by JASMINE GARNSWORTHY
Although I’m a self-confessed fad follower (I wore printed pants twice this week), any trend that creates come-hither style, hourglass curves gets a BIG thumbs up in my books.
Peplum – the clever little frill that extends from your waist to hips (or just above) is supposed to do just that, and is, very possibly, the most flattering new addition to my closet.
No, I’m not talking about ’80s style ruffles. I’m talking about that structured flounce that nips-in your waist up high (read: where it is smallest) and flares out to over your belly.
Sounds good, right?
Anne Hathaway loves it. Kim Kardashian pulls it off. Even Kate Middleton is giving it a go (and anything a Princess does is fine by us). A fitted skirt seems to be the most popular partner to peplum jackets or tops.
It’s a runway look that has been recreated perfectly by high street shops (Asos, Sportsgirl and Topshop are all doing it). Bonus.
If you still aren’t with me, scroll through the gallery and check out these hourglass curves… I’ll convince you yet.
Rebecca Judd
Would you wear a peplum hem? What is the most flattering piece in your wardrobe at the moment?
Comments
66 Comments so far
I disagree that the peplum does not work on curvy girls. This style can work on anyone. If you are curvy, stick to a peplum top that ends right at or just below your hips. It is great for hiding a tummy. I am curvy myself, and have loads of these tops in my closet. I love them. I love how they make my body look. I look slimmer wearing them. They accent my hips. And I always wear a cardigan over top to help even more. Now, I stay away from peplum jackets or peplum dresses, skirts, etc. I have a peplum jacket which I never wore because when it is buttoned, my hips look like a box! Oh no! But, if you are curvy, do not be scared of it. You can rock it too.
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I thought PEPLUM was an instrument used by a gynocologist!
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Is it possible that almost everything looks great if you have the duchess of cambridge’s body?????
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Where do you get the Ted Baker Dress?
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I had an awesome.peplum dress circa 1987. They were quite the trend then
I still have it but strangely it no longer fits!
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A peplum is a a difficult look to carry off successfully; I certainly couldn’t wear one.
But then again, I have yet to see anything in a magazine or on television – pretty much anywhere in fact – that would look good on a circle!
(Yes, I’m in shape … round is a shape)
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I don’t mind peplum dresses, but not mad on peplum tops and I have the shape they’re designed for (column, sounds better than cylinder). I actually like peplum jackets best. I used to have a cute outfit in the 80s with a peplum jacket, pencil skirt, with split and frill detail at the back.
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Im in London at the moment and Peplum is huge on the High Street. Love this look and I do have a few peplum dresses in my wardrobe
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I love peplum dresses because they make me look like I have an hourglass figure. For those of us who are top heavy with snake hips this style is a god-send.
I don’t like the frilly styles though. It should be very simple and sleek, not inspired by a toddlers bathing suit.
http://labeauteetleblogueur.blogspot.com.au/
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Would love to be able to wear this style but I’m a pear and it doesn’t suit me. BTW is it just me or is Kate Middleton looking extremely thin these days?
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Agreed. In an unhealthy way…
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This trend doesn’t work if you have big hips, rump or thighs. even if you’re on the curvy side, it does NOT look any good.
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Absolutely right – I bought a gorgeous poppy coloured structured peplum top to wear with tight jeans and heels but because I’m smaller up top (A cup and size 8-10) with more meat on my hips, thighs and bum it just made me look big from the waist down. Def a style more suited to gals wanting to create the illusion of curves – not for those who already have them.
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Jamila’s is the best of the lot.
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Sorry guys, I am “the anti-peplum”. Every time I see a photo of one, I think to myself – that is a great dress – if you just remove the bloody tummy-frill ! FYI – Victoria Beckham did the peplum on some of her dresses a few years back. Where was all the peplum love then, hey??
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God I agree…peplum shleplum….over it
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I just love the word peplum
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No, peplum is not always flattering. Get it right, it looks lovely… but anyway carrying extra belly weight or even on the voluptuous side of curvy – it accentuates things in all the wrong ways.
Take Kim Kardashian in the photos above as an example.
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Don’t voluptuous and curvy mean the same thing?
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Recommendations for peplum top up to sz 16 that ends BELOW the belly button?
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I think peplums are great for girls without an hourglass figure, as then the peplum creates it. But, I say steer away from the peplum if you do actually have an hourglass figure as it just adds extra bulk.
I’m quite petite but I do have a small waist with wider hips and a booty – and peplums look horrendous on me… A pencil skirt is much more flattering on my shape, I think.
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I loooove a pencil skirt for work, but how bloody hard is it to find one that fits well in both the waist and across the hips/thighs and bum???
I’ve taken to buying pencil skirts in a size that fits me well across the thights and bum and have founf a good tailor who will take the waist in for me. It costs an extra $30 on top of the price of the skirt but I am yet to find one that fits me perfectly off the rack
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I reakon the biggest challenge with the peplum is making sure the dress fits PERFECTLY. Because if the peplum is too high or too low you end up looking like a clown or a little girl in frilly bathers.
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It could be nice, the idea isn’t bad, but the skirt should be shorter, this makes them all look like tiny tiny smurfettes. Shorter and better fitted. That loose trashbag on the butt isn’t flattering. i like the top though.
