That isn't smocking, it's shirring! Smocking is hand done and quite expensive. Generally seen on heirloom children's clothes. It doesn't involve any elastic so it lasts longer than shirring. Shirring is only as good as the elastic.
I’d personally avoid those H&M dresses because they look like they’d fall apart in the wash. They aren’t lined and the straps are so thin and likely poorly sewed on, just asking to break. I also think dresses with straps to tie are just another lazy manufacturing approach to stop them from having to actually craft the fit of the garment. Additionally, dresses that would show an entire bra while wearing it are a no-go.
@@margosaur rich solid colours that compliment your skin (you can just dye it) + structured but simple top part, Uniqlo surprisingly tends to have good summer dresses that have thicker straps and more structured top but thanks to clean geometry and rich colours look classy
exactly. they look kinda messy. perfect for a super casual day at the beach or pool as a cover up and getting a bite to eat after. but they’ll expose the whole bra, and if you go with no bra there will be 0 coverage or support. never
Same. I have big boobs and small waist the smocking on bodice has really just helped clothes look better on me and I don’t have to spend so much money on tailoring
The smocked dresses are 100% better than those dresses you pointed out at the end with the cheap straps and zippers. I do agreee smocking can look very bad if done wrong, but so can anything. One of the best designs I ever encountered had princess seam boning in the front and smocking in the back. The smocking allowed for comfort and weight fluctuations, while the boning provided support and kept the waist looking sinched without actually putting a lot of pressure on the area. It was genius!
I get your point! However, as someone whose cup size is 32E, thank god for smocked tops and dresses because most of the time they are stretchy enough to actually fit my body!
Smocking can look so sweet. I love it. And those are low quality smocking examples. Good smocking is an art and looks stunning! You’re not gonna find that at H&M though.
@@spacebar9733 don't get me wrong, I hate the look, I just like it better when it seems intentional. I knew a girl in college obsessed with smocked dresses and she always looked great. 🤷
Smocking is a gift from God for girls with a bigger chest. I LOVE your videos Jennifer, and you’ve massively helped me upgrade my style game but you owe us big chest girls an apology for this one lol. If I wear something with those thin straps I have to go and hide my bra straps and my girls will spill out. Say sorry 😂 smocking is my best friend
As a small chested woman, smocking is universally flattering if done well. I own a gorgeous Sea New York dress that is smocked all over and very flattering. Nothing cheap about that dress either. She owes all of us an apology. This is an example of SHE doesn’t like how it looks but it’s not wrong in general.
@@Axx-u3g you’re speaking my language! Devout blood bought believer redeemed by the blood of Christ. Smocking helps me dress more modestly in general because it covers everything. But yes, nothing compares to the gospel and all these silly earth trends as long as they’re God honoring are truly a blessing ❤️✝️ May the Lord bless and keep you
personally, i love smocking. especially in the first top half of the bodice. i think it’s very flattering on my chest. i enjoy it because it’s form fitting but so comfortable. i think it gives a flirty and comfortable vibe. aesthetically i think it’s beautiful on cotton gauze. i’ve never considered that it may look cheap, but i do agree that the smocked prints look not so great
I have a larger chest and smocking is a godsend. As soon as I buy a regular dress with a sew line around the chest it looks idiotic. I think if it's done well and by a good brand it's good :)
Love your content but this is a miss. Smocked dresses or blouses are significantly better for curves/larger chests because they hug rather than drape over your body. I know you never said your advice is universal, but I wish you would acknowledge that. I am not plus size, but a lot of this advice would basically only work for slim and small chested women.
I have curves and I actually agree with her. I hate smocking. I don't think it's flattering on me and it looks cheap. So I don't think it's "a miss". It just doesn't apply to you.
Smocking looks so much more finished than the flimsy spaghetti straps that H&M puts out. Also smocking provides more coverage because they never line the spaghetti dresses anyway. Also usually the straps pop off after a couple of wears while the smocking has way more give and a longer shelf life.
I think smocking is great for casuals comfy dresses! I like the comfort it gives me to move around as a mom chasing two babies- typically fitted dresses feel like I’m gonna bust the seams when trying to move too much😂
Smocking at the top of a bodice in the front can make a dress nursing friendly without stretching out your neckline! Just something to keep in mind, as you recently shared you are ttc (best of luck, by the way!).
Watch the leena norms video on how to build a closet for a fluctuating body - smocking, different cuts, and ties/buttons that can be moved mean that your clothes last you way longer and at different sizes throughout your life
Are you pranking us? I love your fashion tips❤ but this one is a far miss. Smocking feels & looks great! vs the spaghetti straps are so flimsy and the material from those H&M dresses you mentioned feels like paper. If your tip only applies to H&M then you're probably correct, but to say smock is bad/looks cheap in general that's plain wrong. I like watching different forms of art & crafts & I've seen ppl hand-make smocking pieces and it's an ART.
And personally, I love smocking bcuz it fits and shapes me better bcuz I have a larger chest and a slim waist so sizing for me is so difficult. Finding good smocking is key; I have 3 pieces in my wardrobe that I adore.
What do you mean it feels great?! I absolutely despise the feeling of shirred elastic, it clings and pinches and itches, it leaves marks, it's awful! Handmade smocking is completely different!
