One of the 2016 fashion trends you can expect to start seeing in stores is the paperbag waist pant and skirt. They are a slightly tricky trend to style so I want to give you some pointers here if it’s a garment that you want to wear.
They suit a waisted body shape (X, A, 8) or a very slim straight shape (I), but really don’t work well for those without a defined waist as they highlight the waist area with volume.
When styling a paperbag waist you need to understand the principle of volume, your bottom with the paperbag waist will be the voluminous garment you’re wearing, so you need to pair them with more fitted tops and jackets.
How to Style a Paperbag Waist Pant
Notice how I’ve chosen a fitted top and tucked it into the paperbag waist to ensure that the volume of the trousers is balanced by the top. I’ve chosen a top with ruched sleeves which would work to help balance the volume of the pant by adding a little width to the shoulders (avoid ruched sleeves if you already have a square or wider shoulder and you don’t want to make them look broader).
How to Style a Paperbag Waist Skirt
A paperbag waist on a skirt can often sit as quite a high waist, this makes them tricky to wear if you have a large bust, as it will emphasize the size of your bust. So this kind of waistband will work well with a smaller bust.
Keep jackets and cardigans more cropped, if you wear a longer jacket or cardigan the extra bulk of the paperbag waist will push it out in an unflattering way.