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Hmmm, not a fan of anything that adds extra bulk. I’m very straight through the middle, ie don’t go in much at the waist and don’t go out much at the hips or bust, not sure it would do much for my figure, as I find a cinched waist uncomfortable. I do like the idea of something that would make me look curvier though – maybe I’ll have to try one on.
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I love what Cue is doing at the moment with peplum! Perfect for work BUT every other girl in the building is wearing it!
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Great camouflage for a rounded tummy like mine But they will date horribly. Look at the factory outlets for peplum dresses soon…
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sorry but with the exception of Kim, all the girls featured in the gallery are all STICK THIN. Of course it looks great on them – anything would. I fear if I tried it I would look like Kim and have people questioning whether I was pregnant, again.
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I agree. That style does nothing for Kim K’s figure I don’t think.
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I used to wear peplums back in the 70′s. They were perfect for me. As a teenager I was slim but never had a dead flat stomach, Glad they are back and if they are on something for my age group, I will buy them.
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I bought a peplum dress a little over a year ago. It’s made of gorgeous bright fabric and sits so well on me. I love it. Everyone laughed at me and asked why my dress needed two skirts. Now it’s “the thing”. Always one step ahead of fashion!
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I just bought 2 peplum tops for work from Glassons. I never thought I’d buy anything from that store but they have some nice stuff these days. They’re made of quite a thick fabric too, which is essential.
It’s a shame my workplace is quite casual – I need to find an excuse to wear them!
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Over the top of skinny jeans is perfect!
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I have not tried on anything featuring a peplum. My gut feeling is that they are most flattering on those who have fairly strait up and down figures, and worst on pear shapes (that would be me). Any pear shaped people out there wear them? What are they like on?
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Ros I am definitely pear shaped but can make a peplum top or jacket work if teamed with slim pants or a pencil skirt. Heels really help too!
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love love love this trend! i have a leopard print peplum top and have just bought this dress online:
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I’d like to submit my application for membership in the category of BTDT. Thank you.
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I think I am the president of the Anti Peplum Brigade.
(My mother made me too, too many dresses in the 80s with peplums.)
New members welcome.
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Can I be your vice president
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I’d like to see your club amalgamate with the Not Another Batwing Sleeve Brigade
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please send me a membership application. my mother did it to me too.
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I’ll join too. I don’t get why anyone would want to make their hips look WIDEr than they already are…. which is how most peplums look to me.
Horrendously unflattering.
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Completely agree. I am signing up as the 7th member of this club…
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If you’re an inverted triangle like I am – meaning my shoulders are wider than my hips, and I have big boobs but a tiny bum – then adding width to your bottom makes sense and could look good. I’m curious about how more pear-shaped women make it work (a couple of people discussed that above) because to me it sounds like a peplum on a pear shape would be like me trying to wear shoulder pads. All about balance, I suppose.
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I am available for Chairman of the Board
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Great response, Anti Peplummers. I am stoked. All office bearers elected unopposed. Our first order of business is to draft a letter of protest to Jasmine Garnsworthy, explaining our AntiPeplum charter and offering her hope and support while she de-peplums her fashion sense.
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I wear corporate attire to work and this style is so great for adding a bit of interest to an otherwise streamlined black/grey suit- I love it
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Would I wear a peplum “thingy”?…..Nah, I wouldn’t be fooling anyone…lol.
Most flattering things in my wardrobe are my huge Peruvian purple poncho, and a dark green velvet Medieval hooded cape that I’ll be wearing to our daughter’s Historical re-enactor-style wedding……(well I hope it is…lol.)
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Couldn’t agree more
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I just think they make a outfit look unnecessarily busy. They also add volume – if you have even a hint of a tummy it balloons over it making it look twice as big (see pic No 4 of Kim Kardashian or pic No 8 of Tina Fey). They’re OK occasionally but mostly I just think they’re one of those added extra bits that make an outfit look flouncy and busy.
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I agree. Kim is too heavy around the hips and bum to pull it off, it just makes her look bigger and more out of proportion.
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Peplums always remind me of Sally Spectra.
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Kate Middleton is not a Princess. She’s a Duchess.
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She’s a princess to me! I know it’s not technical and correct but she married a prince, so let’s give her the title anyway!
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I assumed peplum would be unflattering on my big hips, but I tried on a peplum dress over the weekend and it was gorgeous! Too bad I’m on a 6 month clothes-purchasing ban so I was just torturing myself.
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I *LOVE* me a peplum. That said, I’m 5’5 of tits and arse – so a peplum has always been my friend.
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I remember having the cutest swimsuit when I was 4/5 years old that had a peplum-ish frill around the waist. I loved it. That was 1984/85 – I wonder if that was the last time this trend was trending?
Anything that flatters and accentuates the feminine figure I’m all for!
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91/92 I believe.
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Ah, so I was ahead of the trend!
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Indeed. I should have look through your 2012 closet to get a headstart on my wardrobe.
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I had one even later – 94/95!
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I wore one to my year 6 formal, 1991 I believe!!
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Yep I have two work dresses and a skirt with a peplum hem!
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Aren’t they great for work. I have a jacket that I wear to death…
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Love the peplum hem – and teaming it up with a pair of heels is a must!
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I just bought a beautiful dress from Leona Edmiston with a peplum waist, so flattering
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