@@naolucillerandom5280 as I already said: finding good smocking is key. It's not supposed to pinch, it should stretch & mold to your body. What you described is awful but that has not been my experience at all, perhaps it's where you shop, the size you chose, the material it's made with, etc. Many variants why it hasn't worked for you but one thing is clear, when smocking is well made it can be look & feel great.
Also this is funny to see. This isn't 'fast fashion' doing smocking because it's cheap. It being cheap is a happy accident for them. The smocked dresses are all just Hill House Nap Dress knockoffs. They're everywhere because they're easy to knock off and it's been 2-3 years since they were a craze. These type of dresses are in every single store, high and low because people like them and they're flattering to the larger sizes. I even see the pre smocked fabric at Joann's.
Can I take a second to complain about how most of the dresses in stores are mini dresses. It just looks like they are trying to save as much fabric as possible.
THIS is so real I dress modestly and all I can ever find are short dresses, it’s so frustrating because I can only wear those at parties not in my daily life going to school/work
Exactly! As someone that also dresses modestly, I agree with all three of your comments. I find it frustrating that the vast majority of clothing I see in stores nowadays is composed of cropped shirts/tops and short skirts/dresses, no matter the season. I wonder where I could find clothing that is both modest AND flattering.
That’s because it’s summer, and short dresses are more popular. It’s not about saving money. Lol. Longer dresses also come with a bigger price tag. Every store I’ve been in also sells knee length and maxi dresses.
I disagree. Smocking is very flattering across many body types if done well. I own a Sea New York dress that’s smocked all over. It’s gorgeous, well made, and nothing about it looks cheap. This is an example of you don’t like how something looks, and that’s fine, but that doesn’t make it bad or cheap.
Somewhere, southern mama’s all clutched their pearls. I audibly gasped. 😂 Side note, this is shirring and not smocking. I swear I could hear my wallet weeping when I’d buy my girls smocked bubbles and dresses when they were little. That stuff is expensive and beautifully done.
As a not flat person, smocked dresses are one of the few choices we have for the summer. Oversized maxi-hiding a pregnancy Adjustable / tied Straps-will show off your bra Most summer clothes aren't made of stretched fabric I have to go 3 sizes up and pay a tailor on normal structured clothes. But yeah I'm a no for smocking on printed fabric.
Strangely enough I don’t mind smoking, as it is a sentimental retro effect from the oughties for me. As long as the dress is made out of cotton I don’t care .. but those slinky tied up dresses are a big no for me : I’m always afraid of the band snapping in two
Smocking means I can get a dress in my actual size rather than one 3 sizes larger just to fit my chest - and I’m very petite so that doesn’t usually work
[edit: the one you're showing it's technically called shirring, not smocking] But! If you happen to see smocking on heirloom dresses or 1930s 1940s garments, omg, it's a work of art.
A lot of those summer dresses are an automatic no for mid to large busted women because of the cheap straps. More tanks, flutter sleeves etc. is what I look out for. Judging the sleeves makes shopping quick.
Agreed. The would bet that a large percentage of women would not wear those very strappy dresses with low/open backs since the bra choices would be limited.
@@chrissiedcohen exactly. Very first think I thought was where was I going to get the chest support. If the straps were thicker, the conversation would be completely different. My other stress would be coverage because those cuts are usually inadequate unless the triangles are wide through the top.
smocking and shirring are very different, smocking is generally a sign of hand labour and gives a bit of elasticity to woven fabric through precise handstitching while shirring is literally just swapping the bottom thread of a sewing machine with elastic and sew rows of equally spaced straight lines. both are time consuming but you see where one is a sign of skilled labour and the other very used by fast fashion brands.
I love shirring, I always get excited when I find shirred crop tops with puffy sleeves. they're form fitting but comfy and flattering. also they're a piece of clothing that sticks around thru weight fluctuation
I know a lot of the comments here are saying that smocking / shirred are great for curvy/bigger chested women (I am one too). But whenever I see it I always think it’s such a cop out generally and so cheap looking. I definitely that there are times where it looks great but most times I am not a fan
I LIKE shirring. As someone with a curvy figure, I find that clothing that fits one part of my body well will tend to be either too loose or too tight on another part, so shirring tends to make garments fit me better without the need for tailoring. I also find that I dislike zippers, as sometimes they end up being sensory unfriendly, or catching on my hair.
I understand and respect your perspective. My mother is a (slim) fashion designer who has worked in the rag trade since the 70’s. I just happen to be quite curvy (particularly at the bust-line). Since my siblings and I grew up wearing handmade, tailored, bespoke, and very intentionally designed clothing, my mother is the first to admit that she struggled when designing my clothing once I became a teenager. In fact, when I first asked her for a shirred dress in the 90’s, she refused to even entertain the idea on principle, since she wholeheartedly shared your opinions. Honestly, I agree with you in regard to other body types wearing shirred clothing as well. Eventually, she relented somewhat and allowed be to buy a decent shirred dress from a store. Her jaw just about hit the floor when I walked out of the changing room! While I have worn well-tailored and fitted clothing throughout my life, I was admittedly more comfortable in the shirred dress since it stretched as I moved and went from standing to sitting.
