Question submitted by Lisa: “I am seeing many dolman/batwing sleeve tops and sweaters in the stores. They are cute, but don’t have any waist definition. Can this style be flattering on an hourglass figure? Is the only option to belt it to nip it in at the waist? If so, how long should be top be to avoid it looking all bunched up? What type of bottom should it be paired with?”
Hi Lisa, thanks for the question!
I find that most women with hourglass figures are not comfortable in a batwing style, as it is a difficult style for them to wear. It is best on women with inverted triangle figures (these women have hips that are narrower than their shoulders) as the style tends to balance out their body shape, and accent the narrowest part of their figure. In general, if you try to belt this style to define your tiny hourglass waist, it looks messy… and not quite right.
If you have an hourglass figure, and would really like to wear this style, you can make it work, it’s just a little tricky. I would suggest looking for a shirt that has a sleeve that starts to narrow just above your waist, or right at the waist (higher under the arm), so at least you bring attention to your waist even if you don’t get the definition. You could also use a necklace that ends at the top of your waist to bring attention to the narrow part of your figure, or look for a shirt in this style in a sheer fabric so you can see the outline of your silhouette underneath.
You will want to pair this style of shirt with a narrow pant or skirt, like skinny jeans or a pencil skirt, to balance the extra fabric from the sleeve.
Hope this helps you make your buying decision!
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