rid of them after being afraid of that myself, plus i have done a double take and wondered 'is she or isn't she' when i've seen someone wearing them. My stomach isn't as flat as i'd like it to be so i much prefer tops that are loose, but have a fitted band or are cinched around the bottom. That way they still hide my stomach, but there isn't any confusion about being pregnant. Or the fitted ones that have the ruffles going down the front. I have some really cute sleeveless ones like that. Those 2 are perfect 'fat protectors' as i like to call them.
Now the high wasted skirts and sundresses i love, also because they hide a stomach, but the look reminds me of retro 50's style. Pair it with a thick black belt and i love it. Those are not empire, as they don't flair out straight from the breast down.

After 4 pregnancies, I avoid empire waist tops like the plague. I'm afraid I will look pregnant and it reminds me of all my way too worn maternity clothes.

I loved empire waist tops when I was pregnant. But not now.The only people who look good in them when not pregnant are skinny teenagers. Seriously. Everyone else looks either pregnant or like they're trying to cover a belly (even if you don't have much of one). They're just not flattering, sadly.

NOBODY looks good in this style. It is just simply unflattering to women.

Empire waist looks AWESOME on ME.... If I can find them long enough. (I'm 6'1)

Really, it's about the cut and your shape. I have gozanga boobies (FF), so most 'flat' front shirts make me LOOK pregnant, because they drop straight down from the girls. Hey! My waist is 6" back thataway! Waist cinching makes me look even fatter/frumpier, because I have big hips. Seriously, I look like a sausage link... All round on top and round in the bottom. Ugh. Another look to avoid. Tunics? Shudder. Let's look gawdawful, today! Then again, let's not! Quite frankly, though, a lot of empire waisted things ARE designed for pregnancy. Smooth in back and blousy/gathered in front. Another nope! So even in empire, structure structure structure!

I need something with room for the girls, that doesn't put 50 pounds on me, please! Which means the 'fall' needs to start UNDER the girls. Lots and lots and lots of tailoring needs to happen unless it's cut that way to begin with like empires.

So I wear a lot of stretch Camis and a lot of empire waist schtuff. ESP dresses. Then I'm all T&legs and halfway yummy. Phew!

But on some of my girlfriends? Honey! When are you due?

No one have ever even hinted I look pregnant in these tops, but I do get a lot of compliments/ lost weight/ yum sorts of things. In flat front shirts, though? I get the preg comment all the time.

Totally depend on body shape & cut!

i don't like 'em. even beyond the way they simulate pregnancy, they're just odd and unflattering to almost every body type.
khairete
S.

I'm 5" and I do wear empire waist sometimes. But I was asked if I was expecting last week so I might give them up. I'm not pregnant by the way.

Depends on the shirt... ones brush against your body would clearly show that you are not pregnant. However, if you see none of your body under the top, then that is a risk.

So... look in the mirror move around a bit and see what you see!

Good luck!

I think they are cute, but they tend to make large women look larger. When I see my friends wearing them, I tend to wonder if they are hiding a pregnancy. This is why I won't wear them any more.

I think it is a very lazy look. I had one and sold it in a garage sale for a dollar...

I feel the same concern when I wear empire waist shirts. I think I just feel like a wore them so much while pregnant that I just look pregnant any time I put one on. My husband doesn't find them flattering either, so I don't wear them.

I have them but will definitely be swapping them out for a different type of top. They don't work on me. I think the work better when you have a larger bustline with smaller waist and hips with little to no stomach.

If you think they look good on you don't worry about it but wear it well. One of the women from the church wears them all the time during the summer and she looks fantastic and not pregnant in hers. God bless her.

I think they are cute and they are in style. However, I was wearing one once and my 90 yr old father in law asked me if I was expecting! Good grief, I was like 52 yrs old, lol.... and wasnt fat. So, I think some old schoolers dont realize that its really a style and not just for maternity.

Wear them all the time LOVE them, can not live with out them.

I would rather wear one than a fitted tee or other top. They are cooler and allow more room for comfort. I am always glad to see them come back in style in fresh ways.

Look for tops that fit and flare a bit but not to any extremes. They look less like maternity wear then. They look more fashionable.

Empire waisted tops and dresses are in style right now. I would not assume someone was pregnant when wearing one. I have a friend who still has a prominent baby bump years after giving birth. People think she's pregnant no matter what she wears.

I'm a senior with white hair and I would wear empire waisted top if I found one that was age appropriate. I do have a couple of tops with a tie in the back. They are full enough to be confused with maternity tops. They still look good on this "old woman." lol

Yes, I do. I have a tad more belly than I want and I'm short. I've always liked the empire waist so I wore it well before I had DD, during pregnancy and now after. I think as long as it fits right and doesn't give you a pregnant effect (some are more volume than others) go for it. I also feel that as a short woman, the high waist makes me look longer. Empire waist does not need to = pregnancy look.

I do, but I'm plus size so there's no comparison! LOL! But I like them and have a bunch of sundresses like this. The reason is I'm pear shaped, big hips, stomach and thighs but small boobs, so this style fits my figure perfectly. I say, where what you like and is comfortable and don't worry what anyone else thinks! Good luck!

It depends on your figure. If you have big boobs, more small hips I think they look nice and don't necessarily make you look pregnant.
I have an hourglass figure and they are really unflattering on me (even though I LOVE them and wish I could wear them)...

I find curvey women like us just can't pull off empire waists as well as stick figure women. Even a skinny curvey woman can't pull it off. I think it's because we are rather busty. We do look great in form fitting dresses though and blouses that nip in at the waist. We can even get away with wearing loose fitting polo shirts, which straight figures can't.

I feel the same way, but never think they don't look good on others!

I wear them occasionally and have a bit of a belly but don't technically look pregnant. That has not however stopped people from assuming otherwise. I'm 5'1", size 9 and petite. I say wear what you like. :)

you know, i have one from when i was pregnant that i tried on not long ago (i just loved it that much, sorry!) and yes i looked pregnant again lol! BUT i love the style in general, and other "non maternity" ones did not do that to me - i think because of my big boobs too! it all depends on your shape. i love them myself, and i don't feel i look pregnant, but my boobs far "outweigh" my (not flat) stomach...i think that matters. if you have smaller boobs or your tummy is larger than your stomach, they might be less flattering...

i know what you mean as soon as i wear an empire waist shirt which i love everybody asks if i'm expecting at my job. I'm like no its the style. Once you have one they always think your pregnant again lol. Just wear what you like and don't worry about these people they'll get the point eventually! :)

I have tons of the sun dresses that are high waist, but hardly any shirts like that except for when expecting. My reasons are a little different though, of course I have the "they make me look pregnant' issue but in addition to that i have a little wider hips and they are usually snug around them, so I HATE that! and won't wear because of that.

Wear what you feel comfortable in number one and don't worry about what others think....

That said, would I wear that style... no. I've seen some cute styles but I don't like tops that would make anyone think twice about being pregnant.

I am 5'4", about 116#, size 0-2, natural perky 34DD's. I prefer to wear clothes that flatter my tiny waist. I wear a lot of shorts, capris, tops from White House Black Market, Anthropologie, etc.

I did see some really cute t-short dresses at Gap today. That would look cute.. just belt it so it flatters your figure.