I have a gorgeous purple dress from Banana Republic with a shirred bodice, flounced skirt, and sleeves that look like fairy wings. It's comfortable and so fun!
i honestly like smocking on tops and dresses with necklines like the ones shown because i can be sure that things I don't want won't show because the fabric hangs out when i sit or bend over
As a fat girl w lots of curves and a small waist, smocking helps things fit well. Most pieces that aren't stretchy just fall all over me and hide all of me and make me look frumpy af. And as someone who can only wear specific bras and I HAVE TO wear them, I can't do these tie back designs unless I wanna wear a tee underneath. Which I will sometimes do and is sometimes cute, I can't do it all the time. Always skinny small breasted women saying things like this. I wish I had smaller, even breasts but I just don't. I hate wearing bras and I wish I could wear dresses without them esp in the summer. No clothing rules are one size fits all. And calling things that cater to different bodies "cheap" is pretty rude.
Smocking seems to be everywhere these days. I thought that meant I was the only person who hated it. It makes so much sense that it’s just because it’s cheap and they don’t have to worry about cut and tailoring. It’s also awful for women with larger busts.
I just found your channel and really appreciate your content! I think this tip could use some additional insight. As others have said in the comments, shirred looks very flattering and not cheap on curvy bodies. It may look less flattering on slim or straight body types as you have mentioned. Any loose dresses shaped like the orange and white one you showed, may look flattering on slim bodies; but looks very frumpy, baggy in the wrong places - too tight in others, and "cheap" on curvy types. When it's on the back only, it may look less elevated. But when it's shirred everywhere for the top portion, it can look tidy and create the shape of "clean" lines for lumpy bumpy body types that's hard to fit right off the rack. Especially when you have a large chest and want coverage but don't want the fabric to drop off where your chest protrudes the most. This makes you look like a wide barrel in most garments/ designs made with slim or small breasts in mind. All of the h&m examples you showed only look good on small breast type bodies. That being said, we all learn, and it's hard to know when it doesn't benefit you directly. I don't blame you. Thanks so much for continuing to share your valuable tips! I look forward to keep discovering your content. ❤
Interesting that everyone is calling this a miss and that it’s good for them as a plus sized person. Which is great, I think it’s cute when it’s a good quality top. But these are what you personally avoid… so how could your opinion be a “miss”? lol I agree with you. For me, it’s never worked well. It does look cheap & it’s just not elegant when it’s those paper thin short dresses. They’re sweet but massively overdone thanks to fast fashion:/
I LOVE smocking on the back of dresses. My wait has/does fluctuate quite a bit (and I also recently weaned my babies), and smoking allows me to wear the same clothes + or - 15 pounds. I like wrap styles for the same reason. It also creates a nice fit without tailoring.
I love your content and usually agree. However, personally, I prefer the dresses with the smocked tops over the dresses you liked as alternatives. Fully smocked tops provide more support for curvier bust lines and I actually like the way they look and feel but to each their own! The dresses that you liked would absolutely look great on you but they just wouldn’t fly on my body. I don’t make this comment to hate on your opinion. I totally get why you like what you like but I just wanted to make a case for my beloved smocked top beach dresses lol.
I see a lot of people with larger chests saying they love smocking. Which is great for them. Personally I hate it. I too have a larger chest but I feel like smocking makes me look lumpy. It doesn’t have structure to hold up my curves in appealing ways. I avoid clothing with smocking because I know that I won’t like the way it looks on me.
These types of dresses look great on curvy women like me. I love them and i disagree but you're right, if you're not curvy, probably won't look great on you.
I have a very large bust and not a small waist but comparatively to my bust it’s small. Can you recommend brands you know of that include curves in their patterns instead of all the tops being boxy? Think almost like the 30’s through the 50’s silhouettes.
I’ve been on the HUNT for smocked dresses ever since I got pregnant, they’ve just been the dresses that consistently fit in all of the fluctuation! Also love not having to wear a bra with them😭
that is NOT smocking; smocking has to be hand done & looks beautiful. what you showed is SHIRRING & can help with fit a lot, but it uses elastic & often polyester fabrics which tend to look frumpy and cheap
I agree with others this is definitely a missed perspective - brands universally increase bust size with overall size. Which means if you have a bigger bust but smaller waist you are NEVER going to find clothes that fit correctly unless they’re tailored to you. Which is why shirring is so good! It gives you a custom fit for non-standard proportions
i also hate all over smocking/shirring so much, i feel like it honestly makes things fit weirder because theres no structure, no intended fit and also just visually doesnt look great imo, its like worse ribbing
I love this type of dresses for us IBTC girls. Nice and petite, but it’s understandable that you prefer something else. People forgot that you are still just a person who also has her own opinions.
I think it depends on the garment as a whole. I just sewed a beautiful dress that has a shirred bodice and it definitely doesn't look fast fashion. Tbh I thought both those dresses at the end look cheap from the minimal cup fabric and overall limp structure
I gotta say, shirring (not smocking, this is shirring) is a fantastic way to find commercially produced clothing that actually fits (instead of having to make it yourself/order it custom-both incredibly expensive and time consuming options) if you are not of “average” proportions. For myself, when I make my own clothes, the bust is 4 sizes bigger than the waist and hips. That’s not possible to find in commercially produced clothing!! Shirring allows companies to make clothes that will actually fit more people than just those shaped like the dress forms used to make it.
As many others have pointed out, a lot of fashion is designed for women with an A to B cup. Those of us with larger chest know the struggle of finding something that's going to contain the tatas. Shirring does that. Your advice seems to be geared solely to those of your own body type, so maybe you should be stating that in your opinion. Those tiny straps on that H&M dress aren't holding a damn thing that I have.
I have to disagree with this one. Those thin straps tied in the back are a huge red flag indicating poor quality for me and make a dress look 'cheaper' to be honest. They make the design look lazier and it tends to be on flimsy dresses that have no support in the bust or properly tailored elements. It just relies on the ties to 'stay up' which isn't exactly a great look.
But shirred garments are so comfy. My favourite lounge about dress has a shirred bodice, and it almost feels like you aren’t wearing anything. But yes, it can be an easy way to make clothing fit
I kinda agree about the smocking, it’s not always the most comfortable either. I have some more premium dresses with smocking though that I love. Personally I would just avoid all H&M dresses altogether, I think all the dresses in this video look incredibly cheap
As someone who likes smocking clothes: it takes FOREVER! I don’t wanna know how little they’re paying people for all that work (especially for stuff that doesn’t even look good)
That isn't smocking, it's shirring! Smocking is hand done and quite expensive. Generally seen on heirloom children's clothes. It doesn't involve any elastic so it lasts longer than shirring. Shirring is only as good as the elastic.
This is called shirred and not smocking. It is a great technique to fit us curvy girls!
Yeah, I have a few dresses with it, and I love it. Stretches in all the right places. Not restrictive and easy to get in and out of.
I was about to say the exact same thing!
Now I’m second guessing all her advice 👀😨
Also gives a higher chance that it still fits when you go up or down in size!
It’s still cheap no matter your body type. And shirring and smocking are the same thing. The difference is width.
As a curvy girl shirring (its not smocking) is life saving and I honestly think it's pretty cute. Those H&M dresses look super thin and flimsy 😭
Agreed... well said❤
That is what I came here to say too. Some smocking is awful though. I personally didn't like the dress that was almost completely smocked.
Im a 36E/38DD. If i had your body, yeah but when you are plus size and have big breasts....ill take the shirred tops.
I was literally going to comment the same thing. I love shirring because it looks good and reliably fits as a plus-size person!!!
Same here, my waist also fluctuates during the day so stretchy is a lifesaver
I’d personally avoid those H&M dresses because they look like they’d fall apart in the wash. They aren’t lined and the straps are so thin and likely poorly sewed on, just asking to break. I also think dresses with straps to tie are just another lazy manufacturing approach to stop them from having to actually craft the fit of the garment. Additionally, dresses that would show an entire bra while wearing it are a no-go.
we need polishing tips for women with non-flat chests
@@margosaur rich solid colours that compliment your skin (you can just dye it) + structured but simple top part, Uniqlo surprisingly tends to have good summer dresses that have thicker straps and more structured top but thanks to clean geometry and rich colours look classy
i'm amazed she put those as good examples because they look fucking terrible 💀 maybe as swimsuit cover ups
exactly. they look kinda messy. perfect for a super casual day at the beach or pool as a cover up and getting a bite to eat after. but they’ll expose the whole bra, and if you go with no bra there will be 0 coverage or support. never
I love the dresses but I've seen so many broken straps in store that I don't trust buying them
As someone with big boobs and a small waist, smocking helps garment fit me in all places.
ooh for me it is the opposite...it makes me feel so claustrophobic.
Same!!
This!!
yes this!!! Im also a big boobie girl and these types of shirts are some of the only ones i feel good in
Same. I have big boobs and small waist the smocking on bodice has really just helped clothes look better on me and I don’t have to spend so much money on tailoring
The smocked dresses are 100% better than those dresses you pointed out at the end with the cheap straps and zippers.
I do agreee smocking can look very bad if done wrong, but so can anything.
One of the best designs I ever encountered had princess seam boning in the front and smocking in the back. The smocking allowed for comfort and weight fluctuations, while the boning provided support and kept the waist looking sinched without actually putting a lot of pressure on the area. It was genius!
She said in the back is oke though
Also all of these are not good options for girls with heavier busts
I don't think smocking looks good in anyone. Maybe if you are going to the beach. Other than that is a no.
The H&M dresses look cheap and scream fast fashion.
I get your point! However, as someone whose cup size is 32E, thank god for smocked tops and dresses because most of the time they are stretchy enough to actually fit my body!
Smocking can look so sweet. I love it. And those are low quality smocking examples. Good smocking is an art and looks stunning! You’re not gonna find that at H&M though.
Where do you look for smocked dresses? Agree I love smocked dresses too !
I would love some examples of places that make nice smocking!
Check out hollister😁 or maybe Abercrombie as well @@Jasmine-tr1zs
Good quality smocking isn't slapped on cheap dresses to avoid having to construct it better. Good smocking is ART.
I like smocking on my big bust.. it's a better fit for busty girls.
Im the opposite.. smocking all around looks intentional, while just in the back seems like a shortcut. Also I think it just feels itchy on my skin.
Agree. Can't do the half smock
You have to be joking. All around it looks like a paper bag. I’m a size 2 keep in mind. Also very uncomfortable.
@@spacebar9733 don't get me wrong, I hate the look, I just like it better when it seems intentional. I knew a girl in college obsessed with smocked dresses and she always looked great. 🤷
Totally agree!
Smocking is a gift from God for girls with a bigger chest. I LOVE your videos Jennifer, and you’ve massively helped me upgrade my style game but you owe us big chest girls an apology for this one lol. If I wear something with those thin straps I have to go and hide my bra straps and my girls will spill out. Say sorry 😂 smocking is my best friend
I don't think she owns an apology, I think she just needs to be corrected, cause I didn't even know that was good for big cheated girls💀
As a small chested woman, smocking is universally flattering if done well. I own a gorgeous Sea New York dress that is smocked all over and very flattering. Nothing cheap about that dress either. She owes all of us an apology. This is an example of SHE doesn’t like how it looks but it’s not wrong in general.
As someone who is big chested, I hate wearing smocked clothing. Super uncomfortable
If you think thats a gift from God wait until you hear the gospel of Jesus Christ
@@Axx-u3g you’re speaking my language! Devout blood bought believer redeemed by the blood of Christ. Smocking helps me dress more modestly in general because it covers everything. But yes, nothing compares to the gospel and all these silly earth trends as long as they’re God honoring are truly a blessing ❤️✝️ May the Lord bless and keep you
personally, i love smocking. especially in the first top half of the bodice. i think it’s very flattering on my chest. i enjoy it because it’s form fitting but so comfortable. i think it gives a flirty and comfortable vibe. aesthetically i think it’s beautiful on cotton gauze. i’ve never considered that it may look cheap, but i do agree that the smocked prints look not so great
I have a larger chest and smocking is a godsend. As soon as I buy a regular dress with a sew line around the chest it looks idiotic. I think if it's done well and by a good brand it's good :)
As someone with a large chest, I avoid it because I think I always pulls weird 🤷🏼♀️
Thank you! thin spaghetti straps ties all over with a bigger chest can look fast fashion too
check out hill house dresses!
Love your content but this is a miss. Smocked dresses or blouses are significantly better for curves/larger chests because they hug rather than drape over your body. I know you never said your advice is universal, but I wish you would acknowledge that. I am not plus size, but a lot of this advice would basically only work for slim and small chested women.
Agreed 100%
Amen
I have curves and I actually agree with her. I hate smocking. I don't think it's flattering on me and it looks cheap. So I don't think it's "a miss". It just doesn't apply to you.
we are all victims bc it's not like big boob women need the smocking, we need better tailoring is what we need 😂
I have a big chest and hate it though. It looks ugly as hell. You can find stuff your size its just harder
Smocking looks so much more finished than the flimsy spaghetti straps that H&M puts out. Also smocking provides more coverage because they never line the spaghetti dresses anyway. Also usually the straps pop off after a couple of wears while the smocking has way more give and a longer shelf life.
I think smocking is great for casuals comfy dresses! I like the comfort it gives me to move around as a mom chasing two babies- typically fitted dresses feel like I’m gonna bust the seams when trying to move too much😂
^ agree with mackenzie, it reads very causal. There’s a reason you always see it at bbq get togethers and on children!
*casual !
Smocking at the top of a bodice in the front can make a dress nursing friendly without stretching out your neckline! Just something to keep in mind, as you recently shared you are ttc (best of luck, by the way!).
Watch the leena norms video on how to build a closet for a fluctuating body - smocking, different cuts, and ties/buttons that can be moved mean that your clothes last you way longer and at different sizes throughout your life
Smocking has the benefit of making smaller sized clothing fit plus sized people without looking ill fitting, so pros and cons
It always looks ill fitting
Are you pranking us? I love your fashion tips❤ but this one is a far miss. Smocking feels & looks great! vs the spaghetti straps are so flimsy and the material from those H&M dresses you mentioned feels like paper.
If your tip only applies to H&M then you're probably correct, but to say smock is bad/looks cheap in general that's plain wrong. I like watching different forms of art & crafts & I've seen ppl hand-make smocking pieces and it's an ART.
And personally, I love smocking bcuz it fits and shapes me better bcuz I have a larger chest and a slim waist so sizing for me is so difficult. Finding good smocking is key; I have 3 pieces in my wardrobe that I adore.
What do you mean it feels great?! I absolutely despise the feeling of shirred elastic, it clings and pinches and itches, it leaves marks, it's awful!
Handmade smocking is completely different!
@@naolucillerandom5280 as I already said: finding good smocking is key. It's not supposed to pinch, it should stretch & mold to your body.
What you described is awful but that has not been my experience at all, perhaps it's where you shop, the size you chose, the material it's made with, etc. Many variants why it hasn't worked for you but one thing is clear, when smocking is well made it can be look & feel great.
Disagree, I love smocking. Easy to wear and very comfortable. To each their own.
I absolutely ADORE smocking☹️
This is a miss. The smocked bodice is cute af. Not necessarily the H&M ones
Also this is funny to see. This isn't 'fast fashion' doing smocking because it's cheap. It being cheap is a happy accident for them. The smocked dresses are all just Hill House Nap Dress knockoffs. They're everywhere because they're easy to knock off and it's been 2-3 years since they were a craze. These type of dresses are in every single store, high and low because people like them and they're flattering to the larger sizes. I even see the pre smocked fabric at Joann's.
Tbf those don't look cute, looks tacky af
Cannot use the ones you recommend bc I feel it just highlights my tummy and my horrible back I feel safer with the first ones 😅
I love the look of smocking and there’s some fabulous examples of it done right on dresses around this season
Can I take a second to complain about how most of the dresses in stores are mini dresses. It just looks like they are trying to save as much fabric as possible.
THIS is so real
I dress modestly and all I can ever find are short dresses, it’s so frustrating because I can only wear those at parties not in my daily life going to school/work
And crop tops :(
Exactly! As someone that also dresses modestly, I agree with all three of your comments. I find it frustrating that the vast majority of clothing I see in stores nowadays is composed of cropped shirts/tops and short skirts/dresses, no matter the season. I wonder where I could find clothing that is both modest AND flattering.
That’s because it’s summer, and short dresses are more popular. It’s not about saving money. Lol. Longer dresses also come with a bigger price tag. Every store I’ve been in also sells knee length and maxi dresses.
Exactly. It’s like they don’t care that some of us simply don’t like showing that much and act like it’s expected of us to do so.
I disagree. Smocking is very flattering across many body types if done well. I own a Sea New York dress that’s smocked all over. It’s gorgeous, well made, and nothing about it looks cheap. This is an example of you don’t like how something looks, and that’s fine, but that doesn’t make it bad or cheap.
I love this feature! As a wide-shouldered lady I have faith shirts will fit me comfortably 😊
Somewhere, southern mama’s all clutched their pearls. I audibly gasped. 😂 Side note, this is shirring and not smocking. I swear I could hear my wallet weeping when I’d buy my girls smocked bubbles and dresses when they were little. That stuff is expensive and beautifully done.
As a not flat person, smocked dresses are one of the few choices we have for the summer.
Oversized maxi-hiding a pregnancy
Adjustable / tied Straps-will show off your bra
Most summer clothes aren't made of stretched fabric
I have to go 3 sizes up and pay a tailor on normal structured clothes.
But yeah I'm a no for smocking on printed fabric.
Smocking is great when you’re pregnant though. Personally I don’t mind smocking but I’d still be assessing the finish and fabric for quality.
Strangely enough I don’t mind smoking, as it is a sentimental retro effect from the oughties for me. As long as the dress is made out of cotton I don’t care .. but those slinky tied up dresses are a big no for me : I’m always afraid of the band snapping in two
Hmm I have a smocked dress that I love, it fits so cute and is very curve hugging. Yeah I don’t know, I’m probably going to keep it.
pretty sure shes not telling people to throw out their clothes lol. so dramatic
Would love to see you comment on more budget-friendly, everyday options like Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and Loft. Thanks
You know some of us are bigger than you and some people's weight fluctuates because of illnesses so stretchy is really important to some people.
The smocking just reminds me of old dresses and for some reason, it gives me a nostalgic feeling.
If you are on a budget second hand items are a great option!
Those H&M dresses look thinner than paper towels
Smocking means I can get a dress in my actual size rather than one 3 sizes larger just to fit my chest - and I’m very petite so that doesn’t usually work
[edit: the one you're showing it's technically called shirring, not smocking]
But! If you happen to see smocking on heirloom dresses or 1930s 1940s garments, omg, it's a work of art.
I loved smocked ones as they are forgiving is I loose or gain weight they still fit!
I agree that smocking + pattern is not a good combo, however I like it on certain pieces like linen jumpsuits. :)
A lot of those summer dresses are an automatic no for mid to large busted women because of the cheap straps. More tanks, flutter sleeves etc. is what I look out for. Judging the sleeves makes shopping quick.
I just wrote a comment asking about recommendations for brands that would be good for a large bust. It seems impossible sometimes.
Agreed. The would bet that a large percentage of women would not wear those very strappy dresses with low/open backs since the bra choices would be limited.
@@chrissiedcohen exactly. Very first think I thought was where was I going to get the chest support. If the straps were thicker, the conversation would be completely different. My other stress would be coverage because those cuts are usually inadequate unless the triangles are wide through the top.
im fat and zippers often mean something that wont fit me correctly because of the way im built. smocking makes things fit regardless.
I have a very small waist the shirred dresses are very flattering and I own a couple, def love my dresses 👗
smocking and shirring are very different, smocking is generally a sign of hand labour and gives a bit of elasticity to woven fabric through precise handstitching while shirring is literally just swapping the bottom thread of a sewing machine with elastic and sew rows of equally spaced straight lines. both are time consuming but you see where one is a sign of skilled labour and the other very used by fast fashion brands.
I love shirring, I always get excited when I find shirred crop tops with puffy sleeves. they're form fitting but comfy and flattering. also they're a piece of clothing that sticks around thru weight fluctuation
YES SHIRRING AND PUFFY SLEEVES LOOK GORGEOUS TOGETHER
I know a lot of the comments here are saying that smocking / shirred are great for curvy/bigger chested women (I am one too). But whenever I see it I always think it’s such a cop out generally and so cheap looking. I definitely that there are times where it looks great but most times I am not a fan
🎉the last dresses with no smocking look even cheaper
I love smocking 😅 it just hugs in all the best places
This video has united us busty girlies and I am living for it ❤😂
I LIKE shirring. As someone with a curvy figure, I find that clothing that fits one part of my body well will tend to be either too loose or too tight on another part, so shirring tends to make garments fit me better without the need for tailoring. I also find that I dislike zippers, as sometimes they end up being sensory unfriendly, or catching on my hair.
i love smocked dresses. ones from Hill House feel so princess and elevated. it's about the overall quality of the fabric too!
I cannot afford those dresses right now but some of those are gorgeous!
I understand and respect your perspective. My mother is a (slim) fashion designer who has worked in the rag trade since the 70’s. I just happen to be quite curvy (particularly at the bust-line).
Since my siblings and I grew up wearing handmade, tailored, bespoke, and very intentionally designed clothing, my mother is the first to admit that she struggled when designing my clothing once I became a teenager. In fact, when I first asked her for a shirred dress in the 90’s, she refused to even entertain the idea on principle, since she wholeheartedly shared your opinions. Honestly, I agree with you in regard to other body types wearing shirred clothing as well.
Eventually, she relented somewhat and allowed be to buy a decent shirred dress from a store. Her jaw just about hit the floor when I walked out of the changing room! While I have worn well-tailored and fitted clothing throughout my life, I was admittedly more comfortable in the shirred dress since it stretched as I moved and went from standing to sitting.
I have a gorgeous purple dress from Banana Republic with a shirred bodice, flounced skirt, and sleeves that look like fairy wings. It's comfortable and so fun!
I love when there are ties in the back, i can tighten it up to show my waist the way i want to
i honestly like smocking on tops and dresses with necklines like the ones shown because i can be sure that things I don't want won't show because the fabric hangs out when i sit or bend over
As a fat girl w lots of curves and a small waist, smocking helps things fit well. Most pieces that aren't stretchy just fall all over me and hide all of me and make me look frumpy af.
And as someone who can only wear specific bras and I HAVE TO wear them, I can't do these tie back designs unless I wanna wear a tee underneath. Which I will sometimes do and is sometimes cute, I can't do it all the time.
Always skinny small breasted women saying things like this. I wish I had smaller, even breasts but I just don't. I hate wearing bras and I wish I could wear dresses without them esp in the summer.
No clothing rules are one size fits all. And calling things that cater to different bodies "cheap" is pretty rude.
Smocking seems to be everywhere these days. I thought that meant I was the only person who hated it. It makes so much sense that it’s just because it’s cheap and they don’t have to worry about cut and tailoring. It’s also awful for women with larger busts.
I just found your channel and really appreciate your content! I think this tip could use some additional insight. As others have said in the comments, shirred looks very flattering and not cheap on curvy bodies. It may look less flattering on slim or straight body types as you have mentioned.
Any loose dresses shaped like the orange and white one you showed, may look flattering on slim bodies; but looks very frumpy, baggy in the wrong places - too tight in others, and "cheap" on curvy types. When it's on the back only, it may look less elevated.
But when it's shirred everywhere for the top portion, it can look tidy and create the shape of "clean" lines for lumpy bumpy body types that's hard to fit right off the rack. Especially when you have a large chest and want coverage but don't want the fabric to drop off where your chest protrudes the most. This makes you look like a wide barrel in most garments/ designs made with slim or small breasts in mind. All of the h&m examples you showed only look good on small breast type bodies.
That being said, we all learn, and it's hard to know when it doesn't benefit you directly. I don't blame you. Thanks so much for continuing to share your valuable tips! I look forward to keep discovering your content. ❤
Interesting that everyone is calling this a miss and that it’s good for them as a plus sized person. Which is great, I think it’s cute when it’s a good quality top. But these are what you personally avoid… so how could your opinion be a “miss”? lol I agree with you. For me, it’s never worked well. It does look cheap & it’s just not elegant when it’s those paper thin short dresses. They’re sweet but massively overdone thanks to fast fashion:/
and stretchy smocking is itchy !
I agree on the smocking.
Love your tips, I've started using them while shopping the past few months and i've dealt with a lot less pilling!
I LOVE smocking on the back of dresses. My wait has/does fluctuate quite a bit (and I also recently weaned my babies), and smoking allows me to wear the same clothes + or - 15 pounds. I like wrap styles for the same reason. It also creates a nice fit without tailoring.
*weight
Ich mag die gesmockten Sommer kleider für den Urlaub die kann man gut mit nehmen und man braucht nicht auf falten aufpassen.
Smocking is supposed to "ruin", the print...thats the whole point🙄
I love your content and usually agree. However, personally, I prefer the dresses with the smocked tops over the dresses you liked as alternatives. Fully smocked tops provide more support for curvier bust lines and I actually like the way they look and feel but to each their own! The dresses that you liked would absolutely look great on you but they just wouldn’t fly on my body. I don’t make this comment to hate on your opinion. I totally get why you like what you like but I just wanted to make a case for my beloved smocked top beach dresses lol.
my favorite dress has shirring in the front and ties in a big bow in the back😭
That sounds absolutely gorgeous. If I may ask, where did you get it from?
As a curvy Girl I absolutely love smocking, it Looks so good on my body🥺
As a lady from from Bustyville, these are life savers, lol.
I’m not a fan of zippers on dresses personally
Yesssss!!! Those can be so hard to get into. Home alone, and the zipper gets stuck.... 😂😂😂
Smocking makes the dress look like it fits me while the dresses pointed out as good don't, making them look cheap. It's very dependant on body type
I see a lot of people with larger chests saying they love smocking. Which is great for them. Personally I hate it. I too have a larger chest but I feel like smocking makes me look lumpy. It doesn’t have structure to hold up my curves in appealing ways. I avoid clothing with smocking because I know that I won’t like the way it looks on me.
These types of dresses look great on curvy women like me. I love them and i disagree but you're right, if you're not curvy, probably won't look great on you.
As a curvy girl, it looks great on mei.
I have a very large bust and not a small waist but comparatively to my bust it’s small. Can you recommend brands you know of that include curves in their patterns instead of all the tops being boxy? Think almost like the 30’s through the 50’s silhouettes.
Ever thought of buying up and altering down? I intend to do this someday
I’ve been on the HUNT for smocked dresses ever since I got pregnant, they’ve just been the dresses that consistently fit in all of the fluctuation! Also love not having to wear a bra with them😭
Smocking is quite useful for us curvier girls though - I wouldn’t feel as comfortable in those other dresses nor would they fit me as well
Smockings good for breastfeeding though!
Smocking is amazing
Im tall and very pear shaped and smock type dresses are my go to. They are forgiving, flattering, and comfortable and actually fit. I love them 🤷♀️
I love smocking on the top! Provides sooo much flexibility for a larger bust. Also looks nicer than thin straps ans covers my bra straps
I love dresses with smocking/shirring personally 🤷🏻♀️
Smocking all around makes for a great nursing top. Baby hates to wait for buttons and I worry less about “wardrobe malfunction.”
lol I just wrote the same comment. Nursing friendly fashion can be hard to come by!
Just because a feature on a garment isn't for your body type, doesn't make it look cheap.
that is NOT smocking; smocking has to be hand done & looks beautiful. what you showed is SHIRRING & can help with fit a lot, but it uses elastic & often polyester fabrics which tend to look frumpy and cheap
hill house is all smoking and their items are amazing quality, I always get tons of compliments
I agree with others this is definitely a missed perspective - brands universally increase bust size with overall size. Which means if you have a bigger bust but smaller waist you are NEVER going to find clothes that fit correctly unless they’re tailored to you. Which is why shirring is so good! It gives you a custom fit for non-standard proportions
i also hate all over smocking/shirring so much, i feel like it honestly makes things fit weirder because theres no structure, no intended fit and also just visually doesnt look great imo, its like worse ribbing
I love this type of dresses for us IBTC girls. Nice and petite, but it’s understandable that you prefer something else.
People forgot that you are still just a person who also has her own opinions.
girl you need to know you're saving me a lot of money i love you 😭💞
I think it depends on the garment as a whole. I just sewed a beautiful dress that has a shirred bodice and it definitely doesn't look fast fashion. Tbh I thought both those dresses at the end look cheap from the minimal cup fabric and overall limp structure
I gotta say, shirring (not smocking, this is shirring) is a fantastic way to find commercially produced clothing that actually fits (instead of having to make it yourself/order it custom-both incredibly expensive and time consuming options) if you are not of “average” proportions. For myself, when I make my own clothes, the bust is 4 sizes bigger than the waist and hips. That’s not possible to find in commercially produced clothing!! Shirring allows companies to make clothes that will actually fit more people than just those shaped like the dress forms used to make it.
As many others have pointed out, a lot of fashion is designed for women with an A to B cup. Those of us with larger chest know the struggle of finding something that's going to contain the tatas. Shirring does that. Your advice seems to be geared solely to those of your own body type, so maybe you should be stating that in your opinion. Those tiny straps on that H&M dress aren't holding a damn thing that I have.
I have to disagree with this one. Those thin straps tied in the back are a huge red flag indicating poor quality for me and make a dress look 'cheaper' to be honest. They make the design look lazier and it tends to be on flimsy dresses that have no support in the bust or properly tailored elements. It just relies on the ties to 'stay up' which isn't exactly a great look.
😍 u right girl
But shirred garments are so comfy. My favourite lounge about dress has a shirred bodice, and it almost feels like you aren’t wearing anything. But yes, it can be an easy way to make clothing fit
I kinda agree about the smocking, it’s not always the most comfortable either. I have some more premium dresses with smocking though that I love. Personally I would just avoid all H&M dresses altogether, I think all the dresses in this video look incredibly cheap
As someone who likes smocking clothes: it takes FOREVER! I don’t wanna know how little they’re paying people for all that work (especially for stuff that doesn’t even look good)
I guess , reading the comments, I’m one of the few who never liked it. 😅 Just goes to show how individual preferences in clothes can be.
i mean shirring means they need up to 3x amounts of fabric and making shirring isnt easy or cheap to produce either!